Our partners and supporters

The German Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt – AA) funds and co-ordinates the humanitarian work of German relief organisations. Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe is a member of the Humanitarian Assistance Co-ordinating Committee and can apply for funding for its projects. The German Government supports suitable relief projects run by the humanitarian organisations of the United Nations, German non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the Red Cross organisations. The German Foreign Office has overall responsibility. Further information is available on the website of the German Foreign Office.

The Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ – German Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development) primarily provides funding for sustainable poverty reduction projects.. Funding is awarded, upon application, for specific projects. Through this, the BMZ supports, for example, projects for food assistance, the creation or restoration of minimum infrastructure, food security and the reintegration of refugees. Further information is available on the BMZ website.

European Union’s Directorate General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations is the European Commission’s department for humanitarian aid. Upon application, it provides funding for emergency aid, disaster relief and reconstruction projects. Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe is one of 13 German partner organisations of this directorate, which co-ordinates humanitarian measures in over 100 non-EU countries. Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe has FPA partner status (Framework Partnership Agreement) and, thereby, fulfils the funding requirements. Further information is available on the EU Humanitarian Aid website.

The international church network “ACT Alliance” (Action by Churches Together) is one of the world’s largest alliances for humanitarian and development assistance. It is active in the event of disasters, in development issues and lobbying throughout the world and provides sustainable assistance to people affected by disasters, poverty or injustice.

The Alliance, which has more than 140 members and observers and around 20,000 staff throughout the world and an annual financial volume of around 10 million euros, pools the combined commitment of Protestant and Orthodox churches. Its aim is to improve the co-ordination of the churches’ worldwide work and, through compliance with shared quality standards, to increase the effectiveness of their assistance. Greater use should be made of the potential of the churches and their associated organisations to enable them to respond quickly in the event of an emergency. The alliance will also expand co-operation in development aid.

On the 3^rd of December of 2021, the Director of Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe, Martin Kessler, was re-elected as a member of the newly elected ACT Administrative Board. ACT Alliance was formed on the 1^st of January 2010 as a result of a merger of the global emergency relief alliance, ACT International, and the development aid network, ACT Development. Both of these alliances of Protestant and Orthodox churches and church organisations from industrialised and developing countries have their headquarters in Geneva. For further information please visit the ACT Alliance website.

In Germany, Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe works closely with the Catholic humanitarian organisation Caritas international. The German Caritas aid agency has the explicit mission to spread solidarity and social justice throughout the world. As the largest Catholic humanitarian organisation, Caritas international is commissioned by the German Bishops’ Conference to provide emergency and disaster relief and promote social projects for children, the elderly, sick and disabled. The work is carried out by local staff on the ground to ensure a sustainable impact, because they are the ones who are most familiar with local circumstances and needs and provide assistance irrespective of religion, ethnicity and nationality. Further information is available on the website of Caritas international.

The Centre for Humanitarian Action (CHA) is a think tank founded in 2018 to focus on the promotion of independent analysis, critical discussion and raise the public’s awareness of current humanitarian aid issues. The CHA was formed at the initiative of Doctors Without Borders, Caritas international, Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe and the Maecenata Foundation. Its goal is to strengthen German and international humanitarian action. Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe contributes both through its seat on the CHA programme advisory board and its co-funding of the think tank. Further information is available on the CHA website.

Together with Brot für die Welt (Bread for the World), Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe is part of the Evangelisches Werk für Diakonie und Entwicklung e.V. (EWDE – Protestant Agency for Diakonie and Development). While Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe provides humanitarian emergency assistance in acute crises, Brot für die Welt provides assistance for long-term development projects.

For more than 60 years, Brot für die Welt has been providing assistance throughout the world, where the need is greatest. As the worldwide development agency of the Protestant churches in Germany, Brot für die Welt is active in more than 90 countries. One of its key working priorities is food security. It supports the efforts of the poor and rural populations to achieve good yields through environmentally friendly, locally-adapted methods. In times of climate change, the work to combat malnutrition and hunger is especially important. Our sister organisation is also committed to promoting education and health, access to water, strengthening democracy, respect for human rights, peacebuilding and preserving the integrity of creation.

Brot für die Welt is part of the worldwide Christianity community and works closely with local, often church-based, partner organisations. The main focus of its work is the support of projects in countries of the Global South. Through its lobbying, public relations and educational work, it also attempts to influence political decisions for the benefit of the poor.

Further information is available on the Brot für die Welt website.

Caritas international, the German Red Cross, UNICEF Deutschland and Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe have joined forces in the Action Alliance to appeal for donations in response to major disasters. The focus of all participating organisations is on the people affected by emergency situations.

Each of the four aid organisations is politically neutral and, in the event of disaster, works closely with partners on the ground. This ensures that the people directly affected can receive quick, competent care and support. The local partners are in the best position to swiftly assess where assistance is most urgently needed and where the need is greatest.

Donations to the Action Alliance are distributed equally among its members. Since all organisations have professional structures to process incoming donations, there is no need for an additional administrative structure. The alliance’s office ensures the co-ordination of the individual measures.

Further information is available on the Aktionsbündnis Katastrophenhilfe website.