Plan (aid organisation)

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation which works in 71 countries across world, in Africa, the Americas, and Asia to advance children’s rights and equality for girls.^[1] Plan International is one of the world's largest organisations working for children's rights and gender equality. In 2016, Plan International reached 17.1 million girls and 15.5 million boys through its programming.

The organisation strives for a just world that promotes children’s rights and equality for girls. Plan International engages people and partners to: Empower children, young people and communities to make vital changes that tackle the root causes of discrimination against girls, exclusion and vulnerability; Drive change in practice and policy at local, national and global levels through our reach, experience and knowledge of the realities children face; Work with children and communities to prepare for and respond to crises and to overcome adversity; and support the safe and successful progression of children from birth to adulthood.

The organisation puts an emphasis on working with children, young people and communities to tackle the root causes of discrimination against girls, exclusion and vulnerability. Plan International focuses on: Child protection, education, child participation, economic security, emergencies, health, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and water and sanitation. Plan International provides training in disaster preparedness, response and recovery, and has worked on relief efforts in countries including Haiti,^[2] Colombia^[3] and Japan.^[4]

Plan International also sponsors the Because I Am a Girl campaign, which is envisioned as a global movement to ensure girls everywhere can learn, lead, decide and thrive.

History

Plan International was founded in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War by British journalist John Langdon-Davies and aid worker Eric Muggeridge. Originally known as "Childreach"^[5], the organization was founded with the mission of protecting and promoting the rights of children.

The organisation was set up by British journalist John Langdon-Davies and refugee worker Eric Muggeridge in 1937, with the original aim to provide food, accommodation and education to children whose lives had been disrupted by the Spanish Civil War.Langdon-Davies conceived the idea of a personal relationship between a child and a sponsor – a model that puts the child at the centre, and remains the core of what we do.

Today, Plan International is a global organisation that is active in over 71 countries to advance children's rights and equality for girls. Over the next 5 years, Plan International's ambition is to transform the lives of 100 million girls.

Timeline

1930s - Plan International was founded as"Foster Parents Plan for Children in Spain."

1940s - During World War II, the organization became known as "Foster Parents Plan for War Children" and worked in England, helping displaced children from all over Europe. After the war, Plan International extended aid to children in France, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, Greece and briefly in Poland, Czechoslovakia and China.

1950s - As Europe recovered, Plan International gradually moved out of these countries and opened new programs in less developed countries. It became "Foster Parents Plan Inc." to reflect the goal of bringing lasting change to the lives of children in need, whatever their circumstances.

1960s - Foster Parents Plan expanded its work to countries in South America and Asia. In 1962, U.S. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy was honorary chairwoman during Plan's Silver Jubilee.

1970s - In 1974, the global name became Plan International as programs now spanned South America, Asia and Africa.

1980s - Belgium, Germany, Japan and the UK joined Canada, the US, Australia and the Netherlands as donor countries. Plan International was recognised by the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

1990s - Plan International offices opened in France, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden and the Republic of Korea.

2000s - The name Plan International evolved and a unified global identity was created to help make the organization more easily recognized around the world, and the logo was updated.

2017 - Plan International launched a new "International Global Strategy 2017-2022", which places an added emphasis on working with girls. The traditional blue logo was updated.^[6]

Funding and accountability

Plan International's income comes from supporters who sponsor children and the remainder is raised through donations and grants. An average of 77% of this money goes directly to supporting Plan International’s development and humanitarian work.^[7] The remainder is spent on fundraising initiatives and maintaining an international network of support staff. Plan International publishes annual reports detailing its fundraising and spending activity.^[8]

The organization receives funding to implement grants from a range of multilateral institutions, such as the UK's Department for International Development (DFID), Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and other multilateral agencies.^[9]

Plan International adheres to several international standards and quality assurance mechanisms including the International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGO) Commitment to Accountability Charter^[10] and the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief.^[11]

Plan International's Approach

Plan International is committed to making a lasting impact on the lives of the most vulnerable and excluded children while promoting greater equality for girls. Plan International's work aims not only to improve the daily lives of girls but also to advance their position and value in society, whilst actively working with boys and young men to champion gender equality. Plan International believes in advancing children’s rights in all contexts, including during conflict and emergencies, where girls are faced with additional dangers. Plan International's programmes deliver lasting change against discriminatory norms, policies and laws and strengthens the capacities of governments and encourage them to meet their obligations towards child protection and fulfilling children’s rights.Plan International's work is gender transformative, rights-based, active in all contexts, active at all levels – from local to global, achieved in partnership with other groups, and accountable to children and communities where we work, and to our partners, and informed by children’s voices, especially girls.

Notable persons associated

Anil Kapoor, who starred in Danny Boyle’s film Slumdog Millionaire, is an ambassador for Plan India. He donated his entire fee for the movie to the NGO’s Universal Birth Registration campaign.^[12] Slumdog Millionaire’s stars, Dev Patel and Freida Pinto, were among cast members who attended a screening of the film at Somerset House in London,^[13] where over £2,000 was raised for Plan’s work in Mumbai, the setting of the film.

Tech innovator Manu Goswami is an ambassador for Plan Canada.

In the U.S., some notable celebrity endorsers associated with Plan International include Jacqueline Kennedy, David Elliot, Beau Bridges, Dina Eastwood, Scott Bakula,^[14] and Nicholas D. Kristof, also a child sponsor.^[15] In 2015 Mo'ne Davis teamed up with the brand M4D3 (Make A Difference Everyday) to design a line of sneakers for girls, with some of the proceeds going toward the Plan International’s Because I Am a Girl campaign.^[16]

The organization was featured in the 2002 film About Schmidt.

See also

• Because I Am a Girl (campaign)
• Convention on the Rights of the Child
• Odisha State Child Protection Society

References

External links

Media related to Plan International at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website
• Plan Canada