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

What you need to know about our partners part 2: Helping in a disaster without harming

Wednesday, 21 October 2020 — Andrew Robinson

Imagine being caught in a moment of crisis—pushed beyond your ability to cope. You are swept up in circumstances outside of your control, left vulnerable, overwhelmed and in need of help, but you don’t know where help will come from. Tearfund hears the cries and responds to disasters through local partners to meet the immediate needs of people. Tearfund also works with the community to help people build back their lives in a sustainable way. What’s important is the people we serve are protected and treated with dignity.

Six authentic ways to be generous and not judgemental

Friday, 16 October 2020 — Compassion International

As Christians we are called to live generously, not putting our hope in things but in God. He is the only one who can judge us. It’s a balance of enjoying the things God gives us, being generous, doing good, and not chasing riches. Here are six ways you can be generous and not judgemental.

Outworking faith through advocacy

Wednesday, 14 October 2020 — Grace Stanton

Rosie Paterson-Lima has always had a heart for people, especially people less fortunate than herself. She was exposed to poverty from a very young age. It impacted her so much that she dedicated her life to helping bring people out of their situation and into their God-given potential. She became an advocate for Tearfund in 2010 and is now working for Tearfund as a Programmes Specialist.

TJC as easy as 123: Three reasons why you should attend The Justice Conference

Tuesday, 13 October 2020 — Grace Stanton

The Justice Conference gives you a platform to learn about different justice issues and a chance to see how other people live out justice, so you can learn, advocate and do justly yourself! Here are three reasons why you should attend!

Why your efforts to tackle child poverty matter now more than ever

Tuesday, 06 October 2020 — Compassion International

Covid-19 has had a huge impact on the vulnerable. Many people have been unable to work and if they can’t work that means they can’t feed their family. Children are also out of school because of government restrictions and people are scared to go to the hospital to get vaccinated against other diseases for the fear of catching Covid-19. Tearfund’s partner Compassion is doing all it can, alongside the local church, to meet the needs of struggling families.

A life of hope in a world destroyed by drugs

Monday, 05 October 2020 — Compassion International

Angelyn’s world fell apart when she discovered her parents were selling drugs. She refused to tell the staff at the Compassion child sponsorship programme out of a mistaken fear that they would reject her. She lost hope and stopped coming to the project. At the age of 12, she began drinking alcohol and going to nightclubs. When her caseworker finally reached her, he invited her to a youth camp. Reluctantly she agreed, and her life changed course.

From being orphaned, beaten and homeless to living out God’s plan

Monday, 05 October 2020 — Compassion International

Vivian was just nine years old when both of her parents died. She and her younger sister were taken in by their aunty, who neglected them, stole from them, and beat them. One night their aunty had had enough and kicked them out of the house. Vivian and her sister were left homeless until Tearfund’s partner, Compassion, brought them in. Now Vivian can live out God’s plan for her life.