MISEREOR (or The German Catholic Bishops’ Organisation for Development Cooperation) was founded in 1958 as an agency fighting hunger and disease in the world. In its capacity as the overseas development agency of the Catholic Church in Germany, it cooperates in a spirit of partnership with all people of goodwill to promote development, fight worldwide poverty, liberate people from injustice, exercise solidarity with the poor and the persecuted, and help create “One World.”

MISEREOR is mandated to fight the causes of hardship and misery as manifested chiefly in countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America – in the forms of hunger, disease, poverty and other forms of human suffering – thus enabling the people affected to lead a life of human dignity.

Since 1959, it has succeeded in promoting over 80,000 development projects and assistance across Africa, Asia and Latin America where, majority goes to the poorest countries. The assistance that MISEREOR provides is designed to stimulate and support self-help and pave the way for sustainable improvement in the living conditions of the poor. Development projects being supported by MISEREOR cover a wide variety of relevant sectors from basic education, primary health care, rural and urban development, human rights, and gender relations. Themes and issues being supported by MISEREOR that cut across sectors include: Participation, Climate change and Justice, Gender, HIV and AIDS, Food security and Agriculture, Microfinance, Appropriate technology, Vocational training, Energy for the poor, Resources and Energy, and Focus on Effects.

Since 2005, MISEREOR has provided technical and financial support to the EP network and a number of its partners in undertaking initiatives to build sustainable livelihoods and empowering forest-dependent communities in South and Southeast Asia. {Vince Docta}

www.misereor.org