What we do - CAFOD

After the devastating floods in Mozambique in 2000, those affected were given land and material to help rebuild their lives [Simon Rawles]

Aid is provided by governments and agencies such as the World Bank or IMF as grants or low interest loans, to be used for long-term development or emergencies by poorer countries

Reducing vulnerability to drought: Cambodian community members work together to improve the water supply to their village [Development Partnership in Action]

Climate change

The environment has been heavily exploited by a global increase in population and consumer demand, leaving it more fragile than ever before

A young voter in Kenema, Sierra Leone, listens for election results via radio [Annie Bungeroth]

Communications

Poverty is often about lack of access to information. Communication can play a crucial role in providing knowledge that can make real differences to people's lives

East Timorese children displaced from their homes by burning and looting take refuge in a temporary camp protected by UN peacekeeping troops [Mike Goldwater]

Conflict and peace

Unrest has become a state of normality in many countries - war and conflict directly undermine vital development work

TIE-Asia helps women form effective unions in order to improve working conditions [CAFOD]

Corporate responsibility

Many UK companies work in developing countries or buy goods from them, and their activities often have an impact on poor communities

David Gwemani monitors the effects of IMF-designed Structural Adjustment Programmes in Zambia [Gideon Mendel]

Debt

Debt cancellation needs to go further – 100% should mean 100% for all governments and institutions, more poor countries should get debts cancelled, and debt relief should not be tied to economic conditions

Severino Jovino de Lima learns literacy skills at makeshift classes held at his workplace [Marcella Haddad]

Education

"Education for all" is an international ideal, but in some developing countries, education is a luxury

After the devastating flood of 2000, CAFOD helped villagers in Mozambique rebuild their homes [Simon Rawles]

Emergency/disasters

Natural disasters include earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, drought, hurricanes and cyclones, but emergencies are also caused by conflict and political crises

A villager in Chukeni, Zambia, where the harvests have been hit by drought [Annie Bungeroth]

Farming and food

Farming provides a living for up to 80 per cent of people in the developing world, and can ensure that food is available at all times to all people

Livelihoods are a vital part of the reconstruction work in Aceh [CAFOD]

Gender

Equality is essential if we are to tackle poverty, and both men and women are part of the solution

A Mexican electronics sector worker, sacked for speaking publicly about poor working conditions [Marcella Haddad]

Globalisation

People, goods, money and ideas are moved around the world faster and cheaper than ever before. This can be a force for good, but the poor are losing out

John Goteng, water filtration supervisor, tests levels of bacteria in water filtered by gravel, charcoal and sand in Nigeria [Jon Spaull]

Health

Millions in poor countries are underweight and more than three million children die each year as a result. Many major causes of ill health are easily preventable

At the CAFOD-funded St Francis Home-Based Care programme in Livingstone, Zambia, volunteers are trained to care for those with HIV [Annie Bungeroth]

HIV and AIDS

All around the developing world, CAFOD is fighting back against HIV and AIDS. Given the scale and urgency of the problem, this is one of CAFOD's four top priority areas of work

Zapatista guerrillas and Mexican indigenous groups march for indigenous rights [Marcella Haddad]

Human Rights

The true test of a fair society is the degree to which it fulfils human rights, including the right to health, adequate housing, sufficient food, education, justice and security

In Brazil, millions of rural families are landless and hungry because they cannot grow food [Paul Smith]

Land and Housing

More than one billion people live in inadequate housing, and land ownership is being concentrated in the hands of multinational corporations

Small-scale miners work in treacherous conditions at Kanga-Usine mine, Democratic Republic of Congo [Richard Wainwright]

Mining

In poor parts of the world, extractive industries are often a cause of conflict, suffering, and dangerous pollution

Seven-year-old Pedro with his dog. Many from his community in Mexico seek work in the US but CAFOD partner Fomento is helping migrant workers improve their situation [Sarah Smith-Pearse]

Refugees and Migration

War, natural disaster, persecution, or the search for work, are all reasons for millions of people to leave their homes and seek refuge elsewhere

Rice farmer Rodrigo Costanilla, father of seven, farms one hectare, rented from a land-owning family, and says rice is his livelihood [Annie Bungeroth]

Trade

International trade has the potential to lift millions of people out of poverty. But trade rules are stacked in favour of rich countries and companies

Members of the COMUCAP co-operative making orange wine [Marcella Haddad]

Work

Up to 160 million workers worldwide are currently unemployed and 500 million are unable to earn more than $1 a day