ENDING EXTREME POVERTY IS OUR CONCERN

Concern was established in 1968 when a group of Irish people saw famine in Biafra and didn’t wait for the world to act.

Their efforts culminated in the daily delivery of vital aid to people who were starving behind a blockade. Their appeals for support were met with overwhelming generosity from the Irish public.

Because Ireland has long memories of hunger, of hardship. In every crisis, we see echoes of our past. Our history, our scars, our sense of justice, remind us that wherever suffering exists, it's our Concern.

Now, nearly 60 years later, Concern works in 26 countries. And it’s the continued support of the people of Ireland that allows us to keep striving to achieve our mission: Ending extreme poverty, whatever it takes.

Who we are

We are an international humanitarian organisation that strives for a world free from extreme poverty, fear and oppression. We deliver life-saving and life-changing interventions to the world's poorest and most vulnerable people. From rapid emergency response to innovative development programming, we go to the hardest to reach places to make sure that no-one is left behind.

Donate today to make ending extreme poverty your Concern

Donate now

Our work

We currently work in 26 of the world's poorest countries to tackle the underlying causes of extreme poverty.

We know that real progress comes not just from reacting to shocks and disasters, that it happens first and foremost at the community level, when people are equipped and empowered to transform their own lives. We work with communities to build their resilience and ensure their transformation is sustainable and long-lasting.

We have a track record in developing cutting-edge approaches that have pushed the boundaries of innovations in maternal and child health care, cash transfers, emergency response and more.

Our impact

Since our beginnings in 1968, we have supported families and communities in 48 countries around the globe. Last year, our development and humanitarian programmes operated in 27 of the world’s most fragile and conflict-affected countries.

In 2024, we reached 27.3 million people in 27 countries.

2024 was a year marked by increasingly protracted crises driven by conflict and climate change – a year in which 130 million people were forcibly displaced from their homes, and over 300 million people were facing acute or catastrophic levels of hunger. It was a year in which our Concern was needed more than ever.

In 2024, we reached 27.3 million people in 27 countries.
We responded to 50 emergencies in 22 countries
We reached over 2.5 million people through our livelihood programmes
Our health and nutrition programmes helped over 5 million people

Our commitment to transparency and accountability

We are committed to transparency and accountability, both to our donors and to the communities we support. Because we believe that everyone should be able to understand how we work, and how the money we raised is spent.

How your donation is used

88.2%
of your donation goes to Relief and Development

This is spent directly towards our goal of ending extreme poverty.

A girl dressed in her school uniform stands in front of her family's home

8.6%
Fundraising
This is money spent to raise funds for Concern's work and highlight the needs of the communities we work with.
2.7%
Global Citizenship and Advocacy
We invest money in influencing policies and deepening awareness on issues around global poverty with the public.
0.5%
Governance
Funds spent to ensure Concern Worldwide is managed efficiently and adheres to the highest standards.

Find out more

Download our latest Annual Report to learn more about our impact and the how the money we raise is spent.