Fida is a Finnish Development Cooperation Organisation and one of the biggest and most experienced non-governmental organisations in Finland. Fida's official development work started in 1974 and development programmes reach currently 30 countries.

The word Fida is Latin and means faithful and trustworthy. It implies to Fida's vision to always operate in a trustworthy, transparent manner. All Fida's operations are in line with the goals of the United Nation's Millennium Declaration, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The operational framework of Fida's development cooperation consists of the Millennium Development Goals, Finnish Government Development Policy and NGO partnership organisation´s guidelines, EU development policy and operational countries Poverty Reduction Strategies (PRS).

 

Donors and Partners

Fida has a partnership agreement with its main donor, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland (MFA). Fida was one of the first NGOs in Finland to receive funding from the MFA (1974) and has been receiving the government support since then.

The Government of Finland has approved of Fida's new Programme plan for 2011-2014. Fida has received funding from the European Commission for development cooperation and has a partnership agreement with the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO).

Fida is a member of several Finnish and international organisations:

-the Service Centre for Development Cooperation (www.kepa.fi)

-Kehys - The Finnish NGDO Platform to the EU and its European parent organisation CONCORD (www.kehys.fi, www.concordeurope.org)

-EU-CORD - Christian Organisations in Relief and Development www.eu-cord.org

-VOICE - Voluntary Organisations In Cooperation in Emergencies www.ngovoice.org

On global level Fida works with local partners, churches, other NGO's and local authorities. The wide network of local grass-root-level partners is one of the success factors behind Fida's work.

THEIR WORK

DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION

The development goal of Fida Development Cooperation Programme is improved well-being of underprivileged citizens in a strengthened civil society. The purpose and justification for the work is to assist communities to develop themselves holistically through active facilitation of strengthened - just, caring and responsible - partners. The development work of Fida aims at recognizing the local potentials and initiatives for positive changes in the communities and society as a whole.

The core issues in improving the living conditions of the poorest of the poor are gender equity, the rights and special needs of people with disabilities and other marginal groups. In addition to these, HIV and AIDS, culture, environment and peacebuilding are mainstreamed and in all Fida's activities.

Fida's local partners are supported in their empowerment processes so that they can give strong contribution to eradicate poverty and promote equality, democracy and human rights in their societies. The emphasis is on improving partners´ capacity, community development, preventive health care, food security and education on different levels in all Fida's partner countries.

 

HUMANITARIAN AID

Fida has humanitarian aid projects in 7 countries.

The humanitarian mandate of Fida International means that Fida will respond to emergency situations where it can save lives effectively. Therefore, Fida is able to respond where the strategically located partners have access, competence and willingness to respond.

Fida has expertise in food security, emergency education, shelter and non-food items, disaster risk reduction (DRR), and advocacy. Fida's humanitarian aid projects aim at sustainable development and continuity by emphasising e.g. DRR and LRRD (linking relief, rehabilitation and development) principles in all humanitarian aid projects. Read more about our educational project in DRR.

Fida also has a Framework Partnership Agreement with European Commission's Humanitarian Office (ECHO).