‘For the twig to blossom…’ / Just Development / 5

We live in a world in which appalling poverty continues, where there are more refugees than ever before and increasing flows of (young) migrants that attempt to escape a situation without prospect, and where large groups continue to be excluded from a just global economy that increases inequality. In such a world, work in the field of international cooperation in development and humanitarian aid continues to have an essential role. Yet, the aid and development sector have experienced drastic changes that still continue. Many organisations have had to reformulate their mission statement and strategy, and some felt the need to reinvent themselves. The traditional image of charities that raise funds to form their constituency and spend that to help poor people, preferably children, is by now, at best, just an aspect of the work. The facilitation of multi-stakeholder processes in which the beneficiaries are co-owners of the whole process, leading to a positive development in ‘developing’ countries - that is, to multiple value realization – has become central in the work of many NGOs. Maybe this is less appealing at first sight, but it is more effective in the longer run. This book describes major changes in the sector as a whole and in a number of specific fields in this sector. The main message is that, if the twig of cooperation in development and aid is to blossom, it should be rooted more strongly in the spiritual and moral conviction that we cannot accept the continuing poverty and exploitation. The ideological basis of an economic and political system that does not want a genuine change in the power relations should be countered, and ways of shaping a just and sustainable development should be designed and implemented. The book is written from a Christian perspective and attention is given to its implications for various themes and approaches. Yet, in our view, the information and reflections presented here can be fruitfully taken to heart by all of those engaged in this challenging work. Keywords: development; hope; action; reflection; development cooperation; Christian perspective; mission of the Church in society; religion; development organisations; developments in humanitarian aid; agricultural development; economy; food security; self-help groups in development; inclusive church; disability; disability and inclusion; disability and theology