IRIN is a humanitarian news and analysis service covering places and issues that are often under-reported, misunderstood or ignored.

The service reports on more than 70 countries for over a million online readers and an e-mail subscriber list of 40,000 that includes decision-makers in aid, diplomacy, human rights and education, and others who simply want to know what's happening in the world that doesn't always make the headlines.

Through syndication IRIN reaches mass audiences in developing country newspapers, websites, magazines and radio stations.

IRIN has its head office in Nairobi, Kenya, regional desks in Nairobi, Johannesburg, Dakar, Dubai and Bangkok, and a liaison office in Geneva. The bureaus generate dozens of text articles every week, plus photos, audio and video in English, French, Arabic and Portuguese.

High quality, accessible journalism on humanitarian events and trends, including early warning of brewing emergencies, contributes to better-informed and more effective humanitarian action. IRIN's award-winning coverage also builds public awareness and stimulates other mainstream, online and social media coverage and supports humanitarian advocacy.

IRIN is an editorially independent, non-profit project of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), funded entirely by voluntary contributions from governments and other institutions. It costs about $10 million - less than 1,000th of the $11 billion global official humanitarian expenditure in 2008.

IRIN gratefully acknowledges the contributions of all its donors and partners which make its work possible. It is largely funded by voluntary unearmarked contributions from donor governments to OCHA, as detailed and acknowledged in OCHA's annual reports.

IRIN also receives significant in-kind and earmarked financial contributions from a number of donor partners, usually in support of a specific service or project.

IRIN activities and annual financial requirements are included in the OCHA plan and budget document, OCHA in 2009. A separate summary of our requirements is also produced annually, while details of specific services and project activities are available on request.

Contacts

More information on IRIN activities and funding requirements are available from:

Ben Parker
IRIN Director
UN OCHA IRIN
PO Box 30218-00100
Nairobi
Kenya
Tel: +254 20 762 2147
ben@irinnews.org

Catherine Trevelline
Liaison Officer
Palais des Nations S-314
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 917 1135 / 4209
trevelline@un.org

See also: About IRIN for details of our products and services.