Welthungerhilfe
Encyclopedia
Deutsche Welthungerhilfe e. V. – or Welthungerhilfe for short – is a non-denominational and politically independent, non-profit-making and non-governmental aid agency
working in the field of development cooperation and emergency relief aid. Since it was founded in 1962, it has used about 2.03 billion euros to carry out more than 6,250 aid projects in 70 countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia. Welthungerhilfe holds the seal of approval of the Deutsches Zentralinstitut für soziale Fragen [German Institute for Social Issues] (DZI).
basis.
. It formed the German section of the Freedom from Hunger Campaign, which was brought into being in 1961 by Binay Ranjan Sen
, the Director-General of the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO).
. In 2008 the registered association gave itself a new management structure. Bärbel Dieckmann
, who was at that time the mayor of Bonn
, became Welthungerhilfe's Chairperson in November 2008; her deputy is the German politician and scientist, Prof. Klaus Töpfer
. Her predecessor as chairman of the Board of Directors was Ingeborg Schäuble, who held the position for twelve years. In organisational terms the registered association is managed by an honorary Supervisory Board of seven members which appoints a three-member executive Board of Directors.
, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the United Nations' World Food Programme
(WFP). In 2009 the organisation spent 1.8 % of its income on administration. A further 5.4 % was spent on advertising and public relations work.
and food security
. In addition, projects are carried out for restoring basic infrastructure (schools, roads, etc.), and for social integration and education, strengthening civil society, and health care.
In Germany and Europe Welthungerhilfe is working together with other organisations on a critique of current development policies, and by doing so it is bringing influence to bear on government bodies. For example, together with the children's charity, terre des hommes
, it regularly publishes a Report on the Reality of Development Aid. Welthungerhilfe is a member of VENRO, the Association of German Development non-governmental Organisations. Together with the Alliance2015 network, an association of seven European aid organisations, it carries out political lobbying work at the European level. It also promotes the up-to-date treatment of development politics topics in teaching in schools by providing a series of its own materials, and it provides a range of participative campaigns. Volunteer helpers assist Welthungerhilfe with fundraising events for the aid projects.
In 2010 Welthungerhilfe published the Global Hunger Index for the fifth time, in collaboration with the International Food Policy Research Institute
(IFPRI), and - since 2007 - in collaboration with the Concern Worldwide organisation.
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
working in the field of development cooperation and emergency relief aid. Since it was founded in 1962, it has used about 2.03 billion euros to carry out more than 6,250 aid projects in 70 countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia. Welthungerhilfe holds the seal of approval of the Deutsches Zentralinstitut für soziale Fragen [German Institute for Social Issues] (DZI).
Goals and Guidelines
Welthungerhilfe has set itself the goal of banishing famine and poverty from the world. Following the basic principle of help towards self-help, it works together with local partner organisations to support the efforts of people in developing countries to free themselves from hunger and poverty and to provide for themselves on a sustainableSustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
basis.
History
Welthungerhilfe was founded in 1962, as the German Committee of the Freedom from Hunger Campaign, on the initiative of the then Federal President of Germany, Heinrich LübkeHeinrich Lübke
Karl Heinrich Lübke was President of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1959 to 1969.-Biography:...
. It formed the German section of the Freedom from Hunger Campaign, which was brought into being in 1961 by Binay Ranjan Sen
Binay Ranjan Sen
Binay Ranjan Sen was an Indian diplomat . He served as Director General of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization...
, the Director-General of the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization
Food and Agriculture Organization
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and...
(FAO).
Structure
Since it was founded its patron has been the respective current Federal President of GermanyPresident of Germany
The President of the Federal Republic of Germany is the country's head of state. His official title in German is Bundespräsident . Germany has a parliamentary system of government and so the position of President is largely ceremonial...
. In 2008 the registered association gave itself a new management structure. Bärbel Dieckmann
Bärbel Dieckmann
Bärbel Dieckmann was elected mayor of Bonn in 1994. She is the first woman and first Social Democrat to become mayor of Bonn...
, who was at that time the mayor of Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
, became Welthungerhilfe's Chairperson in November 2008; her deputy is the German politician and scientist, Prof. Klaus Töpfer
Klaus Töpfer
Klaus Töpfer is a German politician and environmental politics expert. From 1998 to 2006 he was executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme ....
. Her predecessor as chairman of the Board of Directors was Ingeborg Schäuble, who held the position for twelve years. In organisational terms the registered association is managed by an honorary Supervisory Board of seven members which appoints a three-member executive Board of Directors.
Funding
Despite a rapid increase in the amount of private donations from the general public (2009: 31.9 million euros), Welthungerhilfe continues to finance the majority of its work from public grants (2009: 101.1 million euros).[1] The largest public donor organisations are the EU CommissionEuropean Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the United Nations' World Food Programme
World Food Programme
The World Food Programme is the food aid branch of the United Nations, and the world's largest humanitarian organization addressing hunger worldwide. WFP provides food, on average, to 90 million people per year, 58 million of whom are children...
(WFP). In 2009 the organisation spent 1.8 % of its income on administration. A further 5.4 % was spent on advertising and public relations work.
Activities
As well as direct disaster aid, Welthungerhilfe chiefly provides support for people in developing countries in the fields of rural developmentRural development
Rural development in general denotes economic development and community development actions and initiatives taken to improve the standard of living in non-urban neighbourhoods, remote villages and the countryside...
and food security
Food security
Food security refers to the availability of food and one's access to it. A household is considered food-secure when its occupants do not live in hunger or fear of starvation. According to the World Resources Institute, global per capita food production has been increasing substantially for the past...
. In addition, projects are carried out for restoring basic infrastructure (schools, roads, etc.), and for social integration and education, strengthening civil society, and health care.
In Germany and Europe Welthungerhilfe is working together with other organisations on a critique of current development policies, and by doing so it is bringing influence to bear on government bodies. For example, together with the children's charity, terre des hommes
Terre des hommes
Terre des hommes is a charitable international humanitarian federation which concentrates on children's rights, founded in 1959 and based in Lausanne, Switzerland...
, it regularly publishes a Report on the Reality of Development Aid. Welthungerhilfe is a member of VENRO, the Association of German Development non-governmental Organisations. Together with the Alliance2015 network, an association of seven European aid organisations, it carries out political lobbying work at the European level. It also promotes the up-to-date treatment of development politics topics in teaching in schools by providing a series of its own materials, and it provides a range of participative campaigns. Volunteer helpers assist Welthungerhilfe with fundraising events for the aid projects.
In 2010 Welthungerhilfe published the Global Hunger Index for the fifth time, in collaboration with the International Food Policy Research Institute
International Food Policy Research Institute
The International Food Policy Research Institute is an international agricultural research center founded in the early 1970s to improve the understanding of national agricultural and food policies to promote the adoption of innovations in agricultural technology...
(IFPRI), and - since 2007 - in collaboration with the Concern Worldwide organisation.