What we do

CARE tackles the underlying causes of poverty and social injustice in order to deliver lasting change in the lives of poor and vulnerable people.

How we work

CARE tackles the underlying causes of poverty and social injustice in order to deliver lasting change in the lives of poor and vulnerable people. We believe that at its root, poverty is caused by unequal power relations that result in inequitable distribution of resources and opportunities between women and men, between power-holders and marginalized communities and between countries. Poverty cannot be overcome without addressing these underlying power imbalances.

In FY22, CARE worked in 111 countries around the world, implementing 1,631 poverty-fighting development and humanitarian aid projects and initiatives to reach 174 million people directly. CARE also reached 157 million people indirectly through its advocacy, replication of successful programs, and scaling up of innovations.

CARE contributes to lasting impact at scale in poverty eradication and social justice, in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While all that we do is to support the achievement of ending poverty (SDG 1), gender equality (SDG 5) sits at the heart of our programmatic ambitions and radiates throughout our work. 

Gender equality is therefore CARE International's central organizing principle. We cannot achieve economic justice, climate justice, health equity, the right to food, water, and nutrition, or equal access to humanitarian assistance without addressing gender inequality. 

CARE’s impact areas

CARE’s six impact areas drive progress towards our overall goal to end poverty. We focus on these specific impact areas for two reasons. Firstly, because they are critical barriers to poverty reduction, and secondly, because they are areas where CARE has developed world class expertise at all levels of our global network.

A woman crosses her arms. She is wearing a gold cloth covering and standing in front of a wooden house.

Crisis response

CARE works with local partners with the aim to reach 50 million people affected by crises by 2030.

A Sudanese woman smiles with two young kids.

Gender equality

Gender equality is an indispensable tool for lasting and deep social transformation. CARE International works towards this purpose in everything we do.

A group of Bangladeshi women stand in a line on a set of stairs. Each of them is wearing a face mask and holding a handmade sign with messages advocating for climate justice.

Climate justice

As the climate emergency grows, it is estimated an additional 132 million people will be pushed into poverty by 2030 as a result of climate change.

A doctor inspects a baby's eyes with a pocket otoscope.

Right to health

The right to health is a fundamental human right to guarantee all people live in dignity. CARE is committed to amplifying equal and just access to health in the communities we work with.

Four women sit together. Two are holding baskets with papers and one is holding a metal box.

Women's economic justice

Empowering women in economic activities is key to achieving gender equality and boosting the growth of national economies.

A group of people sit at a panel

Advocacy and campaigns

Through a global and coordinated advocacy strategy, we believe that we can multiply the scope of our impact beyond program funding and technical support to influence national and international policies.

A woman stands in center in front of a large group of women carrying bowls and baskets of fruits, veggies, and grains.

Vision 2030

Learn about our commitment and ambition to reach a world of hope, inclusion, and social justice.

Read our Vision 2030 strategy