Vision and values
CAFOD is the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, the official overseas development and relief agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales
CAFOD believes that all human beings have a right to dignity and respect, and that the world's resources are a gift to be shared equally by all men and women, whatever their race, nationality or religion.
Underpinning CAFOD's work is a deeply held set of values that are central to its ethos and identity. We act based on principles of compassion, solidarity, stewardship and hope.
Confronted by immense poverty and suffering, CAFOD's most fundamental response is compassion - standing alongside excluded communities, sharing resources, uniting in prayer, defending rights and challenging the systems that keep people poor.
CAFOD draws its inspiration from Scripture, the Church's social teaching, and the experiences and hopes of the poor.
Our mission is to promote human development and social justice in witness to Christian faith and Gospel values.
![]() Big Deal: Ali blogs about peace initiatives in Kenya Meet Ali from Birmingham, who recently went to Kenya to meet young people bringing peace to their communities troubled by violence |


![Refugees gather at a makeshift camp near Kibati, 12 km north of the provincial capital of Goma, October 29, 2008 [REUTERS/Stringer, courtesy www.alertnet.org]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/where-we-work/dr-congo/images/refugees-who-fled-fighting/934156-2-eng-GB/refugees-who-fled-fighting_0column50_04space_landscape.jpg)

![More than 700 campaigners rallied before delivering anti-poverty messages to every EU embassy in London [CAFOD]](/var/storage/images/media_folder/cafod/images/campaign_images/trade_justice_campaign_images/embassy_bus/199633-2-eng-GB/embassy_bus_0column50_04space_landscape.jpg)
![Fatna (right) brings home wood that she and some neighbours have harvested from outside the camp in Kubum, south Darfur [Paul Jeffery/ACT/Caritas]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/where-we-work/sudan/images/fatna-right-brings-home-wood/247664-2-eng-GB/fatna-right-brings-home-wood_0column50_04space_landscape.jpg)
![Niccollette and Shrirvanie film the aftermath of the Guyanan floods, with support from CAFOD partner Guyana Human Rights Association [CAFOD]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/what-we-do/communications/images/after-guyana-floods/679742-1-eng-GB/after-guyana-floods_0column50_04space_landscape.jpg)


![Pupils at the Knowledge and Service Secondary School in Accra, Ghana, take part in a workshop about HIV and AIDS [Annie Bungeroth]](/var/storage/images/media_folder/cafod/images/international_images/africa/ghana/accra_singing_girls/3863-2-eng-GB/accra_singing_girls_1column50_12space_landscape.jpg)




