Concern: Ireland's Biggest Humanitarian Charity

International humanitarian organization Concern began as a response to the famine in war-torn Biafra in 1968. Originally called Africa Concern, the charity was founded by a small group of people determined to fight suffering, hunger, and poverty. Two years later, a cyclone ravaged East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and the organization changed its name to Concern.

Since its inception, Concern has made an impact in more than 50 countries, responding to major crises and running long-term development programs. It currently operates in 25 of the world's poorest countries, working directly with the underprivileged and getting involved in relevant decisions made at the local, national, and international levels. Concern primarily focuses on five issues, namely: education, health, emergencies, livelihoods, and HIV and AIDS.

Headquartered in Dublin, Concern is the largest humanitarian organization in Ireland. It is presently led by CEO Tom Arnold, who served with the Irish Department of Agriculture and Food before taking over the role in October 2001.