Cordaid – What is it? Contributed By Joyce Bennett

Cordaid – What is it?

Take a look at the 4 wallpapers given above. Feeling an urge to do something about it? Read on…

Cordaid – in general

Cordaid combines more than 90 years’ experience and expertise in emergency aid and structural poverty eradication. We are one of the biggest international development organizations with a network of almost a thousand partner organizations in 36 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Our counterpart organizations work on various themes, including participation, emergency aid and reconstruction, health and well-being and entrepreneurship. Each year around 170 million euros is spent on initiatives in the South, of which over 30 million euros is available for emergency aid. A small part is spent in the Netherlands on lobby, public support and consciousness-raising.

Cordaid has a strong support base in the Dutch community

This is proved not only by some 370,000 contributors who support Cordaid financially, but also by the commitment of volunteers who collect clothing, organise meetings in their towns or parishes and assist in organising festivals.

People and organisations that set up their own projects can also count on Cordaid’s support. This large-scale commitment is of vital importance to Cordaid. It expresses the solidarity between people and with that forms the core of our identity Cordaid stands in the long tradition of Mensen in Nood (Caritas Netherlands), Memisa Medicus Mundi, the Dutch Bishop’s Lenten Campaign (Vastenaktie) and Cebemo.

Its history goes back to the beginning of the last century when the organizations were active in the area of shelter and (missionary) care for refugees, in providing direct aid in the event of disasters, in medical care and in the direct improvement of the social and economic position of poor people.

Supported by broad layers of the Dutch population, they were able to support the work of hundreds of Dutch priests, nuns, brothers, and volunteers in their care for the whole of humanity. Conditions have changed over the years. The missionaries have handed over their work to local organizations, which has resulted in a huge expansion in Cordaid’s partner network.

Organisational structure

Cordaid is a foundation lead by a board of directors, consisting of two directors who are supervised by a Board of Supervision. The board of directors is supported by secretarial and administrative staff. There is a workers council that negotiates directly with the director.

As of January 1st 2007 the Cordaid organisation is structured around the programmes. There are four programme sectors: Participation, Emergency Aid and Reconstruction , Health and Well-being and Entrepreneurship. The programme sectors have regional teams. Besides regional teams the sector Emergency Aid and Reconstruction has a team for immediate emergencies. In the sector Participation there is a small team for the developing programme of Women and Violence. And in the sector Entrepreneurship there is a fund management team.

Let's keep all God's people in prayer!