Anglicans and Christian Aid renewed their partnership for development at a three-day consultation which ended yesterday (Thursday 17th) in Nairobi, Kenya.
Building on experience in Burundi, Kenya, Nigeria and Sudan, they looked at new models for making their joint work more effective in Africa and elsewhere in the developing world.
This included:
· Affirmation from Christian Aid for the Anglican Alliance.
· A commitment from the Anglican Alliance to capacity building among development partners in the Communion – one of the key needs to emerge from the consultation.
· Joint working on partnerships for development, and building a theology to underpin this work.
The workshop heard about joint Anglican and Christian Aid work on emergency relief in Kenya, HIV and Aids in Nigeria, environmental conservation in Burundi and post conflict advocacy for Sudan. The need for continuing commitment to Sudan was underlined by one participant who left Malakal in southern Sudan after heavy military bombardment to travel to Nairobi.
Attendees at the meeting included Archbishop Daniel Deng of Sudan, Canon Grace Kaiso, general secretary of CAPA, Sally Keeble, Director of the Anglican Alliance for relief, development and advocacy, Rachel Carnegie, International Development Secretary to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Karimi Kinoti Deputy Regional Director of Christian Aid and Paul Valentin, Christian Aid’s Director of Programmes. The consultation was opened by Archbishop Eliud Wabukala of Kenya.
Note
The Anglican Alliance for development, relief and advocacy is the international initiative that brings together work across the communion. Its mission is to build on the work already being undertaken across the communion, build capacity, co-ordinate and provide a clear voice for the Anglican Communion in the international development.