Our history

Action Against Hunger / ACF was founded in France in 1979 among the so-called “second generation” humanitarian organisations— those agencies whose identities were forged in response to the perceived limits of traditional humanitarianism. Seeking a less deferential role for humanitarian actors, these organisations sought a brand of humanitarian politics that could influence political actors and outcomes, not just mitigate the situation on the ground. The resulting organisational shift revolutionised how humanitarian professionals responded to international crises.

Action Against Hunger’s founding took this evolution even further. While hunger had been addressed in general campaigns against poverty and poor public health, Action Against Hunger was established specifically to combat hunger worldwide, leading the way in defining the terrain, developing appropriate strategies, conducting vital field research and delivering life-saving programmes.

With headquarters in the UK, France, Spain, the US and Canada,  ACF International has pursued its vision of a world without hunger for three decades and is recognised as a world leader in the fight against hunger.