Photo: Hlazo Mkandawire/Norwegian Church Aid
Norwegian Church Aid Director in the department of International Programmes, Anne Kristin Sydnes officially opened the new NCA offices in Zambia on the 27th of October 2010.
Norwegian Church Aid has moved to new offices together with two other faith based organisations in Zambia namely; Dan Church Aid (DCA) and Christian Aid (CA).
Landmark in merger process
At the beginning of January 2011 the three organisations shall merge to form one organisation that shall be operational in Zambia. The merger process is currently underway and the movement to one office is a big landmark in the merger process as Programme Officers from the three different organisations have already started sharing offices in the new building. This shall allow them to bond and get used to working together before the actual merger is implemented in January 2011.
"This is a big event for us in NCA, DCA and CA because we are all ACT alliance members and will be merging as of 01st January 2011," NCA Country Representative, Mr. Oddbjorn Flem said.
Imoroving quality and quantity
Sydnes said that the launch of the new Act Alliance earlier this year was an important event in the promotion of better coordination, and improving quality and quantity in our operations on emergency relief, advocacy work and long term development. However, joining forces on a country level is even more important.
"The ACT alliance will only be successful if it happens at the country level and what has and is happening in Zambia is a great start," Sydnes said.
She also said that joining forces is an effort by the three organisations to continue contributing to poverty reduction in Zambia.