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Oxfam in Russia

Svetlana Mercurievna holding a colourful kettle in her shop which sells a large variety of household goods. Oxfam's work in Russia includes providing support to small businesses. Photo: Sarah Errington

From our staff

Yulia Yevtushok, Climate Change and Economic Justice Programme Co-ordinator

 I'm responsible for Oxfam's campaigning and advocacy work in Russia for the new global GROW campaign. It's a broad-ranging role, and one of the achievements I'm proudest of is enabling a representative from a Russian civil society group to take part in a meeting of the UN Committee on World Food Security for the first time. And I'm also happy that Oxfam research enabled us to become a member of the Russian Grain Union, which means we can now bring our perspective on food justice to international and national events involving government officials, traders, grain producers and market analysts.


Full details of what Oxfam is doing in Russia (PDF, 3.8MB)

In 2010-11 Oxfam directly helped:

4,000
people in
Russia

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Snapshot of Oxfam in Russia

Photo 1/10 photo by: Caroline Berger

In Russia around 60 million people are unable to access financial services making it difficult to get a loan to start a business, or to get more support as their business develops. Flower seller Olga received mentoring from Oxfam partner Youth Business Russia. "With the profits I made I was able to open another stall. In the future I hope to have at least ten stores in the town."

  • In Russia around 60 million people are unable to access financial services making it difficult to get a loan to start a business, or to get more support as their business develops. Flower seller Olga received mentoring from Oxfam partner Youth Business Russia. "With the profits I made I was able to open another stall. In the future I hope to have at least ten stores in the town."
  • We also work with specialist microfinance institutions to provide funding for entrepreneurs like Viktor Kolesov (pictured) and his timber business. With 31 employees, Viktor's is one of the most successful businesses on the books of the microfinance office in Ostashkov which is managed by Oxfam partner the Russian Women’s Microfinance Network.
  • Many people in Russia still lack access basic social services such as healthcare. Oxfam works with local partners to provide free legal consultations and ensure access to basic care to people are already legally entitled. Maria (pictured) is a chronic asthma sufferer who has received support from Oxfam. “With this help I’m receiving free medicine and can go for regular free treatment.”
  • Russia is already experiencing the effects of climate change, including notable changes in rain and temperature patterns. We help raise awareness about the causes of climate change and explore ways in which people can mitigate against its worst effects. So far this has included organising 'flash-mobs', building a network of youth climate activists (pictured) and compiling a petition with tens of thousands of signatures calling for ambitious targets and a fair deal on climate change.

The impact of our work

 Now life has improved for us thanks to this business. I feel successful, starting from one stall. Three people work for me now.


Aimelek Dotdaeva, clothes stall owner and recipient of a business loan from Oxfam partner the Russian Women Microfinance Network