Lutheran World Relief
Encyclopedia
Lutheran World Relief is an international nonprofit organization
specializing in International Development
and Disaster Relief
. It was headquartered in New York, but has been based in Baltimore, Maryland since 1995.. According to its website, LWR promotes sustainable development
by helping communities increase the quality of life, engage in Fair Trade
, and be better equipped to handle emergencies. This expanded mission originated from its beginnings as a non-governmental organization
founded in 1945 for helping many European Lutherans who suffered devastation during World War II
.
Part of LWR's work includes responding to disasters. In the wake of the 2004 Southeast Asia Tsunami, Newsweek
ranked LWR as one of the best international relief agencies, giving the Lutheran group an "A+" rating. LWR continues to receive high rankings from organizations such as the American Institute of Philanthropy
, who gave LWR an A rating in 2007 through 2010, and Charity Navigator
, who rated LWR the maximum four stars.
LWR is a member of ACT Development
, a global alliance of churches and related agencies working on development that are committed to working together. LWR is a joint ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
and the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
, Lutherans around the United States realized that many of their relatives in Europe needed help rebuilding their lives. In 1945, "Lutheran churches from at least 20 states mobilized to help in Europe" and formed Lutheran World Relief. Soon after, the work of LWR expanded to Palestine
, then to Hong Kong
, Korea
and Bangladesh
in the 1950s. In the 1970s and 1980s, LWR's expanded its work into Africa, as civil wars and droughts hit countries there.
In 2011, LWR's work includes International Development
in 18 countries and provides emergency relief
to numerous other countries as disasters occur.
organization who works with local partner organizations that are "made up of or involve local community members." LWR's philosophy is that these partner organizations have the specific knowledge of their context that is needed to pull individuals and communities out of long-term poverty. LWR then provides technical expertise, financing and training to improve the work of the partner organizations.
, sub-surface dams, or hand-dug wells for household consumption. They also use water treatment technologies that include chemical, ultraviolet, or filtration treatment.
.
Lutheran World Relief has recently contributed to emergency relief efforts in:
, specifically working with small-holder farmers
to "help them access credit, learn about improved agricultural inputs and techniques, increase their yields, access markets and, ultimately, improve their incomes."
to raise $45 million for malaria
education, treatment and prevention.
In its emergency and development work, LWR uses accompaniment to work through existing structures and organizations (“partners”) where and whenever possible to foster community empowerment and to ensure resources are used to maximum effect. LWR seeks to be a catalyst for, and facilitator of, development and social change led by local organizations and impoverished people. Accompaniment is not only a relationship between LWR and its partners, but a process of working together. It uses a rights-based approach that relies on participatory and appreciative methods, leading-edge development techniques, effective program management, and organizational capacity building.
Nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
specializing in International Development
International development
International development or global development is a concept that lacks a universally accepted definition, but it is most used in a holistic and multi-disciplinary context of human development — the development of greater quality of life for humans...
and Disaster Relief
Emergency management
Emergency management is the generic name of an interdisciplinary field dealing with the strategic organizational management processes used to protect critical assets of an organization from hazard risks that can cause events like disasters or catastrophes and to ensure the continuance of the...
. It was headquartered in New York, but has been based in Baltimore, Maryland since 1995.. According to its website, LWR promotes sustainable development
Sustainable development
Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come...
by helping communities increase the quality of life, engage in Fair Trade
Fair trade
Fair trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries make better trading conditions and promote sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a higher price to producers as well as higher social and environmental standards...
, and be better equipped to handle emergencies. This expanded mission originated from its beginnings as a non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
founded in 1945 for helping many European Lutherans who suffered devastation during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Part of LWR's work includes responding to disasters. In the wake of the 2004 Southeast Asia Tsunami, Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
ranked LWR as one of the best international relief agencies, giving the Lutheran group an "A+" rating. LWR continues to receive high rankings from organizations such as the American Institute of Philanthropy
American Institute of Philanthropy
The American Institute of Philanthropy is a 501 nonprofit organization, created in the United States by Daniel Borochoff in 1992, to provide information about charities' financial efficiency, accountability, governance, and fundraising. Its official website is known as...
, who gave LWR an A rating in 2007 through 2010, and Charity Navigator
Charity Navigator
Charity Navigator is an independent, non-profit organization that evaluates American charities. Its stated goal is "to advance a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace by evaluating the financial health of America's largest charities."-About:...
, who rated LWR the maximum four stars.
LWR is a member of ACT Development
ACT Development
ACT Alliance is a global alliance of churches and related organisations focusing on long-term development and humanitarian assistance. The alliance has a membership of more than 100 organisations, working with about 30,000 members of staff and volunteers, in 140 countries, with a combined budget...
, a global alliance of churches and related agencies working on development that are committed to working together. LWR is a joint ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a mainline Protestant denomination headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The ELCA officially came into existence on January 1, 1988, by the merging of three churches. As of December 31, 2009, it had 4,543,037 baptized members, with 2,527,941 of them...
and the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
History
In the aftermath of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Lutherans around the United States realized that many of their relatives in Europe needed help rebuilding their lives. In 1945, "Lutheran churches from at least 20 states mobilized to help in Europe" and formed Lutheran World Relief. Soon after, the work of LWR expanded to Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
, then to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
and Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
in the 1950s. In the 1970s and 1980s, LWR's expanded its work into Africa, as civil wars and droughts hit countries there.
In 2011, LWR's work includes International Development
International development
International development or global development is a concept that lacks a universally accepted definition, but it is most used in a holistic and multi-disciplinary context of human development — the development of greater quality of life for humans...
in 18 countries and provides emergency relief
Emergency management
Emergency management is the generic name of an interdisciplinary field dealing with the strategic organizational management processes used to protect critical assets of an organization from hazard risks that can cause events like disasters or catastrophes and to ensure the continuance of the...
to numerous other countries as disasters occur.
Approach
LWR is a capacity buildingCapacity building
Capacity building also referred to as capacity development is a conceptual approach to development that focuses on understanding the obstacles that inhibit people, governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations from realizing their developmental goals while enhancing...
organization who works with local partner organizations that are "made up of or involve local community members." LWR's philosophy is that these partner organizations have the specific knowledge of their context that is needed to pull individuals and communities out of long-term poverty. LWR then provides technical expertise, financing and training to improve the work of the partner organizations.
Sectors
Lutheran World Relief identifies six sectors of their development work: Water, Emergency Response, Agriculture, Climate, Health & Livelihoods, and Civic ParticipationWater
LWR works to increase access to water in rural areas for both agricultural and domestic use. They do this by building irrigation systems for crops and livestock, gravity-flow systemsGravity feed
Gravity feed is the use of earth's gravity to move something from one place to another. It is a simple means of moving a liquid without the use of a pump. A common application is the supply of fuel to an internal combustion engine by placing the fuel tank above the engine, e.g. in motorcycles,...
, sub-surface dams, or hand-dug wells for household consumption. They also use water treatment technologies that include chemical, ultraviolet, or filtration treatment.
Emergency Response
LWR's work in emergencies includes both responding to sudden natural disasters with cash, staff and material resources (such as quilts or personal care kits), as well as disaster risk reductionDisaster risk reduction
Disaster Risk Reduction is a systematic approach to identifying, assessing and reducing the risks of disaster. It aims to reduce socio-economic vulnerabilities to disaster as well as dealing with the environmental and other hazards that trigger them: here it has been strongly influenced by the...
.
Lutheran World Relief has recently contributed to emergency relief efforts in:
- HaitiHaitiHaiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
, aiding people suffering from the 2010 Haiti earthquake2010 Haiti earthquakeThe 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
. LWR has been supporting projects in Haiti since 1997. To see a video on the LWR appeal for Haiti, by the current president John Nunes, click on this link: http://lwr.org/haiti/video1.asp - Horn of AfricaHorn of AfricaThe Horn of Africa is a peninsula in East Africa that juts hundreds of kilometers into the Arabian Sea and lies along the southern side of the Gulf of Aden. It is the easternmost projection of the African continent...
, working with Lutheran World FederationLutheran World FederationThe Lutheran World Federation is a global communion of national and regional Lutheran churches headquartered in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland. The federation was founded in the Swedish city of Lund in the aftermath of the Second World War in 1947 to coordinate the activities of the...
in the Dadaab Refugee Camp in Kenya to give aid to people suffering from the 2011 famine. - South SudanSouth SudanSouth Sudan , officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country located in the Sahel region of northeastern Africa. It is also part of the North Africa UN sub-region. Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city; the capital city is planned to be moved to the more...
, helping provide access to food, water, sanitation and health services. - ColombiaColombiaColombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, providing "seeds, livestock, agricultural tools and technical support to 200 flood affected families in the lower Sinú river valley to help recover agricultural production"
Agriculture
LWR's work in agriculture focuses on food securityFood security
Food security refers to the availability of food and one's access to it. A household is considered food-secure when its occupants do not live in hunger or fear of starvation. According to the World Resources Institute, global per capita food production has been increasing substantially for the past...
, specifically working with small-holder farmers
Smallholding
A smallholding is a farm of small size.In third world countries, smallholdings are usually farms supporting a single family with a mixture of cash crops and subsistence farming. As a country becomes more affluent and farming practices become more efficient, smallholdings may persist as a legacy of...
to "help them access credit, learn about improved agricultural inputs and techniques, increase their yields, access markets and, ultimately, improve their incomes."
Climate
LWR works with local communities to combat the effects of climate-related disasters through Disaster Risk Reduction, and climate mitigation techniques like reforestation.Health & Livelihoods
LWR believes that a person's ability to have a sustainable income is directly related to that person's health. Combined with their work in other sectors, LWR focuses on health-related causes, and is currently partnering with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and the United Nations FoundationUnited Nations Foundation
The United Nations Foundation started up in 1998 with a $1 billion grant from Ted Turner in order to support the United Nations in executing its programs worldwide. The creation of the Foundation was intended to encourage other donors to also support the UN in its activities...
to raise $45 million for malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
education, treatment and prevention.
Civic Participation
LWR also works to ensure that people know the rights they have as citizens and are able to take an active role in their local governments.Latin America
- BoliviaBoliviaBolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
- ColombiaColombiaColombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
- El SalvadorEl SalvadorEl Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
- HaitiHaitiHaiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
- HondurasHondurasHonduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
- NicaraguaNicaraguaNicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
- PeruPeruPeru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
Asia and the Middle East
- IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
- IndonesiaIndonesiaIndonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
- NepalNepalNepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
- PalestinePalestinePalestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
- The Philippines
- Sri LankaSri LankaSri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
Accompaniment
LWR centers all of its work in a philosophy & framework called “accompaniment.” Rooted in the Lutheran tradition that believes empowerment and justice happen only by ‘standing with’, rather than ‘doing for’ others in need, accompaniment is a dynamic relationship between diverse partners with complementary resources and skills working together to empower poor communities to improve their lives. It recognizes that all poor communities already have resources and assets that can be harnessed to improve their own wellbeing. Building on these pre-existing assets, accompaniment is based on shared values and objectives, and uses jointly-developed strategies with flexibility and openness to achieve sustainable results. Characterized by mutual trust, respect, accountability, and transparency, the relationship contributes to each partner’s growth and learning while carrying out its primary goal of improving the well being of the poor.In its emergency and development work, LWR uses accompaniment to work through existing structures and organizations (“partners”) where and whenever possible to foster community empowerment and to ensure resources are used to maximum effect. LWR seeks to be a catalyst for, and facilitator of, development and social change led by local organizations and impoverished people. Accompaniment is not only a relationship between LWR and its partners, but a process of working together. It uses a rights-based approach that relies on participatory and appreciative methods, leading-edge development techniques, effective program management, and organizational capacity building.