SOME 735 MILLION PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING FROM HUNGER ACROSS THE WORLD¹. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
ACTION CONTRE LA FAIM HAS BEEN FIGHTING THIS INJUSTICE FOR OVER 40 YEARS . AND THE WORLD STILL NEEDS OUR WORK.
AT ACTION CONTRE LA FAIM,
WE SAVE LIVES
AND REDUCE FOOD INSECURITY.
Everyone should have enough to eat and access to a varied, sustainable diet. We are a long way from achieving this. In 2022, we supported 28 million people by tackling the consequences and structural causes of hunger. War, the climate crisis, and socio-economic and gender inequality are the main reasons behind it. We unite, act and provide solutions, for and with communities. Because the solutions are out there, and we at Action contre la Faim know how to stop hunger being inevitable.
AT ACTION CONTRE LA FAIM,
We take action on the ground
so we are activists
We take action on the ground both here in France and worldwide. We operate everywhere, in all contexts, and we save lives in emergencies while helping to build sustainable solutions for the long term. We use our solid expertise to work locally with and alongside communities in 55 countries.
AT ACTION CONTRE LA FAIM,
WE BELIEVE IN COLLECTIVE POWER.
Our approach to humanitarian assistance rests on the belief that collective mobilisation is fundamental in order to ensure that our actions have a widespread effect. That is why 95% of our 8,000 collaborators are from the countries where we operate. We work with international and local NGOs, states and donors, companies, universities, schools and citizens. We come together with those who are battling hunger, without whom we would be nothing. There is no such thing as small actions, small gestures. Only big ambitions.
Let’s harness our strengths, our talents, our ideas and our voices to further this fight.
A FRENCH HUMANITARIAN ASSOCIATION
Founded in 1979, our association is a non-governmental organisation focused on international solidarity. In other words, Action contre la Faim fights hunger all over the world. Conflict, climate imbalance, poverty and unequal access to water and care are just some of the causes of malnutrition. Our mission is to save lives by eliminating hunger through the prevention, detection and treatment of malnutrition, especially during and after emergency situations linked to conflicts and natural disasters.
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY AGAINST HUNGER
Today, Action contre la Faim is one of the leaders of the fight against world hunger. Our non-profit organisation, structured as an international network, helps to provide a coordinated response in the countries where we operate. For our association, which has been recognised as an organisation of public utility in France, the priority is to take concrete action on the ground and to bear witness to the experiences of the populations we support.
Originally created by a group of French doctors and intellectuals, our international solidarity NGO saves millions of lives every year, mainly in Asia, South America, Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean, but also in Europe. Since 2019, Action contre la Faim has been a member of Alliance Urgences: a group of 6 NGOs whose goal is to create a surge of national solidarity around specific humanitarian emergencies.
The causes of hunger are multiple, so we provide a multi-sector response based on real expertise.
Action Against Hunger acts according to its own principles in order to maintain its moral and financial independence. Action Against Hunger's actions are not defined in terms of domestic or foreign policies, nor does the organisation act in the interest of any government.
Neutrality
Action Against Hunger maintains a strict political and religious neutrality. Action Against Hunger can however denounce human rights violations it witnesses as well as obstacles put in the way of its humanitarian activities.
Transparency
Action Against Hunger is committed to respecting a policy of transparency and disclosure for its beneficiaries, donors, and partners by making available all information on the allocation and management of its funds, and by providing independent verification of its good management.
Free and direct access to people in need
Action Against Hunger demands free access to populations in need and direct control of its programmes. Action Against Hunger uses all means available to achieve this goal, and will denounce and act against obstacles that prevent the organisation from doing so. Action Against Hunger also verifies the allocation of its resources in order to ensure that they reach those individuals for whom they are destined. Under no circumstances can partners working together with or alongside Action Against Hunger become the ultimate beneficiaries of the organisation’s programmes.
Non-discrimination
Action Against Hunger rejects all discrimination based on ethnicity, nationality, opinion, race, religion, sex or social class.
Professionalism
To maximise its efficiency and use of resources, Action Against Hunger bases the assessment, conception, management, and realisation of its programmes on the highest professional standards and years of experience.
About our Charter
Charter of principles
Private, apolitical, non-denominational, not-for-profit, it was created in France to operate worldwide. Its vocation is to save lives by fighting hunger, physiological misery and distress situations that threaten the lives of defenceless men, women and children.
HERE ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS THAT HAVE MARKED OUR ASSOCIATION:
In the event of a serious crisis, natural or man-made, threatening food security or causing famine.
In the event of a breakdown of the social fabric, linked to internal or external reasons, placing certain popula*ons in a situation of extreme vulnerability.
Where humanitarian assistance is a matter of survival.
The association’s action then takes place either during the crisis itself or afterwards. It can also intervene in risk prevention. All ACF’s programmes aim to enable their beneficiaries to regain their autonomy and means of living as quickly as possible without relying on assistance.
fermer le détail
History
The milestones of our fight
Created in 1979, it is part of the second generation of NGOs, the "French Doctors".
1st country office : Assistance to Afghan refugees in Pakistan
1982
Emergency response in Thailand to help Cambodian refugees
1985
Emergency response in Ethiopia to deal with famine
1990
Aid to the Kurdish people in exodus during the Gulf War
1992
Opening of a country office in Bosnia to provide medical and nutritional assistance to displaced people
1994
AICF is recognised as a public-interest organisation by the Ministry of the Interior. Genocide in Rwanda: Nutritional aid for refugees
1995
Opening of the Chechnya country office during the 1st Russian-Chechen war
1996
AICF becomes Action Against Hunger
1999
Emergency distribution in Kosovo
2000
Action Against Hunger withdraws from North Korea and denounces the manipulation of aid
2003
Opening of the country office in Iraq
2005
Action Against Hunger launches an emergency response after the tsunami in Indonesia and Sri Lanka
2006
Killing of 17 Action Against Hunger aid workers by the army in Muttur, Sri Lanka. Closing of the country office in protest of the impunity of the crime
2008
"Hunger riots" in many countries of the Global South following a sharp rise in food prices
2011
Conflict in Syria begins in the context of the Arab Spring
2012
Country office opens in Yemen
2015
Emergency relief for 180,000 people after the Nepal earthquake
2017
Threat of famine in 4 countries : Yemen, Nigeria, South Sudan and Somalia. New Action Against Hunger brand identity
2019
Major deterioration of the security situation in Nigeria with the murder of two of our aid workers and the abduction and execution of 4 other colleagues. Grace is still being held by an armed group. An Action Against Hunger humanitarian died as a result of bombing in the city of Hodeida in Yemen.
2019
Opening of the France country office
2020
Global Covid-19 pandemic
2021
Action Against Hunger receives over €10m from the Z Event
2022
Conflict in Ukraine starts
2022
25 years of the Race Against Hunger
Leading the fight against hunger
Governance
Aïcha Koraichi
Chairman
Sciences Po Paris' Graduate, Aïcha Koraïchi started her carrier as an organizational consultant for public sector.
Sciences Po Paris' Graduate, Aïcha Koraïchi started her carrier as an organizational consultant for public sector before joining Action Against Hunger where she was audit and risks management supervisor.
Herrick Mouafo
Vice-Chairman
He is a lecturer in the academic community and his lessons are based on the “conflict transformation” or the “mutation by conflict” approach as a critical view of the identity notion while discussing the “relation” notion of Edouard Glissant.
Herrick Mouafo is program officer for the research and formation in conflict’s analysis and transformation institute (Modus Operandi), associate researcher fir the CERDAP2 (EA 7443, attached to Sicences Po Grenoble). His thesis research was on State action on the matter of education in the Extreme North region, erected by this State with three other regions as Priority Education Area. He is now researching on the concept of belonging, conflicts and violence in the society in France and Cameroon.
He is also a lecturer in the academic community and his lessons are based on the “conflict transformation” or the “mutation by conflict” approach as a critical view of the identity notion while discussing the “relation” notion of Edouard Glissant.
Jacques SERBA
Treasurer
Jacques Serba is an Officer of the French National Order of Merit and a Commander of the French Order of Academic Palms.
Born in 1959, Jacques Serba is a research associate at IRIS, specializing in humanitarian action, NGO organization and operations, and the external action of local authorities.
A former President of the humanitarian association Action Contre la Faim (ACF), he was also a member of the Patronato of the Spanish foundation Accion Contra el Hambre (ACH) and of the Board of the American organization Action Against Hunger (AAH). He represented ACF on the Commission Nationale Consultative des Droits de l'Homme (CNCDH).
He is deputy director of the « Institut de préparation à l'administration générale de Brest » (IPAG, Université de Bretagne Occidentale), and lectures at IRIS SUP' and the « Institut d'Etudes Politiques d'Aix-en-Provence » (IEP). He also lectures at Thammasat University (Thailand) and COLMOR in Cuernavaca (Mexico).
A former executive with the Direction Générale des Finances Publiques, he has worked in the fields of tax auditing, criminal and fiscal law, and public management. He is a delegate of the Défenseur des droits.
A former Cabinet Director for the city of Brest and the Brest metropolitan area, he was responsible for implementing public policies, participating in public policy assessments, managing relations between elected representatives, elected representatives and civil servants, authorities and citizens, ethics and transparency in public life (elected representatives), relations with local, national and international institutions, and crisis management.
He has co-directed the "Administration et Fonction publique" collection (Bruylant, Brussels) and edited or co-edited works in the SIREY collection (Dalloz, Paris).
Jacques Serba holds a doctorate in public law and is a former student of the École Nationale des Impôts (ENFIP). He also holds a postgraduate diploma (DEA) in geography from the University of Poitiers and a postgraduate diploma (DESS) in international management of SMEs from the Institut d'Administration des Entreprises (IAE, Brest).
Jacques Serba is an Officer of the French National Order of Merit and a Commander of the French Order of Academic Palms.
Amandine KASHANI-POOR
Assistant Treasurer
Coming soon.
Coming soon.
Caroline Dib
Secretary general
Caroline Dib joined the board of directors of Action contre la Faim in September 2017.
Caroline Dib joins Action Against Hunger’s board in September 2017. Active in the NGO since beginning of 2016 as the Rhône delegate, her commitment specifically concerns citizen mobilization and the influence of the organization through partnerships and local events. Simultaneously, she oversees a 150 years old medico-social organization’s community life’s animation related to advocacy.
Matthieu YZIQUEL
Assistant secretary general
Matthieu has worked in the public and private sectors for 20 years, including public policies, building industry and social inclusion.
He joined the humanitarian sector in 2018 as a training manager for Action contre la Faim and then as an HR manager for ACF Chad mission. His background has a focus on adult education and training design. He is strongly interested in humanitarian ethics. In 2022, Matthieu joined OTHER SOLUTIONS Consulting, a risk management consultancy supporting the aid and development sector, human rights advocates and wild defenders, as Operations’ Manager.
Antonio Lopez
Member of the Board of Directors
Graduated from ENSAM (Arts et Métiers) in 1976 as an engineer, managed important building projects of power plants in export.
Engineer graduate of ENSAM in 1976, Antonio Lopez leads important power stations construction projects for Export (Turkey, France, Brazil, Peru…) where he gains an international project management’s experience. When he comes back to France, he enters a consulting firm known for its expertise in value analysis and its management techniques in complex contexts before founding his own support to organizations consulting firm “per and for the people”. During 18 years, he operates for small and big firms of diverse sector (industry, agro-alimentary, administrative, services, health and social, ...). In 2013, he starts and developpe the Gard delegation for Action Against Hunger and participate in focus groups on community action. He is elected board member in 2018.
FRANCISCO RUBIO
Member of the Board of Directors
Siences Po Paris’ graduate and master degree in public law’s holder, Fransisco Rubio started his career as legal department supervisor for the Agricultural Ministry in Paris.
Siences Po Paris’ graduate and master degree in public law’s holder, Fransisco Rubio started his career as legal department supervisor for the Agricultural Ministry in Paris. Then, worked as a lawyer in different law firms before joining Médecins du Monde to create their legal and administrative direction and the legacies and donations department in 1996. He volunteers for Action Against Hunger in 2019. Simultaneously, he lead a university career and was an associate lecturer in Le Mans’ University. He was also judge assessor for the Right of asylum National Court.
Benjamin Nguyen
Member of the Board of Directors
Benjamin Nguyen has a 25 years career in diverse NGOs.
Benjamin Nguyen has a 25 years career in diverse NGOs (MdM, ERM, HI, Solidarités International and the SIF for example) on field and headquarters at various responsibilities level. He was an executive director for two NGO. His professional experience gave him a global vision of development assistance, humanitarian action and their key issues.
Laurent Bacos
Member of the Board of Directors
Laurent Bacos started his career in NGOs in 1995 with Action Against Hunger.
Laurent Bacos started his career in NGOs in 1995 with Action Against Hunger, first as a field administrator (Abkhazia, Georgia and Russia), then as financial controller at the headquarter in Paris. He has been working since 2005 at the Médecins du monde headquarter as the institutional funding department supervisor. Laurent Bacos has already been a board member for Action Against Hunger from 2006 to 2009. He is a member of the organization since 1996.
Elvira Rodriguez-Escudeiro
Member of the Board of Directors
She joined the Paris headquarters of La Chaîne de l'Espoir as Head of Institutional Financing to support the development of this portfolio within the organisation.
Elvira completed a double degree course at ICADE in Madrid (Universidad Pontificia de Comillas) from which she graduated with a Master's degree in Law and a Master's degree in Economics and Business Management; this initial training was later complemented by a Master's degree in International Cooperation at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and, already in the 2000s, by a postgraduate degree in Human Rights from the University of Nantes.
After several years of work in charge of financial and human resources aspects in several Asian and African countries within Action contre la Faim (ACF) and Acción contra el Hambre, Elvira joined ACF's Paris headquarters; after a short stint in Field Management Control, for about fifteen years, Elvira was in charge of relations with public donors, notably the EU, the UN and a number of governmental cooperations (American, British, Spanish, Swiss, Swedish, etc.). ) and is a member, on behalf of ACF, of a large number of collectives both in France and internationally (Coordination Sud, CONCORD, VOICE, etc.).
In 2015, following a reorganisation of donor relations within the international ACF network, she became Head of Relations with certain European governmental cooperations (notably French and Swedish) on behalf of the international network rather than ACF France.
More recently, she joined the Paris headquarters of La Chaîne de l'Espoir as Head of Institutional Financing to support the development of this portfolio within the organisation.
Isabelle Triol
Member of the Board of Directors
After studying medicine, she had a DEA in epidemiology and intervention in public health and several field missions with French NGOs.
After studying medicine, a DEA in epidemiology and intervention in public health and several field missions with French NGOs (MSF, MDM, DSF), Isabelle has been working for 27 years in palliative care. She is now supervisor of a multi-site service in palliative care at the Public Assistance of Paris’ Hospitals. Isabelle is an IFSI trainer as part of the hospital continuing education and the Paris-Créteil’s Medical School. She is also coordinator of a Master in Palliative Medicine, especially on the “Project Management” module.
Since November 2021, she presides the regional coordination of palliative care of Ile-de-France.
Marc Lescaudron
Member of the Board of Directors
Marc Lescaudron is a humanitarian professional for nearly 20 years and has been teaching professional master's courses in several universities.
Marc Lescaudron is a humanitarian professional for nearly 20 years and has been teaching professional master's courses in several universities since 2007 (Paris 1-Sorbonne, Aix Marseille University, IEP de Grenoble). Since 2012, he has been leading an associative network of international experts (www.prospectivecooperation.org).
With members in more than forty countries on four continents, the association aims to forge links between university research and professional practices to promote innovative policies and practices, through spaces for meetings, exchanges reflection, and multi-task actions.
Graduated with a master’s degree in Sociology of Development Organizations (Paris 1 Sorbonne) and a master’s degree in Humanitarian Rights (Aix Marseille University), he is in charge of development programs and capacity reinforcement of local actors in West Africa, the Mediterranean and Latin America for forty years.
Robert Sebbag
Member of the Board of Directors
One of the founding members of ACF in 1979.
One of the founding members of ACF 1979. He carried out missions for ACF between 1979 and 1986 in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Thailand, Uganda, Ethiopia and Sudan. Between 1975-1976 he carried out a mission in Bolivia for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (PhD thesis on the study of the migration of Andean populations from the highlands to the lowlands). From 1978-1979 he was a doctor in Vietnam (consulate general Ho chiminh city and French embassy in Hanoi, the only western doctor after the fall of Saigon).
In 1980 he started his hospital activity at the Pitié Salpêtrière. From 1980-1990 he was in charge of the mental health department and responsible for the Rhône Poulenc Santé Foundation (fight against iodine deficiency in Africa). From 1991-1997 he was in charge of humanitarian programmes at the Elf Foundation. Between 1998 and 2000 he was director of international operations for the French Red Cross (numerous missions in particular: Cambodia, Colombia, Central America, Albania, Kosovo, Turkey...).
From 2000-2004 he was Director of Scientific Affairs at Aventis Pasteur in Lyon in the field of vaccines (Polio elimination campaign, development of an AIDS vaccine trial in Thailand...). Between 2004-2012 he became a director of the French Red Cross.
From 2004-2016 he joined the Sanofi group to create an Access to Medicines department, with the aim of modifying the pharmaceutical economic model for southern countries (development with DNDI drugs for neglected diseases initiative, Foundation created by MSF). Development of a new anti-malarial drug with a differentiated pricing policy. Development of a new orally active drug against sleeping sickness made available free of charge to the WHO and endemic countries. He left Sanofi in 2016.
Director also of the Merieux Foundation Appointed director of ACF at the 2017 AGM.
Violette DOUILLET
Member of the Board of Directors
Involved in humanitarian work for the past eight years and recently resettled in France, Violette has been on assignment in several countries in sub-Saharan Africa
Involved in humanitarian work for the past eight years and recently resettled in France, Violette has been on assignment in several countries in sub-Saharan Africa, notably with ACF (2016-2018) in the Central African Republic (CAR), the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Cameroon. She has worked on the coordination of numerous multi-stakeholder and multi-sector projects within non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations. Each of these experiences has been linked to the fight against poverty and exclusion, lack of access to rights and the displacement of people.
She needs to combat these situations of abuse and violation of the most fundamental human rights, whether on an international or national scale. (This militant commitment began at a young age, with 10 years' voluntary work with the Humacoop association as a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee). She has built up a strong bond with ACF, first as a student, then as an employee (capital, head office and base) and member.
Violette graduated from IEP Grenoble with a master's degree in International Organizations (IGOs/NGOs) and from the Bioforce Institute in International Solidarity Project Coordination. She is currently employed by an association working to combat precariousness and exclusion in Isère.
Stéphanie CHARLES
Member of the Board of Directors
She has been involved with Action contre la Faim for 18 years as a member and volunteer in several delegations and at head office.
A qualified history teacher, Stéphanie has been teaching history, geography and moral and civic education in secondary schools in dozens of different académies for some twenty years. She has been involved with Action contre la Faim for 18 years as a member and volunteer in several delegations and at head office. She raises awareness of the Hunger Races and many other fund-raising events. She also writes the editorial for the members' newsletter. Trained in coaching and mindfulness meditation, she has been practicing yoga for nearly 15 years and offers in-class meditation workshops and podcasts for her students, colleagues, family and friends.
Alain Maïo
Member of the Board of Directors
A volunteer in Action against hunger since the end of 2017, Alain Maïo has been leading the Gard delegation since June 2018.
He was elected administrator in 2022. A phrase from Plato translates his thought well "Man is the measure of all things!". Putting the Human at the heart of citizen debates is his daily life in all his associative and professional commitments, nourishing the meaning of his advocacy for humanist values.
Engineer from the CNAM (National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts) in 1980, his entire professional career revolves around innovation. Whether digital, marketing or educational, he has never ceased to contribute to a better being for organizations. For this, he also trained in Management and finance with a “Mastère Grandes Ecoles” at Sup de Co Montpellier in 1992, where he graduated major. He has created several consulting and training companies for companies since 1993. He notably worked with WWF for the establishment of sustainable tourism in the Camargue in 1998. His understanding of complex and societal phenomena has led him to integrate many organizations. With a strong capacity for mobilization, and the deep desire to participate in the change of society, he notably joined in 2011 employers' unions of SMEs and training organizations. Since 2014, he has been an administrator of the ADRH (Support, Diversity, Rehabilitation, Handicap). He was 1st Vice-President of the CPAM (Assurance Maladie) du Gard from 2014 to 2022. Since 2017, he has been elected Vice-President Occitanie of the AJE (Association Jeunesse et Entreprises), since 2021 President of the SCIC WORLD COOP CONSORTIUM expert in market organization of the social and solidarity economy. He taught at the University of Nîmes and now teaches in business schools. Its commitments continue in international climate actions and has as objective; bring organizations together for a better being of humanity.
Manuel CARRARD
Member of the Board of Directors
He joined ACF in 2019 as a member and is now also a member of its ethics committee.
A graduate from the superior school of journalism of Lille (ESJ Lille), with a master's degree in life sciences, he worked as a journalist for several titles in the French press for almost 10 years. 15 years ago, in the field of information, communication and advocacy, he became involved in the field of international solidarity within a public research Institute devoted to research into sustainable development in partnership with Southern countries.
He joined ACF in 2019 as a member and is now also a member of its ethics committee.
Executive board
Frédéric Penard
Interim Executive Director
With more than 20 years’ experience in the fields of health, water, hygiene and sanitation, food safety and sea rescue, Frédéric Penard worked with Médecins du Monde in Colombia and Indonesia, then with the organisation’s emergency response operations. He became Director of Operations at Solidarités International in 2011, before joining Médecins sans Frontières in the Ivory Coast in 2015.
Pascal Revault
Director of Expertise and Advocacy
Pascal has a 30 years of experience in research and practice in solidarity organizations, particularly in the health department, rights defense, and ecology.
Charlotte Schneider
Director of Operations
From Country Director in Haiti and Afghanistan, Emergency Director to Paris City Hall’s policy developer on integration of refugees, Charlotte has over 20 years’ experience in the humanitarian and development field.
Frédéric Wehner
Director of Human Ressources
Social rights expert and humanitarian, Frederic has built his career internationally with 360° jobs before specializing, since 10 years, in human resources management.
Lucie Codiasse
Director of Communications and Development
With a strong field experience in Iraq and Calais, Lucie has a 15 years experience in communications and marketing with international brands for the fight against hunger.
Eric Tran
Director of Finance and Administration
Eric TRAN graduated from HEC PARIS in 1987 and began his career as an auditor and then held the position of Chief Financial Officer in major international groups in the private commercial sector such as VIVENDI, HAVAS, EMI MUSIC and DTZ.
Since 2016, he has chosen to work in the social economy, where he has successively carried out financial management assignments in the medico-social, social and NGO sectors, in particular ACF, which he knows well.
© Sandra Calligaro pour Action contre la Faim
© Guy Calaf pour Action contre la Faim
© Agnès Varraine-Leca pour Action contre la Faim
Kurdistan irakien, 2017
© Reuters Nikola Solic
© Reuters - Patrick de Noirmont
© Reuters - Vasily Fedosenko
© Lys Arango pour Action contre la Faim
© Reuters - Damir Sagolj
© Reuters - Str Old
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© REUTERS/Luis Enrique Ascu
© Eric Fenot pour Action contre la Faim
© REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
REUTERS/Mohammed Badra
© Florian Seriex pour Action contre la Faim
© Daniel Burgui pour Action contre la Faim
© Peter Caton pour Action contre la Faim
© Lys Arango & Guy Calaf pour Action contre la Faim
©Julien Helaine pour Action contre la Faim France
© Peter Caton pour Action contre la Faim
© Chloé Ramdani / Z Event
© Gonzalo Höhr pour Action contre la Faim
© Rémi Portier pour Action contre la Faim
