Where we work

Afghanistan

There are only two countries in the world with lower poverty indices than Afghanistan - the number of people with access to safe drinking water source is one of the lowest in the world (23%)

Bangladesh

Among the poorest countries in Asia, Bangladesh faces many economic and social challenges.

Bolivia

Bolivia is the poorest country in South America and the most unequal in Latin America, with 15% of the population still not having regular access to water

Brazil

Brazil is the fifth largest and ninth-wealthiest country in the world, yet 54 million Brazilians live below the poverty line

Cambodia

The brutal Khmer Rouge regime, and the aftermath of the war in neighbouring Vietnam, left agriculture, social services and roads badly damaged and the country facing massive human and economic need.

Colombia

Colombia is a country ravaged by violent conflict between the state and guerrilla groups, with its citizens suffering from gross human rights violations

DR Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a vast country with immense mineral wealth and natural resources

East Timor

East Timor was the first new nation of the 21st century, gaining independence in May 2002, but remains one of the world’s poorest nations

El Salvador

Almost one-quarter of El Salvador’s six million population lives on less than $1 per day, and many families rely on money from relatives in the US

Eritrea

Political and economic troubles, and outbreaks of conflict, have dogged Eritrea since it achieved independence from Ethiopia after decades of war in 1993. Extreme poverty now exists across the country.

Ethiopia

CAFOD/Trocaire's Seamus Jeffreson is visiting local projects around the country to see how your money is helping to change lives for the better

Guatemala

A long civil war finally ended in 1996, but neither peace nor prosperity has followed - more than one-third of the population live on less than $2 a day

Guyana

With its tropical rainforest and spectacular waterfalls, Guyana is a potentially rich and lucrative eco-tourist destination. Yet more than half the population live in poverty and unemployment rates are at an all-time high

Honduras

While the richest 20 per cent of Hondurans receive nearly two-thirds of the national income, the poorest 20 per cent receive less than three per cent

India

India is home to a sixth of the world’s population – home to 1.1 billion people and is the world’s largest democracy

Indonesia

Indonesia is the world’s fourth most populous nation and is home to the largest Muslim community in the world - but has faced unprecedented turmoil

Iraq

Iraq was once one of the most prosperous developing countries. But after 12 years of UN-imposed economic sanctions and two Gulf Wars, many of Iraq's 27 million people have become impoverished.

Kenya

Though Kenya is predominantly an agricultural country, fertile, arable land is scarce and competition for resources often leads to conflict and environmental damage as land is overused

Lebanon

Poverty, ill health and illiteracy are all on the rise for Palestinians in Lebanon – 60 per cent of them are living below the official UN poverty line.

Liberia

Fourteen years of war ended in 2003 - devastated by years of conflict, young Liberians are now starting to learn what life is like in peacetime

Mexico

Corruption, poor human rights and unfair trade are rife and, despite promises of social justice and reform, many have become disappointed at the slow pace of change

Mozambique

It is estimated that more than 70% of its 19 million people live below the poverty line, with more than half the population living on less than $1 a day

Nicaragua

One of the poorest countries in the Western hemisphere, with an estimated 4.3 million people living in poverty. Half the active population is unemployed or underemployed

Nigeria

Despite natural resources such as oil, tin, iron and coal, more than 70% of Nigeria’s population lives on less than $1 per day, and it ranks 159 in the 2006 UN human development index

Pakistan

On 8 October 2005, a massive earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale hit northern Pakistan, killing 73,320, injuring 70,000 and leaving more than 3.3 million homeless

Palestinian Territories

Since the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip by Israel following the 1967 Six-day War, Palestinians have seen their standard of living fall; today, almost three quarters of the population live below the UN poverty line.

Paraguay

Paraguay is a landlocked country with 95% of the population being mixed Spanish and Guaraní Indian descent (known as “mestizos”). The country faces many ongoing economic, social, and political challenges

Peru

Although democracy is improving and levels of corruption are falling, around half the population still live in poverty, with 15 per cent in extreme poverty

Philippines

In the particularly poor central, north and western parts of the island of Mindanao, where CAFOD works, poverty is exacerbated by conflict.

Rwanda

Rwanda's recent history is dominated by genocide, which has left a legacy of trauma

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone is recovering from a long, bitter and vicious civil war which devastated communities and the lives of its citizens

Somalia

Somalia has been without an effective central government since 1991, when the former President was overthrown by opposing clans. What followed has been over a decade and a half of bitter warfare

South Africa

HIV and violence dog development in South Africa, where high levels of poverty remain a challenge

Sri Lanka

Decades of violent conflict has killed more than 100,000 people, left many more injured and homeless, and massively damaged the economy and social infrastructure

Sudan

Since independence in 1956, life in Sudan has been dominated by the war over a complex and changing set of issues, including control over land and oil

Tanzania

Tanzania is world-renowned as a beautiful country, yet it is also one of the poorest, where average life expectancy is just 46 years

Uganda

Though economic reform has been attempted, Uganda has suffered the consequences of high indebtedness that has diverted funds away from education and health services

Zambia

Declining copper prices and prolonged drought have seriously damaged Zambia's economy, and three-quarters of its people now live on less than 60 pence per day

Zimbabwe

CAFOD has supported programmes in Zimbabwe for almost 30 years - where more than 80 per cent of the workforce does not have a regular job