ACF (Action Contre la Faim)

History

Action against Hunger was founded in 1979 by a group of French intellectuals in response to the emergency in Afghanistan. These included Françoise Giroud, Bernard Henri Lévy, Marek Halter, Alfred Kastler (a Nobel Laureate in physics), Guy Sorman, Jacques Attali, and several other doctors, journalists and writers. While the fight against hunger had previously been an element of more general humanitarian action (the fight against poverty, promoting better health, etc.) they founded an organization that was exclusively dedicated to ending hunger. Action against Hunger is now recognized as one of the leading organizations in the fight against hunger worldwide.

• 1979
Creation of Action Against Hunger. The organization forms part of a new generation of independent NGos (non-governmental organisations) that reject silence surrounding injustice and seek to bear witness and report on atrocities, while taking action to end them.

• 1995
Action Against Hunger has developed within the framework of an interdependent international network (ACF-IN) and has opened two additional headquarters in Madrid and London to better respond to the needs of populations.

• 1997
The network expanded with the opening of a fourth headquarters in New York.

• 2005
Opening of a fifth headquarters in Montreal.
Our fight
Action contre la Faim (ACF) was founded by a group of prominent French figures in response to the emergency caused by Afghan refugees fleeing to Pakistan to escape fighting in 1979, with the aim of eradicating hunger in a more global, lasting and effective way worldwide.

While the fight against hunger had previously been integrated into more general humanitarian action (the fight against poverty, promoting better health, etc.), ACF’s founder members created an organization specializing in the problems associated with hunger.

ACF’s mission consists of saving lives via the prevention, detection and treatment of malnutrition, in particular during and following disasters and conflicts. The organization focuses its activities on an integrated approach, taking various aspects into account:

• Nutrition, health and health care practices
• Food security and livelihoods
• Water, sanitation and hygiene
• Advocacy and awareness-raising

In 2009, ACF-International was active in over 40 countries, coming to the aid of around 5 million individuals. By integrating our programs with regional and national systems, ACF is ensuring that short-term actions are becoming long-term solutions.

ACF Principles

In all of its activities, ACF abides by the following principles set out in its charter.

Independence

Action against Hunger acts according to its own principles so as to maintain its moral and financial independence. Actions against Hunger’s actions are not defined in terms of domestic or foreign policies nor in the interest of any particular government.

Neutrality

A victim is a victim. Action against Hunger maintains a strict political and religious neutrality. Nevertheless, Action against Hunger may denounce human rights violations that it has witnessed as well as obstacles put in the way of its humanitarian action.

Non discrimination

Action against Hunger refutes all discrimination based on race, sex, ethnicity, religion, nationality, opinion or social cclass. Free and direct access to victims.Action against Hunger demands free access to victims and direct control of its programs. Action against Hunger uses all means available to achieve these principles and will denounce and act against any obstacle preventing it from doing so. Action against Hunger also verifies the allocation of its resources to ensure that the resources reach those individuals for whom they are destined. Under no circumstances can partners working together with or alongside Action against Hunger become the ultimate beneficiaries of Action against Hunger aid programs.

Professionalism

Action against Hunger bases the conception, realization, management and assessment of its programs on professional standards and its years of experience to maximize its efficiency and the use of resources.

Transparency

Action against Hunger is committed to respecting a policy of total transparency to beneficiaries, partners and donors and encourages the availability of information on the allocation and management of its funds. Action against Hunger is also committed to providing guarantees of its good management.