Concern Worldwide is an international humanitarian organisation founded in Ireland in 1968.

Dedicated to finding lasting solutions to global poverty and hunger, Concern Worldwide's vision is a world where no one lives in poverty, fear or oppression and everyone has access to a decent standard of living and opportunities to ensure a long, healthy and creative life.

Concern Worldwide works in 28 of the world's poorest countries where its programmes benefit the poorest and most vulnerable people. The organisation's focus is on five programme areas: food, income and markets; education; health; HIV&AIDS; and emergency response. These programmes are delivered by working with local partner organisations and, where appropriate, governments in order to build their capacity to work with and benefit the community. Whether in emergencies or working long term to make sustainable change possible for entire communities, Concern Worldwide focuses on helping the very poorest people to find innovative and practical ways to make a diffrence to their own lives.

In 2007, Concern Worldwide's programmes reached 30 million people in 28 countries.

Health - water and sanitation

Concern Worldwide's water and sanitation work forms part of its health programme and aims to allow poor people to gain better access to clean water and improved sanitation by constructing and rehabilitating water sources such as protected springs and wells; forming 'water user groups' within communitites to empower them to maintain the structures; raising awareness on the importance of good hygiene practices; assisting with irrigation and drainage and controlling mammals/insects that carry disease into water sources.

Currently Concern Worldwide reaches 600,000 people in 14 countires directly with its water and sanitation projects, and over 1.13 million people benefit indirectly through support work with local partner organisations and governments.