The mandate of Aprodev is to

i) influence decision-making processes in the European Union institutions related to North-South issues in order to promote fairness and justice and the eradication of poverty;
ii) facilitate access to the European Union institutions for Aprodev organisations and the ecumenical family and to share information and experience related to the EU; and
iii) strengthen cooperation and joint work among Aprodev agencies.

Background

Aprodev was founded in 1990 in order to strengthen the cooperation between the European development organisations which work closely together with the World Council of Churches (WCC). At present, 17 development and humanitarian aid organisations cooperate through Aprodev. They are all firmly rooted in their own societies and their constituencies comprise millions of Christians from the Anglican, Protestant and Orthodox communities. Through the WCC, which groups 342 churches in more than 100 countries worldwide, these constituencies are linked up with Christian communities all over the world. Together, the Aprodev members have an annual income of some Euro 720 million. Their counterpart organisations can be found in most countries in the world.

Basic convictions

• Aprodev believes that all human beings are created in the image of God. In their efforts to work alongside the poor, marginalized, oppressed and excluded, the Aprodev organisations seek to underline the equal value of all human beings, irrespective of race, colour, sex, creed, national, ethnic or political affiliation.
• The Aprodev members share the ecumenical understanding of development as a multi-facetted and holistic concept which comprises social, cultural, spiritual, political, environmental and economic aspects.
• Given the unequal distribution of wealth, power and knowledge in the world, the sharing of resources is an important basis for the work for justice, peace and safeguarding God’s creation.
• Aprodev organisations attach great importance to policies which underline the dignity of women and men and which follow a rights-based approach.
• The Millennium Development Goals constitute important benchmarks for all government policies as well as for the Aprodev organisations.
• Lobby and advocacy work is rooted in the experiences of the counterpart organisations of the Aprodev agencies.

Governance

Aprodev is governed by the General Assembly of the Member Organisations which meets once a year . This Assembly is composed of the Directors or Deputy Directors of the member organisations. The World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) are observers at the Assembly. A Board, composed of four members, with the WCC as an observer, governs the daily activities of Aprodev.

Board

Jack van Ham, ICCO – Chair
Konrad von Bonin, EED
Antti Pentikainen, FinnChurchAid
Ueli Locher, HEKS/EPER

Aprodev working groups

The Policy and Advocacy Group, which is composed of senior policy staff of the member organisations, advises Aprodev on the formulation and implementation of the Strategic Plan and the annual work programmes.

Reference groups on Gender, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia advise Aprodev on issues related to their area of work.

The Working Group on EU Trade and Food Security Policies engages in common activities while paying special attention to the gender aspects of their work.

The Working Group on EC and International Funding for Development and Relief exchanges information on, and engages in common work regarding EU and international financing and humanitarian aid issues.

Various more informal groups composed of specialized staff of Aprodev members engage in joint work on different issues, themes and geographical regions, such as Africa, the Great Lakes region, Central America, communication, and a rights-based approach to development.

Other associations

Aprodev is one of the founding members of Euforic – Europe’s Forum on International Cooperation (www.euforic.org)

Aprodev is a member of CONCORD – the European NGO Confederation of for Relief and Development (www.concordeurope.org)

Aprodev participates in the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (www.e-alliance.ch)

On issues concerning humanitarian aid, Aprodev collaborates with ACT – Action by Churches Together (www.act-intl.org)

Secretariat

Rob van Drimmelen, General Secretary
Jo Kirrane, Office Manager
Karine Sohet, Policy Officer, EU Development Policies
Karin Ulmer, Policy Officer, Trade and Gender
Policy Officer, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia
Policy Officer, Middle East

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