Oxfam's Strategies and Impact

This assignment delves into the strategies employed by Oxfam, a prominent international non-governmental organization (NGO). It examines Oxfam's approach to publicity and public engagement, focusing on how it builds consensus and advocates for its goals. The analysis also includes an assessment of Oxfam's performance and impact, drawing upon case studies and critical perspectives. Topics covered include Oxfam's work with governments, its financial transparency, and its efforts in areas such as gender justice and essential services.

Non government development
organisations

Table of Contents
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
PART A...........................................................................................................................................1
PART B............................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................9

MAIN BODY
PART A
Non - Government Development Organisation (NGDOs) play crucial role in the
development of society Fowler, (2013). In order to provide protective and long term community,
they implement and function several curriculum related to teaching, surrounding security,
societal goodness and economical development. NGDOs are involved from a very long time to
pioneer new approaches to meet society and environmental needs.
In other words, NGDOs are referred to as self-imposed non-benefits and non–
governmental associations employed inside the model of global enhancement group action
Edwards & Hulme, (2014). They are mainly worried with societal righteousness, rights of an
individual, poverty reduction and other trouble related with social process inside social group,
especially in regards with females.
They run their organisation on some set values such as social injustice, justice and esteem
for the rights of individual, encourage involvement of the grouping with whom they are
employed, equality of opportunities for men and women, centrality of civil society in the
development cooperation, etc. Baur & Schmitz, (2012). NGDOs are formed in order to provide
numerous benefits and advantages to people of country and expand their services across national
borders.
There beingness is not authorized or neglected by any legal document and are defined by
private inaugural. They work as autonomous organisation as they neither are the portion of
authorities nor they are controlled by any societal body Lewis, (2014). Moreover, they develop
their own legal laws and register under their choice of legislation. They focuses on retaining self-
imposed values and generalisation as the particular impulsive forces within their employed
practices.
Oxfam is alliance of 20 independent non profit and charitable organisations which are
focused towards relief of global poverty. It was founded in 1942 and is headquartered in Oxford,
England. They are operating in more than 90 countries. Their programmes targets root causes of
poverty and related injustice. Their main aim is to provide necessary help to people directly and
facilitate the development of structures which benefit people. In the year of 2000, Oxfam adapted
right based approach as their core framework for all their confederation and partners. The rights
1

were: right to a sustainable livelihood, right to existence and safety, authority to be heard and
right to primary societal employment. Following are the six goals on which Oxfam operates:
Champion equal rights for women: In today's era also, women are ill treated in some
parts of countries (Our goals and values, 2018.). They are under depicted and often suppress.
Oxfam supports poor and borderline females to assertion their authorities and provide them
opportunities to fight against violence and earn their living.
Help people claim their right to a better life: Oxfam provide help to more females,
adolescent individual and other piteous and marginalised people so that they can exertion their
civic and governmental authorities. They also effect individuals to take stand for their decisions
and actions.
Prevent world food supplies: Oxfam work in order to defend nutrient supplying so that
public can have access to food. Grouping who live in rural areas have less food to eat so Oxfam
provide them with necessary supplies so that they can enjoy maximum substance safety,
successfulness and provide elasticity through worldwide nutrient system.
Save lives, now and in the future: Oxfam provides clean water, food, sanitation and
other basic requirements to people at the time of any natural disasters or war (Our goals and
values, 2018.).
Maximize wealth for primary services: They are motivating their limit by investing
more money in primary improvement like; well-being and teaching in order to promote equal
participants of women and men, girls and boys in economical, societal and parliamentary
beingness of their social group.
Help people claim a fairer share of earthy resources: They work for most peripheral
group in the world in order to provide them with basic necessities and improve their condition to
more prosperous and resilient. As natural resources are crucial elements for prosperity so they
wok in order to provide them equal access to those resources without increasing the contest for
land, water, food and physical phenomenon rootage etc.
Above are some major criteria for which Oxfam works and below are some core values
on which they operate their functioning.
Empowerment: Oxfam main approach is that everyone who are involved with them,
including staff members, supporters, superiors, people living in rural areas should feel
empowered and motivated that they can form alteration occur.
2

Accountability: They are intention involuntary and have result oriented approach which
means, they take duty for every actions they do and hold themselves responsible for those
actions. They also believes that other also held liable for their activity.
Inclusiveness: They are open to everyone and grasp diverseness. They believes that
everyone can make their own contribution, regardless of visible and invisible differences.
As they are operating in different countries, they have to make good and harmonious
relationships with different people and agencies such as government at local, national and
regional level, market, other NGOs, civil society, etc.
Relationship of Oxfam with Australian government: Oxfam interacts with different
levels of Australian government which includes general, territorial and federal. They also work
with different authorities bureau, governmental and economical subordinates such as United
Nations and European Union (Working with government, 2017). They have different types of
engagement with the government and some of them are mentioned below:
Financial: Oxfam take financial support from Australian as well as federal governing
bodies of other nations, governing organisation like European Union, etc.
Program partnerships: They work with territory, administrative district and national
government in order to deliver long term development and emergency programs to people.
Event partnerships: They work with land managers at all levels of government with
regards to trails and logistics for events such as Oxfam Trailwalkers.
3

Source: Australian Government funds vs Public donations, 2017.
Government Funding: In the year of 2010 – 2011, 32 % of total income came from the
government funding, which was 31 % in the year of 2009 – 2010. AusAid provided around 83 %
of funds to Oxfam in 2010 – 2011, which is more as compared to last year. Oxfam is working
with six other Australian international aid agencies in order to develop Humanitarian Partnership
Agreement with AusAid (Working with government, 2017). Under this mechanism, they have
already approved proposals related to disaster risk reduction and management to the value of
about $1.5 million.
Relationship of Oxfam with UNICEF: UNICEF stands for The United Nations
Children's Fund which is headquartered in New York. They provide services and necessary
development assistance to children and mothers of developing countries. These organisation
work in collaboration to provide necessary help to vulnerable and poor people so that they can
live a quality life. They provide charities to people to make a huge difference in life. They both
work towards relieving different issues such as health care, education and gender quality.
Relationship of Oxfam with civil society: Oxfam work in order to support civil society
organisations, activists and campaigners as they organise themselves outside the state, corporate
sector and the family to further common interests, values, develop opinions and ideas (Power to
the people: how civil society protects human rights, 2018). Development and humanitarian
4
Illustration 1: Australian Government funds vs Public donations

NGOs, including Oxfam, both are positioning themselves within global alliances and working
towards protection of human rights. These rights are universal, regardless of colour, ethnicity,
faith, sexually or socio- economic group.
Relationship of Oxfam with Nectar: Oxfam uses its partnership with Nectar in order to
improves usage of data and insights within marketing and communications and also leveraging it
across different areas of charity's fundraising and campaigning efforts. Oxfam learns from Nectar
related to better usage of data and build strong relations with new and existing supporters
(Oxfam to leverage Nectar partnership to improve customer insight, 2018). The charity aims to
provide Gift Aid tracking scheme to 200,000 people through its partnership and for this they use
Nectar's experience of targeted communications to build its relationship with existing people
who have already signed up with them. The donation gathered from this scheme will be provided
to poor people who suffers hunger, inequality, poverty, etc.
Oxfam is the confederation of 20 organisations working together as partners and local
communities in more than 90 countries. Their main aim is to reduce the poverty level to zero all
across the world as one third people worldwide lives in poverty. They are doing all the necessary
activities and programs to support poor and marginalised people worldwide. Around the globe,
Oxfam identify practical and innovative ways for people to lift themselves out of poverty and
take stand for themselves. They work with different organisations as partners and along with this,
they operate with vulnerable women and men to eliminate root causes of poverty and injustices.
Oxfam consider that private body can be a precious subscriber in addressing poverty,
inequality, injustice across the world. Private sector plays crucial role in lifting the lives of poor
people. Corporations and private organisation have enough potential to make investments and
decision that can help people by providing them economic opportunities and growth (PRIVATE
SECTOR ENGAGEMENT, 2018). They can create new projects that are environmentally
sustainable and are beneficial for poor. Oxfam works with private organisations due to three
reasons: economic growth and healthy markets are essentials to overcome poverty, to empower
growth by eliminating poverty as it is fundamentally tied to marginalisation and power disputes
and long term development solutions require approaches to markets, cutting gross government,
business and civil society.
Oxfam invent new projects that provide sustainability and development to people. They
can involved with different initiatives such as, Earth Charter is one of the global initiative of
5

organisation and individuals that embrace the Earth Charter and use it to guide the transitions
towards a sustainable and peaceful world (Earth Charter Around the World, 2016.). They
operate on few principles such as: respect Earth and beingness in all its heterogeneity, they care
for the gathering of existence with discernment, mercifulness and emotion, build egalitarian
social group that are democratic and peaceable, etc.
Oxfam work in collaboration with other NGOs and government of country in order to
provide necessary help and support to poor people living in that country. As mentioned above,
necessary partnership with government enables proper implementation of different projects
Powers, (2014). Oxfam believes that with thorough efforts of many elements (civil society,
women's right organisation, government, trade union, religious institutions, private sector, etc.)
goals can be easily achieved. Each element have independent and distinctive roles to play in
accordance with their responsibilities, capacity, strengths and legitimacy.
As they provide several advantages to people, that is why NGDOs are known as change
agents. Due to their continuous efforts, Oxfam have changes the lives of millions of poor and
marginalised people around the globe. With their hard working and zeal to achieve their goal of
zero poverty world have led them to improve their offerings and services which they provide to
people. They fight for inequality and empowers women to stand for their rights and raise their
voices. Ever since, women are doing better than men and getting opportunities to improve their
life. Oxfam have the capacity to provide equal access of power and resources to helpless people
and maintain harmony between rich and poor people. This has lift marginalised people to fight
for their human rights and are now getting chances to create safe and secure life. Above are the
some reasons due to which NGDOs are considered as change agent as they have really changed
the scenario for helpless and needy people.
PART B
From the above mentioned roles, responsibilities and working of Oxfam, it is cleared that
they are focused towards their aim which is to remove poverty across the global and in order to
accomplish that targets, they perform different events, supply necessities at the times of natural
hazards or war, charities to poor and marginalised people, education services, emergency food
security, sanitation, etc. They also work in the direction of providing human rights to lift people
from injustice and poverty.
6

They are independent and impartial. Their work mainly follows global guidance which
includes the Sphere Humanitarian Charter, Code of Conduct for the Red Cross and Red Crescent
Movement and other NGOs in disaster relief. In my perception, Oxfam is working in order to
change the whole poverty scenario to nil poverty so that every people can live quality life
without any problems and issues.
Oxfam support women's access to different resources and also support them with their
fights against equality in jobs, opportunities, salary pays, chances as compared to men. They
encourage them to raise their voice against their rights and equality and promote leadership and
participation of women in different areas (Gender justice and women’s rights, 2018). As there
are several countries, where women are not treated equal as compared to men and in point of
view, Oxfam is doing a great job by encouraging and inspiring them to come forward and
establish their existences among men dominant societies.
As Oxfam is one of the best organisation who provides several benefits and advantages to
poor and marginalised people, but on the other hand, there have been reported sex scandals and
harassments at Oxfam. The failure of Oxfam to proceeds necessary steps against current intimate
plundering by its support employees is tragic. Internal and external authorities at Oxfam fails to
prevents such incidents. Such as, UK Charities Commissions, whose role is to investigate any
misconduct by charities (Oxfam: sex scandal or governance failure? 2018). They fail to
investigate any allegations related to sexual harassments at Oxfam. Instead of this, the
investigation showed no issues or concerns related to sexual exploitation. In my perception, this
is not only the issue about sexual exploitation, it is about the systems, their accountability and
governance that should run proper investigations and identify problem as soon as possible and
resolve them appropriately. Improper conduct, monitoring, evaluation and accountability should
not be tolerated as this damages their reputation and decreases the level of trust in people.
Every organisations have both negative and positive aspects and Oxfam is a firm which
have more pros as compared to cons. Apart from negative point, they work in order to reduce
inequality among rich and poor people. The widening gap between these two classes have
damaged the economies of countries by pushing more people to poverty (Inequality and essential
services, 2018). Oxfam ensures that poor people get a share of power and resources which will
help people to get rid of poverty and inequality. In my opinion, reducing this gap will lead to
peace among rich and poor, will improve economy of country and marginalised people will have
7

good access to desired resources and powers. Thus, they offer great advantages and benefits to
people of different countries.
On the other hand, Oxfam has been accused for screening up an inquiry into the
appointing of sexual employees by personnel, employed in Haiti after the 2010 disruption. After
proper investigations, three personnels were fired (Timeline: Oxfam sexual exploitation scandal
in Haiti, 2018). Many cases were come into sight related to hiring of sexual workers by staff. In
my opinion, with these allegations, Oxfam has damaged their reputation and trust in Haiti and to
improve this, they can work in the direction of preventing these situations in Haiti by
establishing strict rules and regulations.
8

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Fowler, A. (2013). Striking a balance: A guide to enhancing the effectiveness of non-
governmental organisations in international development. Routledge.
Edwards, M., & Hulme, D. (2014). Non-governmental organisations-performance and
accountability: Beyond the magic bullet. Routledge.
Lewis, D. (2014). Non-governmental organizations, management and development. Routledge.
Baur, D., & Schmitz, H. P. (2012). Corporations and NGOs: When accountability leads to co-
optation. Journal of Business Ethics. 106(1). 9-21.
Powers, M. (2014). The structural organization of NGO publicity work: Explaining divergent
publicity strategies at humanitarian and human rights organizations. International
journal of communication. 8. 18.
Essentials Readings
Vilela, M. (2005). Building consensus on shared values. The Earth Charter in Action: Toward a
Sustainable World, Amsterdam: Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) Publishers, 17-22.
Klugman, B. and Corcoran, P.B. (2000). The role of NGOs as agents for change. Development
Dialogue, (½), 95-120.
Online
Our goals and values. 2018. [Online]. Available through <https://www.oxfam.org.uk/what-we-
do/about-us/how-we-work/our-goals-and-values>
Working with government. 2017. [Online]. Available through <https://www.oxfam.org.au/what-
we-do/about-us/assessing-our-performance/how-were-performing/our-financial-
performance/government-funding/>.
Power to the people: how civil society protects human rights. 2018. [Online]. Available through
<https://policy-practice.oxfam.org.uk/blog/2014/12/civil-society-and-human-rights>.
Oxfam to leverage Nectar partnership to improve customer insight. 2018. [Online]. Available
through <https://www.marketingweek.com/2013/04/05/oxfam-to-leverage-nectar-
partnership-to-improve-customer-insight/>
Gender justice and women’s rights. 2018. [Online]. Available through
<https://www.oxfam.org/en/explore/issues/gender-justice>
Oxfam: sex scandal or governance failure? 2018. [Online]. Available through
<https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(18)30476-8/fulltext>
Inequality and essential services. 2018. [Online]. Available through
<https://www.oxfam.org/en/explore/issues/inequality-and-essential-services>
Timeline: Oxfam sexual exploitation scandal in Haiti. 2018. [Online]. Available through
<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/15/timeline-oxfam-sexual-exploitation-
scandal-in-haiti>.
PRIVATE SECTOR ENGAGEMENT. 2018. [Online]. Available through <https://policy-
practice.oxfamamerica.org/work/private-sector-engagement/>
Earth Charter Around the World. 2016. [Online]. Available through <http://earthcharter.org/>
9

10