Recognizng the Good Guys

Criteria (click on image to enlarge)

The Global Journal recently posted a list of the world's best non-governmental organizations, and several  organizations that are known for their effectiveness in fighting poverty are included.  

Many of these groups were partners in the early days of The ONE Campaign (when it was more of a coalition rather than an organizations). 

Following are five organizations mentioned in the rankings, including excerpts about each group.  (By the way, three of these organizations have some sort of presence in Albuquerque, working through local volunteers. Can you guess which ones?)

3.-Oxfam: Today, Oxfam has a presence in nearly 100 countries, working closely with thousands of local partner organizations. A single-minded commitment to the eradication of poverty worldwide underpins all activities it pursues, whether relief, development or advocacy oriented. Within this framework, the organization has recently identified four key ‘change goals’, to guide its work up to 2012: economic justice, essential services, rights in crisis and gender justice.

7. Care International: CARE International currently boasts 905 poverty-fighting projects reaching more than 82 million people around the world, over half of whom are women. With its significant international presence, the organization is often one of the first agencies on the ground following a disaster. With its steadfast dedication to the eradication of global poverty, it also maintains its presence long after the immediate needs fade. 

8. Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders): Since its creation in December 1971 by thirteen doctors – among them Bernard Kouchner - MSF has been dedicated to supplying medical assistance and equipment to hard-hit trouble-spots, affected by armed conflict, natural disasters, epidemics or hunger.

11. Mercy Corps: Though ostensibly a humanitarian organization, Mercy Corps’ pioneering commitment to using relief and development programs to strengthen civil society for the long-term has seen the diversification of its high-impact, cost effective activities across a range of sectors.

12. Heifer International: Heifer provides families with a ‘living loan’, that is, a donation of livestock, accompanied with training in animal husbandry, care and sustainable grazing methods. Its inexpensive and uncomplicated formula for development has seen improvements in health, nutrition and income as well as increased gender equity and family values for its recipients across-the-board.          

See full list