War on Want

The only war worth Fighting

Today 1.2 billion people live in absolute poverty on less than 70p per day - but this doesn't have to be the end of the story. The world is getting smaller, and this offers opportunities to really make a difference.

War on Want is angry about the inequities and suffering that persist in the new millennium and we are using the opportunities which globalisation offers to take the struggle for economic and social justice in to a new phase. Advances in IT mean that we can keep in constant contact with our partners on the ground. It means our supporters can lobby governments and institutions like the World Bank at the touch of a button.

War on Want will continue to be at the forefront of fighting global poverty, as we have been since 1951. Be part of the solution - Fight the War on Want.

Many battles that War on Want and others have been fighting for have been won: per capita food production and consumption have increased by 20% and malnutrition rates are down by almost a third since we were founded. But complacency is the biggest enemy.

50 years on the front line

In 1961 War on Want raised concerns about Third World debt and warned it would be a central issue in the future.

In the 1970s we helped to expose the scandal of baby foods companies marketing powdered milk as a healthier option than breast milk in the developing world.

In the 1980s War on Want embarked on cutting edge campaigns on the role of women in developing countries. We continued to support the liberation movements in Eritrea, South Africa and Western Sahara.

The 1990s was dominated by globalisation. With the rights of workers at the centre of campaigns, we work innovatively to ensure globalization is made to work for everybody. In campaigning for a tax on currency speculation, we have shown how redistributive economics can really create change.

Our base element is this - developing countries should find their own development paths. We work with groups on the ground, no overseas offices or staff, just ground-breaking campaigns and project work with some of the bravest, most inspiring people in the developing world.


Registered Charity No. 208724.

To learn more about our work take a look at our website.