Wealth and income inequality: two trends, one story
As Oxfam launches it’s Reward Work, Not Wealth report, Diego Vazquez takes us through the difference between income and wealth. One of the most interesting findings in the latest Davos report is that whilst the inequality crisis continues to increase with the accumulation of the world´s wealth by a just few billionaires, global income inequality has decreased during the last …
The harsh realities of rewarding wealth, not work
Iñigo Macías-Aymar outlines the issues with rewarding wealth and not work, and gives an insight into the harsh realities many face as a result. Lan, a garment worker in Vietnam, makes shoes for some of the world’s most famous brands. Despite the overtime, she earns so little that she will never be able to get a pair of the same …
Influencing behaviours and practices to tackle poverty and injustice
Ruth Mayne, a senior researcher on influencing, introduces the key themes of a new discussion paper on behaviour and practice change. Behaviour change strategies can play a vital role in combating poverty, injustice and environmental problems, whether by helping end gender based violence, improving health and hygiene behaviours, or reducing resource-intensive consumption patterns. But do we really understand how to …
Working with men in the most dangerous place to be a woman
The Democratic Republic of Congo has become renowned for incredibly high levels of sexual violence. Oxfam partner CEDIER has been working to engage men in the DRC, to tackle some of the widespread beliefs and practices which contribute to making this such a dangerous place for women. Over the last 20 years, the DRC has been characterized by internal armed …
A year in emergencies
Sophie Mack-Smith reflects on the humanitarian events of 2017 and how Oxfam responded, both to new disasters and chronic crises. From Bangladesh to the Philippines, Iraq, DRC, Yemen, South Sudan, Syria and Somalia, Oxfam brought lifesaving aid to nearly 10 million people last year. But not everyone can be reached, and tragically the scale of need looks set only to …
What does populism mean for NGO policy and practice?
At the start of our Evidence for Influencing conference in October, Senior Researcher Martin Walsh presented Oxfam’s research on the politics of populism and its implications for NGO policy and practice, including the use of evidence for influencing. Here he summarises and reflects on the findings of that research, published at the end of last year as an Oxfam America Research …
A model law to tackle violence against women
In December Oxfam’s partner in Lebanon, KAFA, launched a ‘Regional Model Law on Violence against Women and Girls in the Arab Countries.’ Here Farah Kobaissy reflects on this historic step for women’s rights in the region. Our region is characterized by gender inequality. Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is largely seen as a private issue – to be dealt …