An alliance between the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Australia and in New Zealand is in the process of being formalised.
As part of the global ADRA Network, both ADRA Australia and ADRA New Zealand share the same purpose to “serve humanity so all may live as God intended”. The alliance is intended to make both organisations stronger, and as a result, have a greater reach and community impact. Leveraging resources and minimising duplication of work in fulfilling this purpose is expected to increase efficiencies and organisational capacity.
“Our resources, when shared, will benefit us not only in terms of efficiency but also by tapping into the expertise that each ADRA office has,” said Pastor Eddie Tupa’i, New Zealand Pacific Union Conference president. “When we share those strengths, we will be a much more effective ministry body.”
Commencing January 1, 2021, the alliance will be implemented over a two-year period. While maintaining independent registrations with the Charities Commission and meeting separate government and donor reporting requirements, ADRA in Australia and New Zealand will be governed by a common board, managed by a common management team and guided by common strategies.
“The alliance’s primary focus is to reach more vulnerable children, families and communities in the Pacific, Asia and Africa, and at home in Australia and New Zealand,” said ADRA Australia/New Zealand CEO Denison Grellmann.
The alliance is also intended to harness church-community partnerships, volunteerism, and a spirit of service to the less fortunate no matter where they are or their circumstances.
“Australia and New Zealand have always been close partners and here we have an opportunity to work together to maximise our impact on the communities that ADRA supports,” said Australian Union Conference president Pastor Jorge Munoz.
“We’re going to be stronger together,” said Mr Grellmann. “When you have a dedicated and professional team working together and sharing resources, the outcome is usually amazing, and it will surely be the case with the ADRA Australia/New Zealand team.”
ADRA Australia is a member of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) and a signatory to ACFID’s Code of Conduct. ADRA New Zealand is a member of the New Zealand Council for International Development (CID) and also a signatory to CID’s Code of Conduct. Both ADRA Australia and ADRA New Zealand are registered with the Charities Commission. ADRA is the worldwide humanitarian and development arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The global ADRA network spans 118 countries. For more information, visit www.adra.org.au and www.adra.org.nz.
