Questions on IDEAS Aidrating 2009

• Politics, intercultural standards - Does your organization support ideological, political or religious activities in the broader sense?

  No, Terre des hommes – children’s relief is a neutral organization without any ideological, political or religious discrimination, as stated in the foundation’s statutes.

• Additional questions on organizational trends - What percentage of projects is carried out under the main responsibility of your organization?

  Remains stable. The strength of Tdh is to work in the field with local communities, local NGOs and/or public authorities at a federal or local level.

• Additional questions on organizational trends - What percentage of projects is, in practical terms, carried out in the field by third parties?

  Remains stable. The projects are always carried out in close collaboration with local communities, local NGOs and/or public authorities at a federal or local level, no matter who finally bears the main responsibility for realization of the project.

• Additional questions on organizational trends - What percentage of expatriates (including Swiss nationals) live and work in the field?

  This percentage has dropped slightly, has however never been high at Tdh (2009: 4%; 2000: 5%).

• Additional questions on organizational trends - What percentage of employees at headquarters (including Swiss nationals) has had at least two years of practical field experience (excluding consultants and coordination offices)?

  This percentage is increasing. As an organization, we try to find more possible links between work in the field and activities at headquarters for our employees.

• Politics, intercultural standards - Are any activities carried out by your organization aimed at replacing traditional and local standards with Western standards?

  No, the strength of Terre des hommes is precisely to develop and carry out its projects in close collaboration with local communities, respecting local traditions and customs.

• Politics, intercultural standards - Do political influences or concepts play a role in planning and carrying out activities in your organization?

  No, the needs of children and youngsters in distress are the determining factors for Terre des hommes.

• Demographic politics, family planning - Do you support birth control measures in your projects?

  No, Terre des hommes is not active in this field.

• Demographic politics, family planning - Do you carry out terminations of unwanted pregnancies in your projects?

  No, Terre des hommes is not active in this field.

• Demographic politics, family planning - Do you promote the use of condoms in your projects, for example in the fight against AIDS?

  Yes, in certain Terre des hommes projects such promotion is part of programmes for the prevention of AIDS.

• Biosphere - Are genetically modified living organisms used in your organization's projects or those of your partners (e.g. seeds, animal stock, germ cells)?

  No, Terre des hommes specializes in projects for healthcare and child protection. In the field of healthcare, we stress the use of preparations which are locally available or are part of traditional knowledge.

• Biosphere - Does it happen that, in your projects and those of your partners, alien species are introduced or favoured over local species, particularly in agriculture or forestry?

  No, Terre des hommes is not active in this field.

• General - In your principles of work, are there practical factors in regard to questions 1-8 to support your statements?

  Yes, in our principles and code of ethics, which are available on this website. [INFOTHEQUE LINK]