| Plan International | |
| Type: | International NGO |
| Leader Name: | Stephen Omollo (CEO) |
| Founded Date: | (as Foster Parents Plan for Children in Spain) |
| Founders: | John Langdon-Davies Eric Muggeridge |
| Location: | Woking, Surrey, England, UK |
Plan International is a development and humanitarian organisation based in the United Kingdom that works in over 75 countries across Africa, the Americas, and Asia, focusing on children’s rights.[1] As of 2021, Plan International reached 26.2 million girls and 24.1 million boys through its programming.[2]
Plan International also provides training in disaster preparedness and recovery and has worked on relief efforts in countries including Haiti,[3] Colombia[4] and Japan.[5]
Plan International was founded in 1937, during the Spanish Civil War, by British journalist John Langdon-Davies and aid worker Eric Muggeridge. Eric was one of five brothers, including journalist and satirist Malcolm Muggeridge. Plan International was founded as "Foster Parents Plan for Children in Spain".
During World War II, the organisation became known as "Foster Parents Plan for War Children" and worked in England. After the war, Plan International extended aid to children in France, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, Greece and briefly in Poland, Czechoslovakia and China. Plan International gradually moved out of these countries. It became "Foster Parents Plan Inc.".
In 1962, U.S. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy was honorary chairwoman during the Plan's Silver Jubilee.
In 1974, the global name became Plan International, as programs now spanned South America, Asia and Africa. In the 1980s, Belgium, Germany, Japan and the UK became donor countries. Plan International was recognised by the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
In 2017, Plan International launched a new "International Global Strategy 2017–2022". The traditional blue logo was updated.[6]
According to Plan International's report, the income comes from supporters; the remainder is raised through donations and grants. An average of 80% of this money goes to Plan International’s work.[7] The remainder is spent on initiatives and maintaining an international network of support staff.[8]
The organisation receives funding to implement grants from a range of multilateral institutions, such as the UK's Department for International Development (DFID), the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and other multilateral agencies.[9]
Plan International adheres to several international standards and quality assurance mechanisms including the International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGO) Commitment to Accountability Charter[10] and the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief.[11]
Notable endorsers associated with Plan International include Jacqueline Kennedy, David Elliot, Beau Bridges, Dina Eastwood, Scott Bakula[16] and Nicholas D. Kristof.[17] In 2015, Mo'ne Davis teamed up with the brand M4D3 (Make A Difference Everyday) to design a line of sneakers for girls, with some of the proceeds going toward Plan International’s Because I Am a Girl campaign.[18] Suman Pokhrel worked for Plan International Nepal as an employee joining the organisation in 1998.[19]
Anil Kapoor, who starred in Danny Boyle's film Slumdog Millionaire, is an ambassador for Plan India.[20] He donated his entire fee for the movie to the NGO's Universal Birth Registration campaign.[21] Slumdog Millionaire stars Dev Patel and Freida Pinto were among the cast members who attended a screening of the film at Somerset House in London,[22] where over £2,000 was raised for Plan’s work in Mumbai, the setting of the film.
The organisation was featured in the 2002 film About Schmidt.
Holly Aboud, a child actor seen in The Sunday Times[23] and prominent business ambassador, is running in the London Marathon in aid of Plan International.