ActionAid India
Member profile
ActionAid was founded in India in 1972 to empower poor and marginalized people to help themselves, from greater access to resources, with the aid of local NGOs and community based organizations. This anti-poverty agency has grown to over 40 countries since that time with special emphasis placed on people in vulnerable situations (e.g. chronic hunger, HIV/AIDS and natural disasters) and under-represented minorities. Its vision is to have a world without poverty and injustice, one in which every woman, man, girl and boy can enjoy the right to life with dignity.
Main activities
ActionAid relies on local organizations to give poor and marginalized people better access to resources and to strengthen their communities allowing a greater capacity to fight poverty. Emphasis is placed on just and democratic governance processes to encourage equality and to elicit more confidence for change. ActionAid campaigns with the government for better health facilities, medicines, treatment and care for the poor. People living with HIV are a particular focus. Projects provide practical support for health, education and livelihood of those worst affected. Changing behaviors and perceptions of the infected and the community is key. Achievements are made in building capacities of people to face the epidemic by being aware of all available resources.
Links to the health workforce crisis
The Urban Primary Health Care Project ensures the right to health to the community through improving health care governance. Peer education through the in-house training program named Ripples of Learning helps sex workers and HIV positive people in projects to deal with the epidemic, armed with practical knowledge and skills. Stepping Stones, the widely acclaimed tool for sustained behaviour change in communities, is increasingly being implemented within and outside ActionAid.
Call for knowledge information:
Alliance Members are invited to submit any relevant knowledge products such as documents, reports, tools, multimedia, links to specific project web sites by sending an email to ghwa@who.int. The Alliance Secretariat will publish relevant products on the Member's page.
Visit our Knowledge centre.
