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Article from Oxfam International: http://www.oxfam.org/en/about/what/index.htm
Published: 25 November 2005

What we do

  
Image: This mother in The Gambia is learning to read and how to run her small business. Credit: Sebastien Van de Poel/Oxfam
This mother in The Gambia is learning to read and how to run her small business. Credit: Sebastien Van de Poel/Oxfam
Oxfam works with communities, allies and partner organizations, undertaking long-term development, emergency work, research and campaigning for a fairer world. Oxfam works on a broad range of issues, including trade, conflict, debt and aid, and education.

What does Oxfam do?

  • Development programs: Oxfam and our partners are working toward long term development to eradicate poverty, focusing on issues such as education, gender, HIV/Aids and human rights.
  • Emergency work: Oxfam has been working in humanitarian disaster or emergency situations for over 60 years and is internationally recognized for our expertise in water and sanitation.
  • Research and lobbying: Oxfam’s experience of the real issues confronting poor people is linked to high-level research and lobbying. We aim to change international policies and practices in ways to ensure that poor people have the rights and opportunities they need to improve and control their lives.
  • Campaigning: Oxfam undertakes popular campaigning, alliance building and media work designed to raise awareness among the public of solutions to global poverty, to enable and motivate people to play an active part in the movement for change, and to foster a sense of global citizenship.
  • Oxfam takes a rights-based approach, aiming to help people living in poverty to exercise five main rights: Right to a sustainable livelihood, Right to basic social services, Right to Life and security, Right to be heard, Right to an identity.
  • Our annual program expenditure is around $638.25 million globally.*
  • Oxfam works with approximately 3250 partner organizations in around 100 countries.

* Figures represent consolidated affiliate Program Expenditure for the Financial Year 2005/06. Program Expenditure is defined as "Costs of long and short term development and humanitarian response projects." Figures do not include management costs.

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Campaigns – Oxfam works with partners to advocate at the local, national, and international levels, for policy change that will address the root causes of poverty.