Our vision: A just world without poverty. Our mission: To create lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and social injustice.

Oxfam's approach is about tackling the conditions that cause poverty in the first place, rather than the distribution of material goods. We start by asking questions and challenging assumptions. What are the root causes of poverty? What can we do to change the power dynamics that keep people poor? These questions inform the four categories into which our work falls: saving lives, programs to overcome poverty and injustice, campaigning for social justice and public education.

Oxfam America is a global organization working to right the wrongs of poverty, hunger, and injustice. As one of 17 members of the international Oxfam confederation, we work with people in more than 90 countries to create lasting solutions.

As a development organization we must be accountable not only to our donors, but also to the people on whose behalf we work—the people at the center of our programs. In late 2005, Oxfam America established a department dedicated to learning, evaluation, and accountability. Since that time we have been making increased investments in this area. Now all long-term programs, major campaigns, and key innovation projects have a rigorous monitoring, evaluation, and learning system. Most include: - A baseline or assessment of the situation prior to intervention - A monitoring system with quarterly or midterm reports documenting progress in relation to plans - Annual reviews that document aggregate evidence and that bring stakeholders together for reflections on progress - An evaluation every three to four years and/or when an initiative finishes.

It's great when we get it all right, but some of our most effective work emerges from trial and error. Using data, analysis, and consultation with a range of people—from community members to government officials—we continually adjust our approach for greater impact.