How we operate

Under its humanitarian, development and advocacy umbrellas ACT Alliance responds to the changing and volatile contexts that we are facing today through holistic and integrated programmes that build on the distinct mandates and specialties of our members.

When a humanitarian crisis strikes the humanitarian team at the Secretariat receives the forums’ alerts and responds by developing appeals, in coordination with relevant ACT members, or by disbursing Rapid Response Funds. Our ability to react swiftly and efficiently is key to the wellbeing of the communities we try to help.

Advocating for the dignity and rights of the most marginalized is an integral part of our mission. Together with our members and ecumenical partners, we advocate in different forums at the global, regional and national levels to promote and defend human rights, gender equality and justice and climate justice. We are also involved in different UN initiatives and groups to ensure that the voice of our members is heard, and a faith perspective is integrated in the decision-making processes.

We support, coordinate and facilitate long-term sustainable development activities around the world. We seek participatory methods of community-based development programming that inspire innovative ways of addressing needs within communities, and we promote people-centred approaches to development that meet the unique needs of vulnerable populations.

A Forum-centered Alliance

ACT Alliance’s national, sub-regional and regional forums are a unique feature of the alliance. They are the meeting point where all ACT members operating in specific countries and regions come together as equals to work collaboratively on humanitarian response, sustainable development and advocacy initiatives and programmes, linking with local churches and organisations as key partners in advancing this work.

OUR MODEL

Highlights

Our structures at a glance

Key Structures

The general assembly of the ACT Alliance meets physically every six years. An electronic assembly is held every three years in between physical assemblies. General Assembly meetings bring together all the voting and observer members to elect the governing bodies, vote on statutes, build the engagement in the alliance, and discuss other matters before the membership.

ACT’s Governing Board governs the Alliance between general assemblies and ensures that the Alliance meets its overall objectives. It is accountable to the ACT members through the General Assembly.

Next General Assembly will take place online in 2027.

 

Has the overall responsibility for the governance of the ACT Alliance between General Assemblies. It approves policies that affect the alliance. ​

Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, ACT Alliance General Secretary, Ex Officio
Nicolás Rosenthal, Fundación Protestante de Diaconía Hora de Obrar para el Desarollo Social y Ambiental (Hora de Obrar), Latin America and the Caribbean, Moderator
Ms Minnieanne Calub, National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP),Asia, Vice-Moderator
Mr Guy Smagghe, Presbyterian World Service & Development, North America, Treasurer

Rev. Dr Evans Onyemara, Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), Africa
Mr Melton Luhanga, Churches Action in Relief and Development (CARD), Africa
Mr Yilikal Shiferaw, Ethiopian Orthodox Church (EOC-DICAC), Africa
Ms Juliate Keya Malakar, Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh (CCDB), Asia
Ms Ling Chunxiang, Amity Foundation Asia
Ms Edna Ter-Vardanyan, ARTF-Armenia, Europe
Mr Martin Kessler, Diakonie-katastrophenhilfe (DKH), Europe
Ms Rommie Nauta, Kerk in Actie, Europe
Ms Tomi Järvinen, FinnChurchAid, Europe
Ms Casey Harden, World Young Women’s Christian Association (World YWCA), Global
Rt Rev. (Mr) Atahualpa Hernández Miranda, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Colombia (IELCO), LAC
Rev. Joel Ortega Dopico, Consejo de Iglesias de Cuba (Cuban Council of Churches), LAC
Mr Samer Laham, Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), MENA
Rev. Dr Laurie Ann Kraus, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance-Presbyterian Church (USA), North America
Mr Peter Keagan, UnitingWorld, Pacific

Rev. Dr (Mr) Kenneth Mtata, World Council of Churches,Permanent seat
Ms Maria Immonen, Lutheran World Federation (LWF),Permanent seat
Ms Brigita Sekar, YAKKUM-Indonesia, Youth
Ms Jean Wambui Karari, Anglican Development Services (ADS)Kenya, Youth

 

Has the responsibility:

To supervise the implementation of policy and exercise responsibility for membership and financial decisions between meetings of the Governing Board.

To grant interim approval of policies and procedures for the ACT Alliance for the eventual ratification by the Governing Board.

On behalf of the Governing Board, to provide support and advice to the General Secretary on all issues.

To receive progress reports from the Secretariat on all activities undertaken according to the Strategic Plan.

Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, ACT Alliance General Secretary, Ex Officio
Nicolás Rosenthal, Fundación Protestante de Diaconía Hora de Obrar para el Desarollo Social y Ambiental (Hora de Obrar), Latin America and the Caribbean, Moderator
Ms Minnieanne Calub, National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP),Asia, Vice-Moderator
Mr Guy Smagghe, Presbyterian World Service & Development, North America, Treasurer

Mr Yilikal Shiferaw, Ethiopian Orthodox Church (EOC-DICAC), Africa
Ms Rommie Nauta, Kerk in Actie, Europe
Ms Casey Harden, World Young Women’s Christian Association (World YWCA), Global
Rev. Dr (Mr) Kenneth Mtata, Permanent seat, World Council of Churches

 

The Membership and Nominations Committee has two broad functions, to advise on membership issues and to prepare slates for election to the Governing Board.

Chair: Marie Anne Sliwinski, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), North America
Co-chair: Patrick Watt, Christian Aid (CA), Europe
Joanne Knight, Anglican Overseas Aid -Austarlia, Asia/Pacifid
Evelyn Botros, Bishopric of Public, Ecumenical and Social Services (BLESS), MENA
Lorenzo Mota-King, Social Services of Dominican Churches (SSID), LAC

The purpose of the Reference Groups is to advise and support the Secretariat in implementation of the Global Strategy 2019-2026 in the thematic and programmatic areas. The Reference Groups form a fixed ‘strategic hub’ of expertise for a 4 year period. The groups will strategically advise and operationally support the development of strategies/implementation plans and policies for the thematic and programmatic area, and support the implementation of the ACT Global Strategy in the thematic and programmatic area. The group also needs to ensure the nexus between humanitarian-development-advocacy.

Advocacy and Policy

Secretariat focal point: Caterina Tino, Rachel Tavernor
Contact: caterina.tino@actalliance.org,  rachel.tavernor@actalliance.org

Co-chairs: Rachel Kenny, Tanganyika Christian Refugee Service (TCRS), Osai Ojigho, (Christian Aid)

Climate Justice

Secretariat focal point: Julius Mbatia
Contact: julius.mbatia@actalliance.org

Co-chairs: Illari Aragon (Christian Aid)

Emergency Preparedness and Humanitarian Response

Secretariat focal point: Niall O’Rourke
Contact: niall.orourke@actalliance.org

Chair: Coleen Heemskerk (Act Church of Sweden)

Gender Justice

Secretariat Focal Point: Elaine Neuenfeldt
Contact: elaine.neuenfeldt@actalliance.org

Co-chairs:

Migration and Displacement
Secretariat focal point: Karol Arambula Carillo
Contact: karol.arambula@actalliance.org

Co-chairs: Rev. Jack Amick, The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR)

Peace and Human Security
Secretariat focal point: Elizabeth Zimba Kisiigha
Contact: elizabeth.zimba@actalliance.org

Co-chairs: Claire Mohamed-Petit DanChurchAid(DCA), Tanja Viiki (Felm)

Quality and Accountability and Complaints Handling
Secretariat focal point: Rizwan Iqbal
Contact: rizwan.iqbal@actalliance.org

Co-chairs: Gaya Massink (Kerk in Actie), Tooba Siddiqi (CWSA)

Theology

Secretariat Focal Point: Elaine Neuenfeldt
Contact: elaine.neuenfeldt@actalliance.org

Co-chairs:

 

The purpose of the ACT Communities of Practice (CoPs) is to create and support spaces within the alliance for members to work together on issues of common interest and concern to the alliance and its members.

ACT CoPs are established to work on issues:

  • that are in line with and support implementation of the Alliance’s strategic plan
  • that relate to the humanitarian, development or advocacy work of members
  • where members and observers believe that they can be more effective by working together under the name of ACT
  • on which members and observers are willing to commit time, energy and resources

Business and Human Rights

Chair: Nadia Saracini (Christian Aid)

Cash Programming

Secretariat Focal Point: George Majaj

Climate Justice

Co-chairs: Sara Savva (GOPA), Ferdinand Girke (BfdW)

Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation

Co-chairs: Maria Luisa Navas (Consejo de Iglesias de Cuba), Jairo Barriga (Fundación de Diaconia Pazos-Iglesis Presbiteriana Colombia)

Disability Inclusive Development

Co-chairs: Simone Peter (Diakonie ACT Austria), Lilja Osterman (FELM)

Gender Equality and Justice

Secretariat focal point: Elaine Neuenfeldt
(regional CoPs have their own chairs)

Human Rights in Development

Co-chairs: Christine Meissler (BfdW), Una Hombrecher (HEKS)

Learning

Co-chairs: Runa Midtvåge (DCA), Bodil Michelsen (NCA)

MHPSS

Chair:  Marilena Kollia (DCA)

Migration and Displacement (LAC)

Secretariat focal point: Karol Arambula

Religion and Development

Co-chairs: Bob Kikuyu (Christian Aid),  Raymond Mutava (World Renew)

Safeguarding

Co-chairs: Asma Shehzad (CWSA), Jacinta Harford (ALWS)

Safety and Security 

Chair: Lasse Lampinen, Felm

Co-chair: Andrew Eckert, Christian Aid

UN Tax Convention

Chair: Anne Grete Larsen (NCA)

Youth Engagement

Co-chairs: Mónica Treviño (Movimiento Estudiantil Cristiano), Anna Gonzalez (Movimiento Estudiantil Cristiano), Ogwang Dennis (Church of Uganda), Aqsa Tahir (Community World Service Asia), Jake Kamerman (World Renew)

 

ACT Alliance’s national, sub-regional and regional forums are a unique feature of the alliance. They are the meeting point where all ACT members operating in specific countries and regions come together as equals to work collaboratively on humanitarian response, sustainable development and advocacy initiatives and programmes, linking with local churches and organisations as key partners in advancing this work. In order to meet the needs of those ACT Alliance seeks to serve, ACT Forums establish mechanisms to work in a cohesive and effective way, working under the same principles and standards, and upholding accountability in all dimensions.

ACT forums are part of ACT Alliance as one of its basic structures. They foster joint planning, implementation and monitoring as a way to enhance effectiveness and impact. They invest in the capacity development of all members, taking advantage of the different skills and expertise within the alliance. ACT forums are shared platforms of Voting members and Observer members of ACT Alliance. They are engaged in working together in a particular country, sub-region or region, with common interests defined broadly by their commitment to the mission, vision and values of ACT Alliance. In joining ACT Alliance, all members have committed themselves to collaborate and work closely together, leading to situation-specific responses, programmes and initiatives and through actively participating in the life and different structures of ACT Alliance where they exist.

Full list of Forums

Read the ACT Alliance’s National, Sub-Regional and Regional Forums Policy

Diversity, justice and accountability

At ACT Alliance diversity, justice, inclusion and accountability are at the core of who we are. These principles are part of our mission and the vision for our impact worldwide.

We believe in and we push for a localization agenda that promotes the role of local actors. We work with local communities and empower them to become more resilient and independent from international aid and support. For this reason, we have changed our structure to make sure that our regional, sub-regional and national forums are at the center of the change we want to see in the world.

We support diversity and inclusion as we believe that different ideas, skills and perspectives make our alliance better and stronger. As part of this strive, we promote the implementation of a gender justice policy across our membership and we push for the internal recruitment of diverse staff members who are best fit to fight inequality and call for justice.

ACT Alliance is a signatory to the highest humanitarian codes and standards, including the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief.

ACT Alliance is a member of the International Council for Voluntary Agencies (ICVA), the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response (SCHR) and a member of the CHS Alliance.

ACT is committed to the Sphere Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response and has a seat on the Sphere Board.

ACT is also a member of Reuters AlertNet.

The ACT Alliance Secretariat is certified against the Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability, and a copy of the maintenance audit 2020 is available here.

60 %

Staff members are women

62 %

Executive Board members are women

20

Nationalities in the Secretariat

Core Humanitarian Standard

The Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS)  places communities and people affected by crisis at the centre of humanitarian action. As a core standard, the CHS describes the essential elements of principled, accountable and high-quality humanitarian aid. It is a voluntary and measurable standard.

The ACT Alliance Secretariat is certified against the Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability.The latest audit report is available here. 

Join our network in 127 countries

BECOME A MEMBER