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:
November 2010
Archbishop's video message for World AIDS Day 2010
30 November 2010
In his message for 2010 World AIDS Day, the Archbishop of Canterbury celebrates the good news that can…
October 2010
Archbishop's MDG sermon at Kolkota Cathedral
10 October 2010
On the first Sunday of his visit to India, the Archbishop of Canterbury preached at a service of thanksgiving…
September 2010
Video message to mark UN Summit on the Millennium Development Goals
20 September 2010
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has today issued a video message to mark the opening…
August 2010
Archbishop visits Mildmay Centre, Uganda
23 August 2010
The Archbishop was given a 45-minute tour of the Mildmay Centre, near Kampala, Uganda, where he spent…
July 2010
Anglican relief, development and advocacy alliance: a step closer to becoming reality
22 July 2010
A working group from across the worldwide Anglican Communion met at Lambeth Palace between 12 and 14…
April 2010
World Malaria Day message
22 April 2010
To mark World Malaria Day, Sunday 25th April 2010, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has…
February 2010
Archbishops' Zimbabwe Appeal Photography Exhibition
5 February 2010
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, launched an exhibition of photographs to showcase the…
January 2010
Archbishop of Canterbury meets UN Secretary General
27 January 2010
The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams spent 45 minutes with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki…
Archbishop's message of support for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti
14 January 2010
The Archbishop of Canterbury has given a message of support to the people of Haiti affected by the devastation…
The Archbishop of Canterbury's New Year Message 2010
1 January 2010
In his BBC New Year Message the Archbishop of Canterbury sets out that in this global society we now…