Editing CAFOD

{{short description|UK Catholic overseas development agency}}
{{Infobox organization
| name                    = CAFOD
| full_name               = Catholic Agency for Overseas Development
| logo                    = CAFOD.png
| abbreviation            = CAFOD
| type                    = [[Nonprofit organization|Nonprofit]]
| tax_id                  = <!-- or |vat_id = (for European organizations) -->
| registration_id         = 1160384 
| status                  = [[Company limited by guarantee]]
| purpose                 = [[development aid]], [[humanitarian aid]]
| professional_title      = <!-- for professional associations -->
| headquarters            = Romero House, 55 [[Westminster Bridge Road]]
| location_city           = [[London]]
| location_country        = [[United Kingdom]]
| coordinates             = {{coord|51.49833|-0.10803|display=inline,title}}
| region_served           = worldwide
| leader_title            = Director
| leader_name             = Christine Allen
| publication             = ''Side by Side''
| affiliations            = [[Caritas Internationalis]], [[Caritas Europa]],  [[Disasters Emergency Committee]], [[CHS Alliance]]
| revenue                 = {{currency|67916000|GBP}}<ref name=Report2023>{{cite web |url= https://cafod.org.uk/about-us/how-we-work/annual-reviews |title= Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2023 |date= 2023 |website= cafod.org.uk |access-date= 30 May 2024}}</ref>
| revenue_year            = 2022/2023
| funding                 = <!-- source of funding e.g. for "think tanks" -->
| staff                   = 391<ref name=Report2023/>
| staff_year              = 2023
| volunteers              = 3,344<ref name=Report2023/>
| volunteers_year         = 2023
| website                 = {{URL|https://cafod.org.uk/}}
}}
{{Catholic Church in England and Wales sidebar}}
The '''Catholic Agency for Overseas Development''', commonly known as '''CAFOD''', is an [[development aid|international development]] and [[humanitarian aid|relief]] charity. It is the official [[aid agency]] of the [[Catholic Church in England and Wales]]. 

CAFOD is part of the global [[Caritas Internationalis]] confederation and of [[Caritas Europa]], as well as a member of the [[Disasters Emergency Committee]] (DEC). Its work is based on [[Gospel]] values and [[Catholic social teaching]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=CAFOD and Catholicism {{!}} CAFOD|url=https://cafod.org.uk/About-us/CAFOD-Catholicism|access-date=2020-08-07|website=cafod.org.uk|language=English}}</ref>

The [[Caritas Social Action Network]] is the agency's counterpart for the domestic work of the Church in England and Wales.

== History ==
CAFOD's origins can be traced back to the launch of a ''Family [[Fasting|Fast]] Day'' organised by a group of Catholic women in 1960, who used the money saved through fasting to support a project in [[Dominica]]. The [[Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales|Bishops' Conference of England and Wales]] registered the charity in 1962.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.abdiocese.org.uk/news/cafod-celebrates-its-female-founders-on-its-60th-anniversary |title= CAFOD celebrates its female founders on its 60th Anniversary. |date= 15 June 2022 |website= [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Arundel and Brighton|Diocese of Arundel and Brighton]] |access-date= 30 May 2024}}</ref> Its current governing document dates from 2015.<ref>Charities Commission for England and Wales, [https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5057778/governing-document Catholic Agency for Overseas Development: Governing Document], accessed 30 May 2022</ref>

In 2015, CAFOD joined the [[CHS Alliance]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.chsalliance.org/about/our-members/cafod/ |title= Our members: CAFOD |website= chsalliance.org |access-date= 30 May 2024}}</ref> One year later, it was certified against the [[Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability]] with the current certification being valid until 2027.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.hqai.org/en/network/audited-partners/certified-partners/cafod/ |title= CAFOD |website= HQAI |access-date= 30 May 2024}}</ref>

CAFOD's Director Christine Allen was appointed in March 2019. 

In 2020, CAFOD launched a new strategy, ''Our Common Home'', based on [[Pope Francis]]' encyclical [[Laudato si'|Laudato Si']], which calls for a new definition of progress rooted in integral ecology, recognising that everything is connected and hearing both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor, calling on all people to dialogue in society about how best to tackle the global issue.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://cafod.org.uk/about-us/how-we-work/our-common-home-vision |title= Our Common Home: CAFOD's vision of progress |website= cafod.org.uk |access-date= 30 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2020-09/cafod-change-of-heart-needed-to-renew-our-common-home.html |title= CAFOD: Change of heart needed to renew Our Common Home | author= Lydia O'Kane |date= 11 September 2020 |website= [[Vatican News]] |access-date= 5 May 2024}}</ref>

== Work ==
The stated aim of CAFOD is to tackle poverty globally. Through local Catholic Church and secular partners, its aims to help people directly in their own communities and campaigns for global justice

=== International programmes ===
In 2023, CAFOD implemented programmes in 42 countries located in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean. CAFOD is not a direct implementer but works according to the [[Localisation (humanitarian practice)|localisation principle]], i.e. through local partner organisations such as [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Marsabit|Caritas Marsabit]], a diocesan partner in northern Kenya,<ref>CAFOD, [https://cafod.org.uk/give/major-giving/lent-philanthropy-giving Lent Appeal 2025: Spotlight on Marsabit, Kenya], accessed on 14 April 2025</ref> and Action on Disability and Development in Bangladesh.

CAFOD supported local partners organisations with 594 grants and programme payments worth £41.8 million in 2023, reaching one million vulnerable and excluded people directly.<ref name=Report2023/>

=== Campaigns ===
CAFOD has had many campaigns over the years and participated in joint campaigns with other charities. These campaigns tackled a series of topics, for example the impact of [[Debt crisis|debt crises]] in the poorest nations ("Jubilee 2000", "Cancel the Debt", "Stop Cowboy Lenders", "The New Debt Crisis"),<ref>{{cite web |url= https://blog.cafod.org.uk/2020/08/11/cafods-debt-campaigning-over-the-years/ |title= CAFOD’s debt campaigning over the years |author= Maria Elena Arana |date= 2020 |website= cafod.org.uk |access-date= 30 May 2024}}</ref> or the right of [[small-scale farmer]] around the world to use their seeds and the negative impact of powerful [[agribusiness]] companies ("Fix the Food System"). Other campaigns demanded climate action ("The Time is Now"; "One Climate, One World"),<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/news/join-cafods-fix-the-food-system-campaign/ |title= Join CAFOD's 'Fix the Food System' campaign |date= 18 June 2022 |website= [[Diocese of Brentwood]] |access-date= 5 May 2024}}</ref> renewable energy for the world's poorest people ("Power to Be"),<ref>CAFOD, [https://assets.ctfassets.net/vy3axnuecuwj/305af78a800e47f1d01e1fc8708d3e0ae6d2f17543a7f101fb1eb663777f1a00/ca53f152b0749f9ceded18b47fb617bf/Power_to_be_campaign_guide_vfinal.pdf Power to be: Organiser's Guide], accessed on 14 April 2025</ref> or raised awareness against the UK [[Illegal Migration Act 2023]] ("Build Bridges not Walls").

CAFOD supports and administers the process whereby Catholic communities (churches, schools, [[religious order]]s and [[Chaplaincy|chaplaincies]]) can apply for the ''Livesimply'' award, through which communities can record, celebrate and develop their approach to [[simple living|living simply]], in solidarity with people in poverty and sustainably with creation.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/49225 | title= One hundred schools achieve LiveSimply Award|date=27 February 2024 |website= |access-date= 5 May 2024}}</ref><ref>[https://assets.ctfassets.net/vy3axnuecuwj/8995fece6010dc1f91092fdf9a7f827821239a0b46998f22e6f907c55cfa99d0/8479f827c32728a1b4337d261b1d9ece/Live_Simply_Guide_for_web.pdf ''Your Guide to the Livesimply award'']</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk/News/st-john-henry-newman-parish-is-a-livesimply-parish |title= St John Henry Newman Parish is a LiveSimply Parish | website= [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham|Archdiocese of Birmingham]] |access-date= 30 May 2024}}</ref> Participation in CAFOD's ''LiveSimply'' programme has been commended by the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.cbcew.org.uk/short-plenary-resolutions-autumn-2023/ |title= Plenary Resolutions: Environment, St Winefride, Eucharistic Congress and Conflict in Gaza |date= 17 November 2023 |website= [[Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales]] |access-date= 30 May 2024}}</ref>

== Structure and funding ==

In 2023, CAFOD employed 391 staff and in addition worked with more than 3,000 volunteers carrying out a range of roles such as campaigning, fundraising, media, office support and youth work.<ref name=Report2023/> 

CAFOD is funded by the [[Catholic community in England and Wales]], the [[British Government|British government]] (through [[UK aid]]), private and institutional donors, and the general public.

In 2019/20, CAFOD's income was £45million. A few years later, in 2022/2023, the total revenue had increased to {{currency|67916000|GBP}}, £37 million of which were raised by 1,856 parishes in England and over 78,000 individuals, 1,043 schools and over 1,000 organisations. In addition, the organisation received over £11 million from legacies, raised around £5.5 million to respond to humanitarian emergencies in East Africa, Ukraine, Pakistan, Turkey and Syria, and obtained £16 million from the [[Disasters Emergency Committee]].<ref name=Report2023/>

In order to raise awareness and funds, CAFOD has been working with "celebraty embassadors", including TV presenter [[Julie Etchingham]], actor [[David Harewood]], actress [[Jo Joyner]], TV and radio presenter [[Dermot O'Leary]], actor and director [[Ben Price]], actress [[Emma Rigby]], cook and television presenter [[Delia Smith]], and composer [[Benson Taylor]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.looktothestars.org/charity/cafod |title= Celebrities: Emma Rigby becomes ambassador for Cafod |author= John Plummer |date= 20 March 2017 |website= looktothestars.org |access-date= 30 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://cafod.org.uk/about-us/our-celebrity-ambassadors |title= Our celebrity ambassadors |website= cafod.co.uk |access-date= 30 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/jun/15/celebrity-support-charity-name |title= A celebrity's support for a charity has to be more than just lending their name |author= [[David Harewood]] |date= 15 June 2012 |website= [[The Guardian]] |access-date= 30 May 2024}}</ref> 

CAFOD's magazine, ''Side by Side'', is published quarterly.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|https://cafod.org.uk/}}
*[https://kidzzone.cafod.org.uk/ "Kidzzone" - CAFODs children site]
*{{EW charity|1160384}}

{{Caritas Internationalis Member Organisations}}
{{CIDSE}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1960 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Caritas Internationalis]]
[[Category:Catholic Church in England and Wales]]
[[Category:Charities based in London]]
[[Category:Christian organizations established in 1960]]
[[Category:Christian charities based in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:CIDSE]]
[[Category:Development charities based in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Organisations based in the London Borough of Southwark]]
[[Category:Religion in the London Borough of Southwark]]
[[Category:Humanitarian aid organizations in Europe]]