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How we spend your money

How we spend your money

The money that you and thousands of others spend on Oxfam Unwrapped gifts will support the full range of Oxfam's work - from emergency responses to advocacy projects. Thank you!

Every year we work out what people need the most. We then feature these items in our gift catalogue. The requested items fall into particular categories because they are similar in theme. We've put some nifty two-letter codes next to each of the gifts to identify which category  they belong to. Oxfam Unwrapped supports eight project categories in total.

The gift code shows you how we'll spend your money

You can tell which type of project your gift will support from the last two letters of the gift code.  For example the build a bog gift code is OU7002WS.  WS stands for Water & Sanitation projects.

All of the money from gifts with a Water & Sanitation code will only be spent on our water & sanitation projects. So the money you pay to buy a 'build a bog' gift will not be used to 'teach a teacher', but it could end up as 'safe water'. 

Why do we do this?

Honestly? Having flexibility in how we spend your money helps us to respond most effectively in often changing situations. We tailor our activities so that they are appropriate to each community we work with, so whilst fixing a well is the best solution in one area, we might need to provide safe water through drilling a borehole in another.

What does each category do?

You can tell which type of project your gift will support from the last two letters of the gift code. For example the build a bog gift code is OU5008WS. WS stands for Water & Sanitation projects.

Find out how we spend the money for each category.



AD - Advocacy

Everyone has an opinion but sometimes it can be hard to be heard. If you buy any gift that ends with the letters AD it will help give people the knowledge and confidence to get their voice heard and change their lives for the better - for example helping women and men to speak out against domestic violence, defending indigenous land rights or training communities to resolve conflict peacefully.

AG - Agriculture

All our agriculture gifts help people to grow their way out of poverty. Buying any gift that ends with the letters AG helps give people the tools and training they need to grow food and provide a sustainable source of income.

CL - Climate change & disaster risk reduction

Climate change is affecting all of us but none more so then people living in poverty; lives are lost and whole villages can be wiped out by natural disasters. Money received from gifts ending in the letters CL will be used to reduce the impact of such events, for example, by building raised homesteads in flood-risk areas.

ED - Education

Education is vital in the fight against poverty and these gifts are identified by the letters ED. So whether it's training a teacher, building a classroom, or simply providing books, both children and adults can have a brighter future with our educational gifts.

HU - Humanitarian

Each gift bought ending in the letters HU provides help and relief for people in emergency situations - for example; water, feeding packs, soap, blankets and the people on the ground

LH - Livelihoods

Helping people to help themselves. By giving a gift that ends with the letters LH your money will help to offer a sustainable income to those who need it most. Whether it's training on growing crops like coffee or olives, getting legal advice to start a small business or any other kind of assistance these gifts enable people to earn a living for themselves.

LS - Livestock

Animals make a massive difference to the lives of people living in poverty no matter how big or small they are. Money from gifts ending with the letters LS will enable us to provide animals as well as the husbandry, training and medicines to keep them happy and healthy. All our animals are bought locally to the area where they are to be distributed.

WS - Water & sanitation

Water and sanitation are fundamental in keeping any community healthy. Buy any gift ending with the letters WS and this will support items and services like finding new sources of water, cleaning up current supplies, public health awareness and building toilets.


Getting funds to where they're needed most

Whatever gift you decide to buy, we'll ensure that your money gets to the people that need it most. Also, to ensure Unwrapped funds have the best possible impact we'll use some of your money for vital added extras. 

Here's an example of what that might look like when you build a bog:

  • Transport delivers materials to often remote communities
  • Tools and labour to build the bog
  • Public health training teaches people about improved sanitation
  • Oxfam programme staff - to implement the programmes and ensure long-term benefits are delivered.
  • Local office running costs are also covered.
  • Finally your gift also helps cover the cost of Oxfam Unwrapped.