Other Strategies for Creating Economic Opportunities
Strategic advocacy and thoughtful reform can go a long way toward unlocking the economic shackles that keep people in poverty. Here are some of the other approaches we are taking to help people create new economic opportunities for themselves.
Harnessing the Market
Goal: $3.5 million
Trade rules skewed to favor rich countries and large producers continue to leave poor people behind in the global marketplace. By working to overturn unfair trade practices, our goal is to help small farmers get fair prices for their goods. Cotton and coffee are two areas of particular concern. Here are some of the things we’re doing to tackle the imbalance:
- Helping farmers in West Africa, Ethiopia, and Central America gain access to business education and skills
- Making sure cotton-producing people in poor countries have a voice at the World Trade Organization
- Giving consumers concrete ways to take action against unfair trade
Marketplace Accountability
Goal: $2.5 million
Oxfam is working to encourage ethical and sustainable business practices that protect human rights. We are doing this in three ways—by generating pressure from consumers, by supporting shareholder resolutions, and by helping local communities begin constructive dialogues with corporations. Other steps we are taking include:
- Strengthening alliances with leaders in law and industry who share our commitment to removing barriers for poor people
- Launching a pro bono legal service to support our programs and partners
- Conducting industry and corporate research that will guide Oxfam’s programs and advocacy
- Working with industry leaders to establish and implement best practices
Building Public Support
Goal: $7 million
Our goal is to increase the number of people involved in Oxfam public-issues campaigns and anti-poverty programs from 350,000 to two million. Changing entrenched policies requires building a groundswell of public support for poverty issues. Here’s what else we plan to do to increase global leverage and bring about change:
- Grow Oxfam’s online community and help it respond to global issues
- Launch satellite offices in at least five US states to spur action on issues of poverty, hunger, and social injustice
- Engage Oxfam “ambassadors,” spokespeople, and public figures in high-level advocacy
- Build awareness of global poverty issues by developing and managing networks of supporters
