The Paritätische Wohlfahrtsverband

Der Paritätische Wohlfahrtsverband e.V.The Paritätische is an umbrella association of non-governmental charitable organisations in Germany, which incorporates about 10,000 member organisations nationally in all branches of social work.

The Paritätische fosters the work of its member organisations with a broad spectrum of services.

It represents their interests in respect of politics and administration, gives advice in matters of organisation and finance, fosters the exchange of expertise in working groups and at conferences and offers a variety of further-education functions for its professional- and volunteer workers.

The Paritätische is not active in the field of humanitarian aid abroad but emergency measures in the cases of human disaster and catastrophe are nevertheless carried out by the member organisations.

Among other things, its opportunities for operation include the search for buried persons with rescue-dog teams, the dispatch of doctors and medical care, the purification of drinking water, delivery of aid goods and the renovation of buildings.

The following welfare organisations are represented by the Paritätische (http://www.paritaet.org/) within Germany’s Relief Coalition:

• arche noVa
• Federal Rescue Dog Association
• Handicap International
• Hammer Forum e.V. (HFO)
• Global Care
• Solidarity Service International (SODI)
• Terra Tech