Tearfund | Why Tearfund's partnership model works

What’s different about Tearfund’s approach to aid and development?

If you have ever travelled to a community where Tearfund works you won’t have seen a Tearfund NZ office. While many aid and development organisations have offices and a visible presence overseas, Tearfund’s approach is to work through trusted faith-based partners who are part of the communities they serve. Because poverty is complex, we believe that local experts are best placed to find local solutions which will bring lasting change. So we come alongside our local partners, joining them in the work they are doing, and supporting them to deliver the best aid and development programmes possible.

How do we choose which projects to support?

Our partnership approach is key to both robust contextual analysis and project design. Frequent liaising with local partners ensures that we work together in the pre-design research process and then are informing the design conceptually, as well as refining draft versions of the final activity design.

Each project proposal we accept goes through a peer-review process to make sure that it is strong and effective . Then we work further with the partner to refine any details.

We usually work through partners we know or that other Tearfund’s or our Integral Alliance partners recommend. The Integral Alliance is a group of Christian aid organisations where members collaborate on disaster responses and disaster recovery projects.

What are the advantages of our partnership model?

Our partners determine the help they need to solve an aspect of poverty or need.
Programmes are delivered in a safe and culturally appropriate way.
Through the Integral Alliance and other Tearfunds, we can sometimes share monitoring and evaluation costs.
The Integral Alliance membership allows Tearfund NZ to contribute to fast efficient responses to disasters through well-organised collaboration and joint funding.

One of the biggest advantages for our generous supporters is knowing that their gifts sent to our partners are being used effectively. They can also be assured that our expert programmes staff are monitoring the effective use of funds. Working in low-income countries can be challenging and complex, so our staff work with the partner to adjust strategies that are not meeting targets to ensure the best possible outcomes.

Recent posts

A year on from the Beirut explosion, the effects are still being felt

Wednesday, 04 August 2021 — Tearfund New Zealand

Today marks one year since the devastating explosion at Beirut’s port in Lebanon killed more than 180 people. As one of the largest non-nuclear explosions ever recorded, it left hundreds injured and hundreds of thousands of people homeless and unemployed. Your support enabled our local partner MERATH, a Christian NGO in Lebanon, to help thousands of vulnerable individuals and families. Here’s what we were able to do with your donation.

My three top tips to becoming an ethical fashion consumer

Monday, 02 August 2021 — Juliette Epstein

When it comes to ethical fashion, there’s always a bigger picture. Here are three things I have learnt since being an ethical fashion intern at Tearfund. I hope these tips will help you think about how and what you're consuming and that my journey will help yours!

Out of a mother’s nightmare comes hope after toddler falls from a second-storey window

Wednesday, 28 July 2021 — Compassion International

When three-year-old Brisaida fell from the second storey of her house, her mother couldn’t utter a word. How was her daughter going to receive the urgent help that she needed in a country where health services are inadequate? Read on to find out how this story ends.

Sponsor gives the gift of space to sleep

Wednesday, 28 July 2021 — Compassion International

Paulin and his siblings used to spend their nights barely fitting in their small house. But Paulin's family received a financial gift that allowed them to build a house. Now they have space to spread out at night.

Ten photos that bring to life our Empowher women's events

Tuesday, 27 July 2021 — Grace Ellis

Tearfund hosted two Empowher women's events, one at Eastgate Christian Centre and one at The Upper Room. The events were a great opportunity to bring women together, be encouraged and do something powerful in the lives of mothers and babies in Indonesia through our new Mums and Bubs project. Take a look at ten photos that bring to life the events!

New Zealand fails to fully meet minimum standards to eliminate trafficking

Monday, 26 July 2021 — Morgan Theakston

On July 30, it is World Trafficking in Persons Day and we're shedding light on why the recent US TIP Report has downgraded New Zealand to Tier 2. When it comes to government efforts to prosecute and prevent human trafficking, New Zealand is falling behind the UK, US, Australia, France and many other countries.

Siblings are top achievers despite their struggles

Monday, 26 July 2021 — Compassion International

Although they were found struggling to survive, educating their children has always remained a priority for Nitsuha and Amanuel’s parents living in Ethiopia. With support from Compassion, the siblings scored the highest grades in their classes.