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 2009
Archbishop's World AIDS Day Message 2009 "A space for hope"
30 November 2009
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has released his 2009 World Aids Day video, in which…
New Perspectives on Faith and Development
12 November 2009
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, delivered a lecture today at the RSA. He spoke of the…
Archbishop pays tribute to remarkable work of the Mothers' Union
10 November 2009
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams has paid tribute to the work of the Mothers' Union, describing…
October 2009
Archbishop welcomes the work of microfinance charity, Five Talents
30 October 2009
The Archbishop of Canterbury and a priest from Southern Sudan yesterday promoted the benefits of microfinance…
Archbishop supports the work of charity Five Talents
29 October 2009
At a reception in aid of Five Talents, Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, welcomed guests…
September 2009
Archbishops' Zimbabwe Appeal - September 2009 report
1 September 2009
Archbishops' Zimbabwe Appeal - Initial report on Lambeth Palace and USPG visit to Zimbabwe, September…
July 2009
Archbishop's Response to DFID White Paper
9 July 2009
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, welcomed the launch this week of the Government White…
May 2009
Archbishops' Zimbabwe appeal raises almost £300,000 to date
10 May 2009
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, and The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, have this…
March 2009
Lambeth Palace hosts DFID White Paper consultation
18 March 2009
Lambeth Palace yesterday hosted a consultation between faith communities and the UK Government's Department…
February 2009
Archbishops' appeal for Zimbabwe
25 February 2009
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams and The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, have launched…