FAQs

General 

What does CARE stand for?
CARE began in the United States in 1945 when it sent food parcels to Europe. The name stood for 'Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe'. As CARE's activities broadened, this was changed to the 'Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere'. Today the name is used in its own right rather than as an acronym. 

Where is CARE based?
CARE has offices in 12 developed countries as well as in more than 70 developing countries. In the UK, CARE's offices are located at 10 Rushworth Street, London SE1, close to Southwark tube station. 

I've never heard of CARE International - can it be trusted?
CARE is one of the world's largest independent relief and development organisations. It currently works with some of the world's poorest people in more than 70 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Middle East and Europe. CARE International UK is one of the UK's leading overseas development agencies and is a registered charity (charity number 292506). 

Does CARE receive funding from governments?
CARE receives funding from governments and bodies such as the European Union. In 2004/05, CARE International UK received £34.8 million in grant funding from governments and the European Union.  

How has CARE's approach changed over the years?
CARE began in the 1940s with a traditional approach to working overseas, by sending CARE packages to people who had limited access to these goods. However, the work of international agencies such as CARE has evolved over time so that programmes are now designed in conjunction with the recipient country. Apart from help in emergencies, projects now focus on transferring skills, knowledge and technology rather than goods.

At the centre of CARE's current work is an all-round understanding of people's capabilities and needs, rather than focusing on a single aspect. CARE has also adopted what is known as rights-based approaches which put people’s human rights at the centre of all we do. It has developed programmes on the theme of governance, which enable people to increase the 'voice' they have in society. This increases their ability to influence their own lives and campaign for change.

For more information see the What we do section of this website.

What issues does CARE International UK focus on?
CARE International has 12 members who focus on different issues, which together form a complementary whole. CARE International UK’s particular expertise is in urban development work, the private sector and conflict as well as our work on emergencies. Find out more about our work in the What we do, Resource Centre and Emergencies sections of the website. 

Can I get more information for my project/thesis?
We receive a lot of requests for detailed information from students, but regret that because of time constraints we are unable to reply to such queries. A considerable amount of information about our work and projects is available on this website. The What we do section contains information on where we work, the methods we employ, and our current projects. The Resource Centre section contains policy documents and resources on the themes relating to our work and is specifically aimed at sharing information with students and development professionals.

Fundraising

Will CARE sponsor or fund my organisation or project?
We regret that we are unable to sponsor individuals or organisations. The money that CARE raises goes to our network of over 70 country offices around the world that implement our projects. We do not have funds that we can use to sponsor individuals, and our London office does not fund external organisations except within the framework of projects carried out by CARE offices and partners in the countries where we work. 

Can I send goods overseas through CARE?
CARE no longer accepts donated goods as experience has shown that this is usually not cost effective, creates logistical difficulties and often is not the most relevant way to meet local needs. Wherever possible, CARE buys goods as close as possible to where they are needed in order to save costs in storage and transportation. This also helps build up the businesses of local suppliers.

If you would like to help, we ask you to send a cash donation, which can then be used to buy what is most needed in the region concerned. If you wish to give money to a particular emergency, you can select this option when you donate. You can also donate online.

Can I visit CARE projects?
We politely ask members of the public not to visit CARE projects while travelling in the region. Our field staff have busy schedules and hosting non-work-related visits would distract them from more urgent activities. This would ultimately affect the impact and cost-effectiveness of our projects.

How much of the money CARE raises goes to projects overseas?
During 2004-05, CARE UK spent a total of £41.241 million, of which 90 percent was spent on our core work, serving individuals and families in the poorest communities in the world. These funds covered 63 projects in 42 countries and territories. The rest of the funding was spent on the administration and fundraising that is vital to expand our work and bring our messages to the wider public. 

How can I raise money for CARE?
There are many ways that you can get involved with CARE, from entering the marathon to skydiving, from putting on a dance event to climbing the Three Peaks. Look at the Support Us/Get Active section on this website or our Challenge website for different ways you can get involved. If you have any questions, write to for more information.

How can my school get involved with CARE?
Check out our Support Us/Get Active to find great fundraising ideas for your school. If you have any questions, write to

How are CARE's projects funded?
Almost 80 percent of our income comes from institutional donors, notably the UK Government's Department for International Development (DFID) and the European Union. The rest of our income comes from appeals by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), from trusts and corporate donors, individual donors and fundraising events.

Why should I support CARE International?

• We work alongside communities to understand the greatest threats to their well-being.
• We hire people from the countries where we work
• We work with local staff as a team and develop projects that meet the needs and aspirations of each community.
• With 60 years’ experience, CARE understands the depth and scope of poverty and we are convinced that something can be done about it.
  

By supporting CARE with a monthly direct debit, you will help us:

• Pool resources for maximum effectiveness and efficiency.
• Support our efforts to tackle the underlying causes of poverty.
• Enable CARE's staff to develop innovative programmes that meet communities' changing needs.
• Ensure that CARE is a strong organisation capable of creating change that truly matters.

In the field

How does CARE decide what projects and areas to support?
We work with the local communities and start by assessing people's needs. We then design programmes that respond to this. We also work with local authorities and government to ensure we get full support.

The overwhelming majority of CARE staff come from the countries in which we work, so the staff speak local languages and understand local culture. Each CARE project has an overall director who will oversee the project from within the country and may also bring in specialists from time to time to provide training - these are likely to be the only people involved with the project who will not be country nationals. 

Does CARE face much corruption and if so how does it deal with this?
No, CARE is generally well respected by the governments in the countries where we work. This is because CARE is impartial and has clear and transparent guidelines for operating in each country, including in difficult and dangerous situations. Also CARE is trusted because nearly all CARE workers come from and live in the country they are working in. 

Human Resources

How can I volunteer for CARE?
Volunteers are an important part of our work in the UK. All volunteer and paid positions are advertised on this website and in the national press. Please do not send speculative CVs. Note that we do not send volunteers overseas – the main organisation in this field is VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas). See its website at www.vso.org.uk. 

How can I get a job working for CARE in the UK?
CARE International UK advertises vacancies in the Current vacancies at CARE International UK section of the website, and through BOND (British Overseas NGOs for Development). We also advertise in the Guardian or Evening Standard newspapers. If you meet the requirements for any position, we would welcome an application from you.

How can I work for CARE overseas?
The majority of staff we employ overseas are local staff. This utilises the skills and knowledge of local people, and helps to build the capacity of local organisations. We do recruit some specialised staff from the UK to work overseas but applicants are required to meet a fairly stringent specification. These vacancies will be advertised on our website and through BOND.

We are often approached by candidates with overseas experience in fields that are not directly relevant to the kind of work we do overseas. These include backgrounds in teaching, law, sales and marketing, IT and academic research. We are unable to use the services of such applicants.

CARE does not send students or volunteers overseas to gain work experience. Nor do we have training programmes and do not provide financial support to students. Because we receive large number of enquiries and unsolicited applications for possible positions overseas, we regret that we are unable to invite applicants to visit us in order to discuss possible career opportunities.

What sorts of skills are required to apply for international positions?

• First or second level degree and/or equivalent professional qualification in a field of study pertinent to CARE's programmes.
• Approximately three years’ relevant professional overseas experience, educational visits and academic research in a developing country, preferably with a similar organisation to CARE.
• A proven ability to live and work with different cultures and to take extensive and difficult field travels in sometimes remote and extreme climatic areas.
• English-speaking ability and a fluency in at least one other language, particularly the language (European or local) spoken in the country where you are hoping to work.
• A reasonable standard of computer literacy is expected.
  

How can I get relevant overseas experience?
It is difficult to obtain the required experience without being given the opportunity to work overseas. We suggest that you contact the following organisations:
World Service Enquiry
Voluntary Service Overseas
The Institute for International Cooperation and Development (IICD)
Skillshare International

For general information on careers in International Development, see the Working in International Development section of the University of Sussex's website.