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The Department for World Service (DWS) works in 35 countries through three regional programs, 16 country programs, nine associate programs and emergency operations, and one other program presence, with up to 50 international staff and consultants and 5,000 national staff.
All DWS country programs started at the invitation of local church or governmental partners in response to emergency situations, whether natural disaster, human-made disaster or armed conflict.
In many areas, DWS continued work with the local population after the initial emergency, shifting its focus to development activities. LWF member churches and other institutions partner with DWS to target sustainability, advocacy, empowerment, capacity building, risk management and disaster preparedness.
DWS Geneva is responsible for overall management and coordination, and ensures that the programs are integrated within the full scope of DWS activities. An international staff member heads each program, and DWS Geneva staff liaise directly with program representatives and offices.
Regional Programs
DWS has regional programs in areas where the emergency response and development context is wider than one country.
DWS has also established regional programs in situations where collaboration has developed across national borders, for example in long-term refugee assistance. This regional coordination strengthens partnerships and helps to create effective, sustainable development networks.
DWS regional programs currently operate in:
- Caribbean: Dominican Republic, Haiti
- Central America: El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua
- Middle East: Jerusalem
Country Programs
DWS Country Programs currently operate in:
- Angola
- Burundi
- Chad
- Colombia
- Democratic Republic Congo
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Kenya
- Lao People’s Democratic Republic
- Mauritania
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Nepal
- South Sudan
- Uganda
- Zambia
Associate Programs
DWS strives to build local capacity, with the aim of transferring governance to a local structure within the framework of associate programs. A memorandum of understanding outlines roles, commitments and expectations for the local organization, DWS and other partners. DWS systems and policies – such as financial and programmatic planning, monitoring and evaluation – are applied according to agreement.
DWS associate programs currently operate in:
Presence
Emergency Operations
DWS responds to emergencies via existing national and regional structures in areas where it has a strategic presence. Additional international support may be provided depending on the scale of the emergency. DWS uses its network of regional programs, country programs, associate programs and LWF member churches as the basis for its emergency response.
For further information please contact:
Mr Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, Program Coordinator
Ms Francesca Traglia, Assistant Program Coordinator
