Our mandate & how we implement it
For more than 60 years we have helped people help themselves, ensuring everyone can live a dignified life. We do this together with our partners in Germany and around the world. Learn more about our mandate, the three pillars of our work and our civil society network.
Our mandate
Since our earliest beginnings we have pursued three goals: to support projects fighting hunger and poverty in the world, to raise awareness for global causes of poverty through educational and public relations work, and to advocate and lobby for a societal change towards greater justice.
Our structure
Misereor was founded as a development agency of the German Catholic Bishops and is supervised by the Bishops’ Subcommission for Development Issues. Legal holder of Misereor is Bischöfliches Hilfswerk Misereor e. V. (the German Catholic Bishops’ Organisation Misereor e. V.). Misereor receives German public funds through Katholische Zentralstelle für Globale Entwicklung e. V. (the German Catholic Central Agency for Global Development).
Our network
We cooperate with other civil society organisations and are active in several alliances to raise awareness for global justice and sustainability.
Bündnis Entwicklung Hilft
Bündnis Entwicklung Hilft is an alliance of the German development agencies Brot für die Welt, Christoffel-Blindenmission, Kindernothilfe, medico international, Misereor, terre des hommes, DAHW, German Doctors, Plan International and Welthungerhilfe. In the event of a disaster, the alliance provides emergency relief and support for lasting change. By joining forces, the alliance can ensure quick and effective responses when and where they are needed.
To the website
CAMECO
The Catholic Media Council (CAMECO) is a non-profit consultancy specialising in media and communications in the Global South. CAMECO is especially concerned with empowering community and development-oriented media initiatives and strengthening the presence of the Church in the media, as well as enhancing the importance of the media within the Church.
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Caritas international
Misereor and Caritas international cooperate by sharing expertise, conducting joint projects, jointly developing strategies for partner support and implementing public relations activities.
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CIDSE
CIDSE is a network of 18 Catholic organisations active in development cooperation from Europe and North America. The network calls on governments, the private sector and other international actors to champion human rights, social justice, the stewardship of creation and sustainable development.
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Fairtrade Deutschland e. V.
Fairtrade Deutschland e. V. is Germany's Fair Trade certification organisation, recognised by 90% of the population. In 1991, Misereor was one of the founding members of the organisation, called AG Kleinbauernkaffee at the time. Its goal was to enable small farmer families to access additional markets. We are still represented in the supervisory board and the general assembly of members and continue to work towards a more just world trade.
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Working Group Peace and Development
The Working Group Peace and Development (FriEnt) is an alliance of government organisations, Church-based charities, civil society networks and political foundations. Its goal is to influence political agendas and processes and to strengthen peace-building work.
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GEPA - The Fair Trade Company
Misereor is shareholder of GEPA - The Fair Trade Company and plays a decisive role in the trading company’s activities. We closely work together to support and advise OneWorld shops and action groups.
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Deutsche Kommission Justitia et Pax
The German Commission for Justice and Peace can be understood to be a round table of Catholic institutions and organisations active in the field of international responsibility of the German Catholic Church.
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Katholischer Deutscher Frauenbund (KDFB)
KDFB is an independent Catholic women’s association that advocates for women’s interests and rights in politics, society and the Church. Together, Misereor and KDFB implement the “bread in solidarity” campaign (Solibrot) and organise events related to development policy.
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Katholische Frauengemeinschaft Deutschlands (kfd)
With roughly 350,000 members, kdf is the largest Catholic women’s association in Germany. It advocates for women’s interests in politics, society and the Church.
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Climate Alliance Germany
More than 150 organisations have formed an alliance for climate justice. The alliance advocates for consistent climate change mitigation and points out shortcomings in Germany’s climate and energy policies.
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Klima-Kollekte – Church-related compensation fund
Misereor is shareholder of Klima-Kollekte, a carbon offset initiative by Christian Churches enabling the compensation of unavoidable emissions from electricity, heating, travel as well as paper and printing products. The offset payments are strategically directed towards projects in countries of the Global South.
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DRB – aid for Colombia
Since 1989, the German Judges Association (DRB) has supported persecuted Colombian members of the judiciary and their families. With their donations, DRB’s members and Misereor support the work of the Colombian organisation FASOL, which advocates for victims from the judiciary.
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MARMICK network
As part of the MARMICK network, Misereor cooperates with the Catholic development agencies Adveniat, Caritas international, missio Munich, missio Aachen, Renovabis and Kindermissionswerk.
RWTH Aachen University
In cooperation with Misereor and missio Aachen, RWTH Aachen University offers a master’s degree in theology and global development. It is the only study programme of this kind in Germany.
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VENRO
VENRO is the umbrella organisation of around 145 development and humanitarian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Germany. VENRO’s core mission is to promote sustainable development policies by uniting the expertise and strengths of its member NGOs.
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Contact
Julia Biermann
Head of the Sponsorships and Supporter Relations Department
- Telephone
- +49 241 442117
- julia.biermann@misereor.de
Katharina Meisen
Coordination of the Board of Directors' Work
- Telephone
- +49 241 442534
- katharina.meisen@misereor.de