Read about the history of Concern Universal here (opens 200 KB PDF in new window)

Concern Universal responds to the needs expressed by local communities. In each country our commited and skilled staff ensure that our work is focused on those localities and on those issues where we can make the greatest difference. They ensure, for instance, that our work does not duplicate that of any other local or international organisation. By matching local needs with our organisational strengths, distinctive country strategies are developed. In all of our country programmes, our work includes at least some of the following areas of need:

Water and sanitation
Promoting innovative, low-cost, locally-controlled solutions that bring clean water and adequate sanitation, essential for a healthy life.

Livelihood strategies, including food security and micro-enterprise
Providing opportunites, such as credit, that enable people to grow or buy the food that they need to support themselves and their families, and live with dignity.

Emergency prevention, preparedness and response
Developing the ability of local communities to prepare for, respond to, and recover after natural and man-made disasters.

HIV/AIDS Prevention and care
Promoting the capacity of communities to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS and to care for those people living with the disease.

Gender equity and women's and children's rights
Ensuring that development is equitable, we integrate gender equity and women's and children's rights into all our work.

Partnership and local capacity strengthening
Strengthening the ability of local organisations to support and promote development initiatives in their own communities.

Everywhere we work, there are local organisations with the passion, the commitment and the ability to make a lasting contribution to the development of their country. Concern Universal works with 60 such organisations worldwide, supporting their work and strengthening their ability to make a positive and lasting difference within their communities. Read more about our 'working in partnership' approach here.