February 5, 2009

GENEVA – The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Department for World Service (DWS) and Church of Sweden (CoS) are collaborating in a new model of partnership involving secondment of qualified young personnel to DWS field programs in different parts of the world.

The two-year initiative kicked off in January 2009 with the secondment of five persons from different CoS parishes to DWS programs in Ethiopia, Liberia, Kenya, Sudan and Colombia. The partnership offers additional professional support toward DWS emergency and development activities on the ground, while at the same time allowing the partner church, its respective parishes and congregations to have closer links to the realities of international diakonia, says Geneva-based DWS program coordinator, Mr Rudelmar Bueno de Faria. "It is expected that people seconded to LWF/DWS country programs can enhance awareness on specific contexts and situations, and on the work CoS is doing in fostering dignity and justice in the world," he adds.

"World Service Direct – 100 Days," a new Web-based initiative of the LWF Office for Communication Services (OCS), will provide an interactive platform for the five seconded staff to share their diaconal experiences and discuss with the larger Lutheran communion issues arising from their work. At http://worldservicedirect.blogspot.com ( http://worldservicedirect.blogspot.com/ ) interested readers can follow and respond to the workers' Twitter and blog posts during 100 days of their respective assignments.

Support, Learning

Eva Palmqvist, 30, one of the five participants, works as a program officer for rights-based approach and peace building in Torit, Southern Sudan, where the new DWS Sudan office is located. She studied political science in Sweden, with a strong interest in development and human rights, and has previously worked in Kenya and Southern Sudan with a focus on child rights.

"I decided to join World Service since it gives me an opportunity to work with important issues of human rights and peace building in a fascinating region. I am happy to be part of the big network of churches around the world and I hope that we will be able to exchange experiences and support each other," says Palmqvist, a member of the Helga Trefaldighet parish, Diocese of Uppsala.

Palmqvist underlines the significant link between CoS and DWS: "As seconded staff from Church of Sweden, I have been sent out by my local church back home in Sweden to work with World Service. Their prayers and support are very important to me. I'm hoping to learn more about the opportunities and challenges in post-conflict Southern Sudan, to learn from people's experiences and to work together for change and development."

Re-established as a country program in October 2007, DWS Sudan is a relatively new operation, focused on facilitating the smooth reintegration of locals returning to their home areas after several years in neighboring countries as refugees or internally displaced persons. Work with community members includes rehabilitation and reconstruction, building up livelihoods, fostering peace and reconciliation, gender issues, sustaining the environment, response to HIV and AIDS, and community capacity building.

The other CoS seconded staff include Henrik Halvardsson (to DWS Colombia), Nils Bernhold (Liberia), Samuel Larsson (Ethiopia), and Sofia Malmqvist (assigned to Kenya and Ethiopia).

Communication

The CoS initiative will also help to mobilise more resources to meet the ongoing humanitarian and development work needs in the respective countries, says Mr Bobby Waddell, consultant for resource mobilization at the DWS Geneva offices.

Waddell cites the role of Malmqvist, whose work includes overseeing Swedish government assistance toward Somali refugees and promoting regular communication with DWS donors through monthly newsletters and visits among other means. "This clear, open and timely communication is essential for managing good relations with our donors," he adds. He underscores the need to keep the donors engaged, especially given that with no foreseeable improvement in the situation in Somalia, further funding would need to be negotiated beyond December 2009.

DWS is the relief and development arm of the LWF. It has field programs in 36 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin and Central America, and Europe, and over 5,000 staff.

Church of Sweden is the largest LWF member church with over 6.8 million members. Its international work with various partners includes initiatives on economic justice; promoting peace, democracy and human rights; response to climate and environmental issues, to HIV and AIDS; and providing disaster relief.

More information about World Service Direct – 100 Days and the DWS-CoS secondment partnership is available at http://www.lutheranworld.org/What_We_Do/DWS/DWS-Direct100.html.

Lutheran World Information