An aid agency is an organisation dedicated to distributing aid. Many professional aid organisations exist, both within government (e.g. USAID, DFID, ECHO), and as private voluntary organizations (or non-governmental organisations, e.g. ActionAid, Oxfam, CAFOD, Mercy Corps). The International Committee of the Red Cross is unique in being mandated by international treaty to uphold the Geneva Conventions. Aid is assistance, often financial, provided to developing countries by developed countries. ... The United States Agency for International Development (or USAID) is the US government organization responsible for most non-military foreign aid. ... DFID is the United Kingdom Department for International Development, it is headed by the Secretary of State for International Development. ... European Community Humanitarian aid Office (ECHO) is the European Commissions department for humanitarian aid. ... ActionAid UK is one of the United Kingdoms largest development agencies working in over 40 countries. ... Oxfam International, founded in 1995, is a confederation of 12 independent, not-for-profit, secular, community-based aid and development organisations who work with local partners in over 100 countries worldwide to reduce poverty, suffering, and injustice. ... CAFOD (full name: Catholic Agency For Overseas Development) is a United Kingdom_based international aid agency, working to alleviate poverty and suffering in Catholic community in England and Wales, the UK government and the general public. ... Mercy Corps is a not-for-profit organization engaged in humanitarian aid and development activities. ... The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a committee of Swiss nationals and probably will be so as long as the ICRC exists. ... Development of the Geneva Conventions from 1864 to 1949 The Geneva Conventions consist of four treaties formulated in Geneva, Switzerland that set the standards for international law for humanitarian concerns. ...

Aid can be subdivided into two categories: humanitarian aid (emergency relief efforts, eg in response to natural disasters), and development aid (or foreign aid), aimed at helping countries to achieve long-term sustainable economic growth, with the aim of achieving poverty reduction. Some aid agencies carry out both kinds of aid, whilst others specialise (eg Red Cross, humanitarian aid; War on Want, development aid). Humanitarian aid is assistance given to people in distress by individuals, organisations, or governments to relieve suffering. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with foreign aid. ... Foreign aid, international aid or development assistance are situations in which one country helps another country through some form of donation. ... War On Want is a campaigning charity based in London, England, which highlights the needs of poverty-stricken areas around the world, lobbying governments and international agencies to tackle problems, as well as raising public awareness of the concerns of developing nations. ...

See also

• List of development aid agencies