One World Action

Records relating to governance and administration, international partnerships, policy, advocacy and lobbying, and fundraising.

Between 1989 and 2011, One World Action was widely recognised in the international development and human rights sector as a 'pioneer' of alternative, citizen-centred approaches to development. Their work with partners across Asia, Africa and Latin America included promoting and supporting active citizenship and for citizens to engage successfully with their governments to hold them accountable for fulfilling basic rights to resources and services. Women's empowerment was central to all One World Action did.

Developing from and rooted in the UK Labour and Trade Union movements it was a uniquely 'left of centre' development organisation. It made significant contributions to UK, European and International policy discussions and practice.

One World Action (OWA) was formed in 1991 through the amalgamation of the UK Trade Union and Labour Party's One World campaign with The Bernt Carlsson Trust development charity (established in 1986 and 1989 respectively). The Bernt Carlsson Trust was founded by Glenys Kinnock and others on 21 December 1989 – exactly one year after UN Assistant-Secretary-General and Commissioner for Namibia, Bernt Carlsson was killed when Pan Am flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland.

In 1993 the Nicaragua Health Fund was incorporated into One World Action establishing the basis for the programme of partnerships in Central America.

In 2011, after twenty-two years of operation, the One World Action charity decided to move towards a managed closure.

It was removed from the Charity Commission register of charities on 2 October 2012 on the grounds that it had ceased to exist.

The charity was affiliated with Women in Development Europe, Women Working Worldwide, Solidar and was an active member of the Liaison Committee to the European Commission, which became CONCORD, as well as the Asia Europe People's Forum and the People's Health Movement.

This collection is available to researchers by appointment at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick. See https://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/using/

Link to full catalogue: https://mrc-catalogue.warwick.ac.uk/records/OWA