Annual report 2009

New approaches to cooperation with fragile states

Dr. Wolfgang Jamann and Bärbel Dieckmann
present the annual report 2009. (07.06.2010). In the past year, Welthungerhilfe has provided more than half of its financial support in fragile states such as Sudan, Congo, Haiti and Afghanistan. Almost 76 million euros have gone towards assisting refugees, the fight against cholera, the building up of infrastructure, and rural development. Education is also an important aspect. "We saw in Haiti what dramatic consequences a natural disaster can have if it affects a state that was hardly functioning even before it occurred", says Bärbel Dieckmann, Welthungerhilfe's Chairperson, on the occasion of the presentation of the 2009 annual report.

Welthungerhilfe particularly wants to promote the involvement of local partners in its cooperation with fragile states in order to achieve long-term development aid successes in that area also. "As a non-governmental organisation we have the opportunity to reach people directly", Dieckmann stresses.

She continues: "In order to create long-term structures, we must operate jointly with local partners. Partner projects are particularly successful because they create jobs and acknowledge and take account of distinctive cultural features, but also because they bring the concerns of the poor into national policies. At the same time, they can drive forward changes within the countries, as well as social transformation. We must help people in the developing countries to demand their rights from their own governments too. The Millennium Development Goals will also only be achieved if progress is made in the fragile states"

As Chairman of the Board, Dr. Wolfgang Jamann, reports, last year Welthungerhilfe had 31.9 million euros of donations and 101.1 million euros of public grants at its disposal. Its administration expenses were 1.8 percent, and the share of funds devoted to advertising and public relations work was 5.4 percent

(Please notice: The english annual report 2009 will be available at July.)