Our humanitarian mandate

To save lives, the first step can change everything

Saving lives, changing lives

The NGO SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL assists populations affected by conflicts and violence, epidemics, natural or climate-related disasters and economic collapse. Our humanitarian teams are committed to helping people whose lives, health and security are threatened, by meeting their most vital needs: food, water, shelter and hygiene.

SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL responds to crises by distributing emergency aid in person and, in parallel, by implementing long-term solutions that enable affected populations to regain sustainable access to water, sanitation, hygiene, diversified livelihoods and safe housing.

The ultimate aims of SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL’s action are protection, dignity and autonomy.

 

Meeting complex challenges in difficult contexts

Thanks to its extensive field experience and expertise, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL is able to work in the most difficult-to-access areas and in particularly dangerous contexts.

SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL also demonstrates unique technical and social engineering capabilities, which we continue to perfect by building on the innovations and development efforts of our teams and partners.

 

For 40 years, and for as long as it takes

SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL’s commitment to assist populations affected by the most severe crises dates back to 1980.

We always provide aid at the request of the affected population or its representatives, in cooperation with our local partners, and we are fiercely determined to constantly uphold the humanitarian principles of humanity, independence, impartiality and neutrality.

Our field teams mainly comprise locally hired staff, to help ensure that the aid provided fits the population’s needs as closely as possible.

The first response to human suffering must be solidarity

Alain Boinet, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL’s founder.

Key figures

4.92
million people were helped
with respect for their culture and dignity
3,200
national and international staff
Teams are made up of experts
51,875
active donors
ensure our autonomy and emergency response
178.56
million euros
for humanitarian assistance
94%
of our resources allocated to populations
A figure that takes root in a strategic choice, representing our understanding of humanitarian commitment.
4.92 million people were helped
with respect for their culture and dignity
3,200 national and international staff
Teams are made up of experts
51,875 active donors
ensure our autonomy and emergency response
178.56 million euros
for humanitarian assistance
94% of our resources allocated to populations
A figure that takes root in a strategic choice, representing our understanding of humanitarian commitment.

SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL's charter

Article 1: General principle – SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL’s purpose is to provide humanitarian aid and through its relief efforts demonstrate solidarity when populations are faced with political, ethnic or economic oppression, war or any other threatening circumstances.

Article 2: SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL is independent of any political, economic, ethnic or denominational group.

Article 3: Aid is provided impartially and always tailored to the needs of the threatened populations.

Article 4: SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL only intervenes when asked to by the affected populations or their legitimate representatives, either by providing emergency relief or through longer term projects.

Article 5: SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL’s relief efforts are carried out in such a manner that the cultural identity and dignity of each individual is respected.

Article 6: SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL’s members fully implement the projects approved by the organization.

Article 7: In accordance with the principles of intervention and to be as effective as possible, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL introduces itself to the relevant organizations and institutions with a view to coordination and possible collaboration.

Article 8: In its capacity as witness to the difficult conditions in which it operates, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL strives to inform public opinion and if necessary to call public attention to the facts.

Article 9: Every member of SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL pledges to adopt and respect the principles laid down in this charter.

Our history

1980
A few months after the invasion of Soviet troops in Afghanistan, a handful of men and women - including Patrice Franceschi, Alain Boinet and Patrick Brizay - launched the "Caravans of Hope" to provide aid for the local inhabitants. This was the first mission and founding act of SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL.
1989
In Romania, for ten years, we implemented numerous projects to assist the large numbers of orphans in state institutions.
1992
In Irak we sent aid convoys when one million Kurdish refugees fled Saddam Hussein’s troops. Again in 2003 and 2004, we repaired the water treatment plants south of Baghdad. Opening of our mission in The Balkans: right at the start of the conflict in Bosnia (summer 1992 - 2000).
1994
Africa Great Lakes region: Rwanda (May 1994 - 2000) - in response to the horrors of the genocide and the aftermath of the conflict.
1996
Opening of a mission in neighbouring Burundi (1996 - 2010).
1998
In Bosnia, right at the start of the conflict (summer 1992 - 2000); then in Kosovo (summer 1998 - 2001), in Macedonia and Albania to assist 800,000 Kosovo refugees, and finally in Serbia (Krajina, Slovenia).
2000
Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kivu, Ituri, Katanga), where we remain very active.
2001
West Africa, in Agola to assist refugess from Democratic Republic of the Congo, until 2005.
2003
In the Ivory Coast when conflict broke out.
2004
Opening of a mission in neighbouring Liberia. In Sudan, Darfur: a difficult mission, providing aid to people forced to flee their villages and to the victims of multiple acts of violence. After natural disasters: the tsunami of December 26th, 2004 in Sri Lanka and Indonesia, hurricane Jeanne in Haiti (September 2004).
2005
In Niger, after severe drought, and also in Pakistan, after the earthquake which devastated the Kashmir region on October 8, 2005.
2006
A temporary period of emergency in Lebanon
2007
New humanitarian missions in northern Kenya, in South Sudan, in Thailand to assist Burmese refugees, in the Central African Republic (CAR), in Somalia, a stateless society dragged down by years of conflict, and finally in Bangladesh, devastated by a cyclone in November 2007.
2008
Chad, assisting displaced persons and refugees fleeing regional violence, then in Myanmar (Burma), devastated by Cyclone Nargis in May 2008.
2009
In Zimbabwe, bringing emergency aid to the people of this crisis-ridden country; and inPakistan, assisting displaced persons fleeing the fighting between the Pakistani army and insurgents.
2010
From January In Haïti, providing disaster relief to victims of this powerful earthquake which struck one of the poorest countries in the world. Then in Pakistan, in August, to provide relief to disaster victims following the worst flooding in the history of the country.
2012
Following the Malian political crisis and the Sahelien food crisis, three missions were opened: Mauritania in February, Mali in April, and Niger in July. In November, following a year of conflict, a mission in Syria was launched.
2013
Opening of a new mission in Lebanon to assist Syrian refugees. In November 2013 typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines, prompting an emergency mission to assist those affected.
2014
We opened our first mission in Cameroon, delivering emergency relief to thousands of people fleeing the bloody and brutal conflict in the neighbouring CAR. In late 2014, in response to the Ebola epidemic affecting West Africa, we began working in a treatment centre in Moyamba, Sierra Leone, in partnership with the medical NGO Médicos del Mundo.
2015
Emergency response to the earthquake in Nepal. For the first time, a mission was started in France, helping migrants in the New Jungle makeshift camp in Calais.
2016
Responded in Greece and Macedonia to the crisis of migrants heading to Europe. A new mission in north-east Nigeria hit by the war between Boko Haram and the Nigerian army. In October, an emergency team was sent to Haiti to enable people to deal with the consequences of hurricane Matthew.
2017
Opening of a mission in Iraq, to provide water to the populations of the Mosul region, displaced because of the fighting with the Islamic State Organization. The conflict in Yemen is creating "the worst humanitarian crisis in the world", with a cholera epidemic affecting millions of people. Teams are following the front line to provide urgent assistance to the Yemenis.
2018
The Sahel political and security crisis is spilling over into Burkina Faso: displaced and host populations are sharing increasingly scarce resources. The year 2018 is also a turning point with the closure of the mission in Afghanistan, which saw the birth of SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL in 1980.
2019
Emergency response in Mozambique after Cyclone Idai to provide drinking water to the populations and contain the cholera outbreak. Opening of a mission in Colombia in response to the Venezuelan migrant crisis, the second largest in the world, according to the United Nations, after the one that affects Syria.
2020
SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL is adapting its operations to the COVID-19 crisis. In this context, it is intervening in France to combat the spread of the virus in precarious housing sites.
2021
SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL provides assistance in complex political and security contexts, and returns to three countries where the NGO was already present in the past: Sudan, Mozambique and Afghanistan.
2022
SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL teams are working in Ukraine and Moldova to help people in transit, displaced people and refugees and those directly affected by the fighting.

Vacancies

1
At head office
39
Worldwide
2
Internships
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