Textual description (image: Members of the Bawodene Saccos women's group in Tanzania showcase the results of their poultry farming scheme.)

What we do

ActionAid is a partnership between people in rich and poor countries dedicated to ending poverty and injustice.

ActionAid works with local people to fight hunger and disease, seek justice and education for women, hold companies and governments accountable and cope with emergencies in over 40 countries. We want a world without poverty, where nobody goes to bed hungry.

Ending poverty

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  • Hunger

    Despite world leader’s commitments to halve hunger by 2015, there are more hungry people now than at any time in history. But the causes of hunger aren’t natural, they’re manmade, and the solutions are within our power.

  • Education

    Over one billion people, mostly women, lack a basic education and illiteracy and poverty are closely linked. Our work is driven by the belief that every child has the right to a free, quality education, which the state must provide.

  • Economic justice

    Unfair trade rules, tax evasion and the power of big business all add up to a global economic system that tips the scales against the world's poorest people.

  • HIV and AIDS

    33.2 million people are living with HIV and AIDS today. We cannot end global poverty without tackling the spread of AIDS, which is devastating some of the poorest countries around the world.

  • Women's rights

    Wherever women and girls are disadvantaged, excluded, discriminated against and denied their rights, it keeps half the world's population poor. ActionAid is working to gain justice for women.

Emergencies and conflict

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  • Our approach to emergencies and conflict

    Every year about 300 million people are affected by conflict or natural disaster. We work with communities on a long-term basis to mitigate impact and aid recovery.

  • Current emergencies

    ActionAid works in emergency situations providing immediate relief and setting up long-term projects to help communities rebuild their lives and reduce their vulnerability to future disasters.

  • Ongoing emergencies relief work

    Our immediate relief work is just the tip of the iceberg: find out what we do to help communities rebuild themselves in the wake of conflict and natural disasters.

  • Climate change

    People in poor countries are suffering the effects of climate change the most, even though they have contributed to it the least. Read more about how we work to prevent climate change and help poor people adapt to it.

  • You are helping people who have lost everything

    Anaba Mbule and his family from Winkogo, Ghana lost their home, land and crops in severe floods several years ago. With your help, we were able to give Anaba the tools to rebuild his life.

Campaign for change

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  • Our approach

    Our campaigns turn up the heat and challenge the rules, regulations and power relations that keep people poor.

  • Get involved

    Whether you've got a minute, an hour or a month to spare, we've got the campaign for you.

  • How we campaign

    What does it mean to campaign, and how can you get involved?

Research & publications

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  • Aid and debt research

    The way donor governments decide to spend their aid and drop debts has huge implications for how effective they can be at tackling poverty and promoting development.

  • Corporate accountability

    Foreign companies can be a force for good in developing countries - bringing new jobs, technology and investment. They can also abuse the rights of poor communities and workers and destroy the environment by putting profits before people.

  • Education research

    ActionAid has a huge range of experience in the field of education around the world - working from early childhood through to adult education.

  • Emergencies and conflict research

    Our approach to human security during emergencies and conflict encompasses preparedness and mitigation measures as well as response and recovery.

  • HIV and AIDS

    Explore the impact of HIV and AIDS on the world's poorest countries and look at G8 countries' failure to make good on their promises and provide HIV treatment for all by 2010.

  • Hunger

    Hunger kills 3.5 million children every year. That's one every 10 seconds. And the causes of hunger aren’t natural, they’re manmade - and we can fix them.

  • Tax research

    Developing countries lose an estimated $160 billion to tax evasion by multinational companies every year. Find out how this happens, and what measures can be put in place to make the system fairer.

  • Trade research

    Trade can play an important role in lifting millions of people out of poverty. However, rich countries continue to push trade rules that harm poor communities and prevent development.

  • Women's rights research

    Around the world, and particularly in developing countries, women and girls are disadvantaged, excluded, discriminated against, and in many cases, denied their rights.

On the ground

ActionAid works around the world providing immediate relief from conflict and natural disasters and long-term support for communities.

Find out more about how we operate and where we're currently working here:

Tax can be unfathomably boring.

But when you hear that developing countries lose $160 billion they are owed through tax dodging by huge multinational companies every single year, well, we find that so fascinating it's hard to shut up about it.

That's why we formed The Outlandish Revenue Service.

We’re going to ludicrous lengths to lift the veil of secrecy provided by tax havens, and achieve tax justice.

Have fun with a tax-related project TODAY!

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