CARE (relief agency)

CARE (relief agency)
Name	CARE
Formation	1945
Type	International humanitarian agency
Headquarters	Atlanta, Georgia
Region served	Worldwide
Leader title	President and CEO
Leader name	Sofia Hernandez

CARE (relief agency) is an international humanitarian charity and non-governmental organization founded in 1945 to provide emergency relief and long-term development assistance. Originally distributing "CARE Packages" to World War II survivors, the organization expanded into global humanitarian response, partnering with actors across humanitarian and development sectors such as United Nations, World Bank, European Union, and national agencies like U.S. Agency for International Development and U.S. Department of State. CARE operates programs in crisis-affected countries including Afghanistan, Syria, Haiti, Ethiopia, and Bangladesh.

History

CARE traces its origins to post-World War II relief efforts in Europe when private citizens in the United States sent food parcels to civilians in France, Germany, Belgium, and Italy. Founding organizations included the American Friends Service Committee, Quakers, Girl Scouts of the USA, and philanthropic entities such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-era model of large-scale private relief. CARE expanded into relief in Korea during the Korean War and later adapted operations for decolonization-era crises in Algeria and Vietnam. During the late 20th century CARE added development work influenced by frameworks from United Nations Development Programme, World Health Organization, and International Labour Organization and engaged in humanitarian responses in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide and in Kosovo during the Kosovo War. CARE has undergone governance reforms parallel to international legal norms such as the Geneva Conventions and the Sphere Project standards.

Mission and Programs

CARE's mission concentrates on reducing poverty and providing humanitarian relief with focal areas including women's rights, food security, healthcare, water supply and sanitation, climate change adaptation, and economic empowerment. Programs employ cash-based interventions shaped by guidance from International Committee of the Red Cross and United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, as well as resilience-building approaches aligned with Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainable Development Goals. CARE implements maternal and child health initiatives informed by UNICEF recommendations, supports microfinance models related to practices by Grameen Bank, and advances gender-transformative programming influenced by advocacy from UN Women and feminist NGOs. Emergency responses have included food assistance during famines in Somalia, shelter in earthquakes in Nepal, and public health campaigns during Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa.

Organizational Structure

CARE functions as a confederation of national affiliates and a central secretariat. Major national members include CARE USA, CARE International UK, CARE Deutschland, CARE France, and CARE Australia, which coordinate with the CARE International Secretariat and a Board of Directors. Leadership roles include President and CEO, Chief Financial Officer, and regional directors for Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Middle East and North Africa. CARE’s governance has interacted with international governance bodies such as Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and accountability mechanisms like International Aid Transparency Initiative. Field operations are managed through country offices staffed by program managers, protection officers, and logistics teams who liaise with local civil society organizations like Oxfam, Save the Children, and Doctors Without Borders.

Funding and Partnerships

CARE is funded by a mix of private donations, institutional grants, and partnerships with multilaterals. Major institutional donors include United States Agency for International Development, the European Commission, the World Bank, and bilateral agencies such as DFID (now Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office), alongside philanthropic partners like the Ford Foundation and corporate partners including multinational firms engaging in corporate social responsibility. CARE also runs public fundraising campaigns and legacy giving programs in markets such as United Kingdom, Germany, and United States. Strategic partnerships extend to international organizations like United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, research institutions such as Johns Hopkins University and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and private sector alliances with logistics providers and technology firms.

Impact and Evaluations

CARE reports measurable outcomes across livelihoods, health, and gender equality indicators and participates in external evaluations by agencies like Independent Evaluation Group (World Bank) and academic reviews published through The Lancet and development journals. Peer-reviewed studies have examined CARE's integrated approaches in contexts including Bangladesh cyclone resilience, Mozambique post-cyclone recovery, and Peru climate-smart agriculture. CARE’s programs have informed policy dialogues at venues such as the World Humanitarian Summit and Conference of the Parties (UNFCCC). Monitoring frameworks draw on standards from ALNAP and evaluations frequently reference methodologies from Randomized controlled trial-based research centers such as National Bureau of Economic Research.

Controversies and Criticism

CARE has faced criticisms related to aid delivery, program effectiveness, and safeguarding. Debates have arisen over the efficacy of cash transfers versus in-kind aid, echoing controversies involving Conciliation Resources and Mercy Corps. Safeguarding and staff conduct issues have led to internal investigations and alignment with sector-wide protection policies similar to those of CARE International peers like Plan International. Critics from academic and policy communities including Amartya Sen-informed development economists have questioned scalability of certain interventions. CARE has engaged in reforms responding to findings from watchdogs like Human Rights Watch and donor conditionalities from institutions such as European Commission and USAID Office of Inspector General.

Category:International humanitarian organizations