Concern Worldwide

Concern Worldwide (often referred to as Concern) is Ireland's largest aid and humanitarian agency. Since its foundation 45 years ago it has worked in 50 countries and currently employs 3,200 staff in 25 countries around the world. Concern works to help those living in the world's poorest countries to achieve real and lasting improvements in their lives. Concern is engaged in long term development work, in addition to emergency relief in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. Concern’s core work focuses on health, hunger and humanitarian response in emergencies. They work in partnership with small community groups as well as governments and large global organisations. Concern is just one of fourteen fully certified members of Humanitarian Accountability Partnership.

Concern Worldwide US is an affiliate of Concern Worldwide. It has offices in New York and Chicago. Concern Worldwide is a partner of the One Campaign.

History

Concern Worldwide was set up by a small group of people including John and Kay O’Loughlin Kennedy in their home in Dublin in March 1968, following an appeal for aid by missionaries for the starving population of war torn Biafra. In June 1968 Africa Concern as it was originally called, launched their famine appeal “Send One Ship”. The ship, the Colmcille landed off the coast of Biafra in September 1968 with supplies of powdered food and medicine. In 1970 the public were asked to respond to the cyclone in East Pakistan and Africa Concern became Concern.