FAQs

Questions about social justice

What is social justice?
Social justice is understood as 1) the creation of just relationships at all system levels; 2) the development of structures that provide for equality of opportunity; 3) the facilitation of access to needed information, services and resources; and 4) the support of meaningful participation in decision-making for all people.

How does ACORD work towards social justice?
ACORD's response to the challenges of Africa and especially social justice is informed by a belief that people themselves are the primary agents of change and actors of their own development. People's ability to take action and reclaim ownership of the development process and claim their right is what will transform Africa. This belief underpins ACORD's methodology that combines practical work at grass-roots level and capacity building, research and advocacy at national and continental levels. ACORD works towards the empowerment of the most affected communities themselves to understand, challenge and change conditions causing social injustice and denial of rights that are reinforced by the dynamic of globalisation.

What can I do for social justice?
You can make a difference today! Visit our get involved pages and become one of our activist supporters.

Questions about ACORD in general

How does ACORD work in Africa?
ACORD's response to the challenges of Africa is firmly based on a belief that people themselves are the agents of change and actors of their own development. People's ability to take action on the causes of poverty is what will transform Africa's future. ACORD believes those people suffering under poverty, economic, social and political inequality, are best placed to explore the root causes for injustice and identify solutions. They are also best placed to act upon them to bring about positive changes at national, Pan African and international levels. ACORD perceives its role as working in common cause with the poor and those who have been denied their rights to understand, challenge and change unfair conditions through practical work and advocacy. This belief underpins ACORD's practical work at the grassroots, its research methodologies and advocacy at policy levels.

What does ACORD do and where we work?
ACORD works on the ground in 17 African countries, working with communities on livelihood and food sovereignty, HIV&AIDS, peace building and women's rights. We also do related campaign and advocacy work at the Pan-African and global levels aimed at enhancing the achievement of ACORD's humanitarian objectives. We are currently operational in Angola, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Rwanda, North and South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.

Who benefits from ACORD's work?
African local communities and civil society are at the heart of everything we do. ACORD works with more than one million Africans and 2000 locally rooted partners.

How long do you work with a community?
As long as necessary for the community to become self-sufficient and to engage lasting change. ACORD often works 15 to 20 years with a community as social justice and mentality change can't happen over night.

How much of my money goes towards ACORD's development project?
On average, 90% of the money raised by ACORD goes towards planning and implementing our programme work.

How can I contact ACORD?
We look forward to hearing from you either by email, telephone, mail, fax or facebook!

Where are your offices based?
The Secretariat is based in Nairobi and London. Our national or regional programmes have offices in 17 African countries. Find out more about where we work.

How did ACORD start?
The Agency for Cooperation and Research in Development (ACORD) was established in 1976 as a consortium of international non-governmental organisations (NGOs), with the purpose of collectively responding to emergency situations in some of Africa's poorest, most crisis prone and marginalised areas. Over the years, the work developed further into relief, rehabilitation, long-term programming research and capacity building.

Who finances ACORD's work?
Support from founding members and government sources have remained strong with continued funding from donors such as Oxfam Novib, the European Commission, DFID, CIDA, CCFD, the Belgian Government, Interpares, the Dutch Government and various UN agencies. While seeking stronger and sustainable partnerships to improve the impact of our work, ACORD is diversifying its funding sources to reach a wider audience for its advocacy work and to partner with more African donors. Promoting governance also means engaging all relevant stakeholders in Africa and in Northern countries to defend the rights of the poorest. Therefore, ACORD partners with individuals as well as corporations or foundations, both in Africa and worldwide.

Who runs ACORD?
ACORD is an independent and participatory-run organisation. The organisation's mission and policies, and its long-term directions, are approved by ACORD Board of Trustees and the statutory function of oversight of ACORD is the role of the General Assembly composed of 9 members. ACORD's work is always being assessed by our members and staff in the light of changing world circumstances. When major changes in policy and approach are needed, ACORD members make the final decision.

Do ACORD's fundraising activities comply with International standards?
Yes. ACORD is publishing consolidated Pan-African financial accounts covering its operations. These accounts, which are prepared according to Charity Finance Director's Group standards, cover the fundraising side of the organisation and the use of funds in programme countries. The accounts are audited by Horwath Clark Whitehill and clearly show how ACORD spends the funds that are raised. The management and operations of ACORD have been independently assessed by the International Committee on Fundraising Organisations and are in compliance with ICFO standards. Find out more about our adherence to standards.

Is ACORD independent?
ACORD is independent, with no religious, political or governmental affiliations.

Can I get funding from ACORD?
ACORD is not a grant-giving organisation and does not sponsor individuals. ACORD is primarily grant-funded and raises funds from insitutional donors (local and international) to implement programmes related to its core themes.

Questions about ACORD campaigns

Why is achieving food sovereignty in Africa such a critical goal?
Food is a basic human right. Everybody deserves to have enough food to live a full and healthy life in dignity. One in three people in sub-Saharan Africa never have enough food to eat. That is 265 million people. These are people living with constant hunger not as a result of war or natural resources, but just because of the way our societies and our global food system are structured. ACORD is working to support and mobilise networks and movements in Africa to take action and find solutions to hunger through a food sovereignty approach. Find out more about ACORD's work on livelihoods and food sovereignty.

How can I support ACORD campaigns?
Many ways to help! You can sign our online petitions, tell your friends, organise an event, mobilise people in your country, make a donation, write an essay that could be published in our website. Feel free to contact us and share your ideas and suggestions.

Questions about supporting ACORD

How can I help ACORD?
Thank you. There are lots of ways you can get involved and make a difference. You can become a financial supporter through making a donation, an activist supporter through signing our current campaign petition, telling your friends, organising an event, shopping online, or stay informed through signing up to our newsletter 'The Power of Action'. We look forward to your support for social justice!

I'm a kid what can I do to help?
Log in regularly to our website to participate in online campaign activites aiming at helping the poorest people in Africa. That way you'll help make their voice heard. You can also tell your friends and join our facebook group posting up your ideas and thoughts and recruiting new members. If you have an email you can add something to the signature file on your email with a campaign message and a link to ACORD's website. Use your own words and make your message interesting and innovative so that people read it and follow the link.

I want to contact someone about my donation to ACORD
If you have any query about your donation to ACORD, kindly send an email to supporters.service@/ mentioning your name and contact details.

I cannot afford to make a donation to ACORD but would like to receive regular information about your work what else can I do?
Log in regularly to our website to participate in ACORD online campaign activities. Add something to the signature file on your email with a campaign message and a link to a cyberaction. If you make your message really interesting or funny and change it regularly, people will read it and follow the link. This way, every time you send an email to a friend, you ask somebody else to join in an action for social justice. Do you have a website of your own? Put an ACORD banner up. See a site where you think one of our banners belongs? Ask the webmaster to post one, and send him or her the link to our banner's page. Join our Facebook group and mobilise/recruit your friends. Talk up the issues and get others informed and involved -- send them links to e-newsletter, petitions, and other on-line actions. 

Questions about working or volunteering for ACORD?

How can I get a job with ACORD?
Take a look at our vacancies that are regularly updated.

How can I volunteer with ACORD?
ACORD may need local volunteers in its country offices and sometimes at Secretariat level in Nairobi and London. All volunteer positions are also advertised on the vacancies page.

Others

I would like to ask a question that is not listed in this page what can I do?
Kindly email us your question and we'll answer you or post the answer here as quickly as possible.