Our vision and mission

In their daily lives, they search for safety and freedom, shelter, a doctor when needed, an income, and even food for the next day. Their quest is universal: to live in dignity.

Our vision

Cordaid does not accept a world of inequality and exclusion. We believe in a world where everyone can live a life of dignity. Where people can break through barriers of poverty and exclusion, fully participate in their societies, and influence decisions that affect them. A world with an economy not driven by greed and limitless material growth, but by inclusivity, social and ecological justice, and gender equity. A sustainable world to pass on to future generations. That world is our goal. We work towards it in everything we do

Our mission

Inspired by Christian values, we believe in the power of people to trigger inclusive social change in their own environment. We seek to strengthen the capacities and resilience of the people and communities we work with so they are better prepared to face their future challenges. Our responsibility and accountability lie with those who are poor, marginalised, and excluded from safety, services, economic opportunity, and sustainable livelihoods. We actively seek increased collaboration and synergies with like-minded organisations while pursuing options to further join forces.

Local Ownership

With professional staff working in the world’s most fragile areas and a longstanding track record, we have the resources, skills, and networks to make positive change happen, even in the toughest and most desperate circumstances.

We do this by fostering local ownership wherever we work, and by collaborating as much as possible with local organisations, governments, and the private sector.

Localising humanitarian assistance and development cooperation – by giving prominence and funding to local responders and professionals – increases the efficiency of interventions and counters power imbalances within the development sector.

Linking Relief and Development

Where disasters strike, we offer life-saving humanitarian assistance. For a more long-term impact, we combine emergency aid with efforts to improve healthcare systems, food security, economic opportunities, peacebuilding, and disaster resilience.

Christian Social Traditions

We have emerged from Christian social traditions and are founding members of Caritas Internationalis, the worldwide network of Catholic relief organisations, and CIDSE, an umbrella organisation for Catholic development agencies from Europe and North America.

We are also members of the ACT Alliance, a global faith-based coalition organised in national and regional forums that operates in more than 120 countries.

The values of human dignity, justice, compassion, and care for the planet guide us in our work. They inspire us to reach out to the poor and the excluded, regardless of race and religion.

Faith is a force that connects and binds people of all backgrounds. All religions and beliefs embrace the universal value of compassion, which is more than ever a source of solidarity that can bridge divides.

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