Oxfam International Is a Confederation

Oxfam International is a confederation of 12 organizations working with more than 3,000 partners in more than 100 countries to fight poverty and related injustice around the world (Oxfam International 2002). It was founded in 1995 by a group of like-minded independent non-government organizations, which banded together to achieve greater impact in reducing poverty through their collective efforts. The name "Oxfam" was taken from the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief, which was founded in Britain during the Second World War in 1942. Its mission was to send food through the Allied blockade to the citizens of Nazi-occupied Greece (Wikipedia 2005). Its first overseas branch was founded in Canada in 1963. The Committee changed its name to its telegraph address, Oxfam, in 1965.

Mission Statement. Oxfam International is a group of international non-governmental organizations dedicated to fight poverty and related injustice around the world (Oxfam International 2002). The Oxfams work together internationally to achieve greater impact by their collective efforts. In all their actions, their goal is to enable people to exercise their rights and manage their own lives. From long-term program work and short-term emergency relief to immediate campaign action, Oxfam believes in empowering people. It works with local partners and takes a rights-based approach in its development work.

Organizational Structure. It consists of the 12 Oxfam organizations based in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Quebec, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain and the United States (Oxfam International 2002). A small Oxfam International secretariat is based in Oxford, UK and there are advocacy offices in Washington DC, New York, Brussels and Geneva.

Recent Projects. Its current major projects include Rebuilding After the Tsunami, Fighting Slavery and Discrimination in Niger, the Sudan Crisis and Make Trade Fair (Oxfam International 2002).

Rebuilding After the Tsunami. Since the massive earthquake and tsunami disaster in Asia, Oxfam's humanitarian and reconstruction efforts through its 12 Oxfams around the world jointly raised approximately $200 million and now put to use in providing mid -- and long-term relief in the affected countries and in helping the people is these countries rebuild their lives (Oxfam International 2002). The funding is to provide immediate water and sanitation, food and shelter in those regions affected by the tsunami. Oxfam continues to build temporary shelters, install water tanks, and provide emergency supplies like hygiene kits. Oxfam does this in collaboration with the governments of those countries, other non-governmental organizations and partners. Oxfam will use its funds in the next 3 to 5 years to rebuild essential infrastructure, help restore people's livelihoods, and rebuild their individual lives.

Fighting Slavery and Discrimination in Niger. The leader of nomadic tribes in Inates was constrained by the authorities from releasing seven thousand slaves last March 5 and the public ceremony was cancelled (Oxfam International 2002). The slaves have remained the property of their masters. Novib Oxfam Netherlands' partner Timidria, through its director, Ilguilas Wella, expressed disappointment over the cancellation of the ceremony and the release. Timidria, a human rights organization, has exerted various efforts at fighting slavery and discrimination in Niger, such as by urging the government to really implement the law that that made the keeping of slaves a crime. In a study conducted in 2003, Timidria found that more than 800,000 people in Niger were living in slavery or slave-like conditions. These slaves didn't know and therefore could not elect their own leaders. Timidria promotes a program that will help former slaves integrate into society and more and more former slaves have been joining the organization. Timidria reported that there are now 300,000 members getting freed from poverty through mechanisms, such as loans and training in sewing, Timidria has been helping people acquire land for cultivating vegetables and has created 10 schools for children, which could be the start of a new and independent existence for them.

Sudan Crisis. - Reports said that more than 2 million have fled their homes in Darfur; many families have been killed, abducted or raped (Oxfam International 2002). The United Nations estimated that at least 70,000 have died since the start of the crisis. Oxfam has been helping more than 700,000 people in Darfur and Chad and working with communities, particularly women's groups, in containing the spread of disease and save lives. It has been providing vital clean water, installing latrines and washing facilities and distributing essential items, such as buckets and jerry cans for carrying water, soap, sanitary cloths, clean clothes, ground sheets, blankets and plastic sheets for building shelters.

Make Trade Fair. - This is one of the campaigns of Oxfam International and its 12 affiliates (Oxfam International 2002). It calls on government, institutions and multinational companies to change the rules so that trade could be used as a solution to poverty. Oxfam views trade as a most powerful tool that links lives and as a source of substantial wealth, but which is not being shared by millions of the world's people who are left behind. The campaign addresses the situation through a report, which analyzes international trade rules and presents a powerful case for change, but which can come only when the majority of people demand it in both rich and poor countries. Oxfam urges the World Trade Organization to deliver a "pro-development" outcome from its trade negotiations in Hong Kong in December this year. This will insure that rich countries stop export dumping and remove trade barriers and give poor countries the power to decide proper trade policies for their own development.

Four Roles of NGOs. Oxfam fulfills all four roles in its work with communities, allies and partner organizations by undertaking long-term development, emergency work, and campaigning for a fairer world (Oxfam International 2002).

It sets agendas through its development programs aimed at eradicating poverty, focusing on issues, such as education, gender, HIV / AIDS and human rights (Oxfam International 2002). It negotiates outcomes by means of research and lobbying in humanitarian and emergency situations for more than 60 years now and on the strength of its international recognition for expertise in water and sanitation. It confers legitimacy by taking a rights-based approach in helping people living in poverty exercise their five main rights, namely: the right to a sustainable livelihood, the right to basic social services, the right to life and security, the right to be heard and the rights to an identity. And it implements solutions by means of popular campaigning, alliance building and media work in raising public awareness on the solutions to global poverty, to enable and motivate people to actively participate in the movement for change, and to impress a sense of global citizenship.

Media Reports. - Oxfam's work underlies the need to use the media in its campaign against poverty and injustice (Reuters Foundation 2004). One news story tells about the study conducted by Reuters AlertNet, the Fritz Institute and the Columbia University School of Journalism said that many NGOs, like Oxfam, are losing out on press exposure in helping generate public support and donor attention because of a lack of training on how to handle the media. In big events, such as the chronic conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where 3 million have died since 1997 and more than 2 million have been displaced, the drought in Kenya, the landslides in the Philippines in December and the floods in Northern Brazil, the star correspondents, the headlines and the airline seemed nowhere. Oxfam works closely with reporters and broadcasters to put the news message across but this message takes persistence and professionalism to send and it requires hard work. Reuters AlertNet and the Fritz Institute recommend the creation of a fund to offer support to journalists who want to cover humanitarian emergencies, but it is unclear as to who would pay for this and who will organize the coverage. Reuters and the Fritz Institute criticize Oxfam as one NGO that lacks media skills among relief charities and whose field offices tend to be staffed by local nationals and personnel who are inexperienced in press relations. This news story speaks of a weakness of Oxfam operations and it is negative.