What kind of business can help take the world to a fairer and more sustainable future? Today Oxfam is launching the Future of Business Initiative at the UN General Assembly in New York. Here Erinch Sahan explains why we’re calling for investment in the ‘fourth sector’. The 21st century brings us challenges at a scale we haven’t encountered before. Poverty, …
Embracing transformation in the face of climate change
Researchers and development practitioners need to think big in the face of irreversible climate change argues Jessica Fullwood-Thomas. There is no doubt that we are now past the tipping point for irreversible global climate change. The ever escalating disasters from Houston to Bangladesh and Sierra Leone to the Caribbean tell us that privilege and poverty continue to shape our relationship …
World-wide influencing: what is it?
A changing world poses new challenges, and opens up new opportunities, for Oxfam’s work to end poverty, inequality, and injustice. Steve Price Thomas, Oxfam International’s Director of Advocacy and Campaigns explains why Oxfam has adopted a ‘world-wide influencing’ approach, as part of a series on influencing for change. Our world faces seismic shifts—is Oxfam prepared to deal with them? More …
Using geographic information systems in humanitarian response
Laura Eldon reflects on the potential of geographic information systems to help humanitarians, and introduces case studies from South Sudan and Tanzania. When a conflict or disaster strikes Oxfam responds rapidly to protect and save lives. To do this effectively we need to understand where the greatest needs are, plan and monitor our response activities, and coordinate with other actors …
Reimagining business to tackle inequality
Erinch Sahan explains why the current reality of mainstream business isn’t cutting the mustard when it comes to tackling inequality. Inequality is spiralling to absurd levels. Our economies are generating vast wealth but it is channelled to a tiny minority of people. Since the turn of the century, the poorest half of the world’s population has received just one percent of …
How businesses can tackle the social norms that limit women
Across the world, women make a significant contribution to global supply chains, in spite of complex hurdles that limit their inclusion and their leadership. How can businesses make it easier for women to fulfil their potential? Claudia Canepa shares some ideas from Oxfam’s private sector partnerships. The UN High Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment (HLP) recently identified seven key …
Water tankers and bicycles: a lifeline in South Sudan
Around 80% of Juba’s population relies on tankers and bicycle vendors for water. But as prices have soared, amid ongoing conflict and instability, water has become unaffordable. Oxfam has set up two initiatives working within the existing market to ensure the poorest can access clean water, as Mariana Matoso explains. Drinking water is a premium commodity in Juba. Since the …
Tiger worms: the little sanitation engineers
Could tiger worms be the answer to some of the challenges of providing toilets in refugee and displaced people camps? Oxfam is conducting a pilot project to find out, working with the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education in camps in Myanmar. ‘What do you think about worms? Would you be comfortable working with worms?’ Bagus Setyawan from Oxfam’s Global …
How to meaningfully categorise feedback
Feedback is essential for accountability and evaluation of programmes. Here, Destelia Ngwenya, gives an overview of the Your Word Counts project which addresses the accountability culture in our programme teams. Through the scale up of the Your Word Counts project, Oxfam will be addressing the accountability culture in our programme teams. First piloted in Jordan, we are extending to four more countries …