International Development
The Archbishop of Canterbury's role as a figure of unity of the worldwide Anglican Communion, which is represented in over 130 countries, means that he is in a unique position to bring the needs and voices of those facing poverty, disease and the effects of conflict, to the attention of national and international policy makers and donor agencies. The Archbishop monitors the situation in countries across the Anglican Communion and often speaks out on issues of peace, poverty and justice.
The Archbishop of Canterbury's International Development Secretariat (IDS) has been operational since 2005, and works on his behalf to build relationships between Anglican partners, and Christian and secular organisations in the development world, to facilitate community-based development and peace building. It seeks to help governments, UN agencies and international NGOs understand how they can work more effectively with Anglican partners and other faith-based organisations on development issues.
The department places a priority on collaborating with other Christian organisations in the field to do joint visits, training and programme development.
IDS is involved a number of community development programmes in sub-Saharan Africa, with a particular focus on education, but also peace building, micro-finance and HIV programmes. It also works to support Communion-wide advocacy on the Millennium Development Goals and other issues through the work of the Anglican Observer to the United Nations and the newly formed Anglican Alliance.
Global Advocacy for poverty and justice issues
As head of the Church of England and a focus for unity in the Anglican Communion, the Archbishop of Canterbury has many opportunities to speak out on poverty and justice issues and to convene Anglican leaders and leaders of other faiths on this issue in the UK and internationally.
The International Development Secretariat (IDS) works to strengthen the existing advocacy work carried out by mission and development agencies and by church leaders themselves.
"The challenge for the church is for us to let the voices be heard in high places."
- Edward Malecdan, Bishop of Northern Philippines
"When you talk about peace that's a political statement. When you talk about justice that's a political statement. Politics and religion are interwoven, the sacred and the human are seen as one stream which flows from one another."
- The Most Reverend Thabo Makgoba, the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town
Recent items relating to International Development are shown below:
June 2012
Archbishop: What gift do we leave our children?
12 June 2012
A video message from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, in advance of the Rio+20 UN Conference…
May 2012
House of Lords debate on role and contribution of faith communities
29 May 2012
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, made a contribution to Lord Sacks’ debate in the House…
Christian Aid Week 2012
11 May 2012
Archbishop Rowan Williams has made the following statement in support of Christian Aid Week 2012, which…
Archbishop hosts fifth multi-faith dialogue on international development
9 May 2012
The Archbishop of Canterbury yesterday hosted the fifth multi-faith dialogue on international development…
April 2012
The Archbishop's message for World Malaria Day 2012
25 April 2012
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, urges governments to continue to invest in malaria programmes…
March 2012
Ecumenical and International Development gatherings in Geneva
1 March 2012
The Archbishop of Canterbury travelled to Geneva for a three day visit (27th February – 1st March)…
November 2011
Archbishop's video message for World AIDS Day
30 November 2011
The Archbishop of Canterbury has recorded a video message for World AIDS Day in which he talks about…
Archbishop's video message for Climate Change Talks in Durban
27 November 2011
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has released a video message of support at a multi-faith…
October 2011
Archbishop hosts round table on Horn of Africa crisis
24 October 2011
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, hosted a round table on the Horn of Africa food crisis.…
'God is making a difference through our hands' - Archbishop visits community projects in Malawi
7 October 2011
During his visit to Malawi, Archbishop Rowan Williams was able to see some of the inspiring work done…