How we work

As a diaconal organisation, and a founding member of the ACT Alliance, faith is at the core of NCA’s identity, and it motivates our vision for a just world where human dignity and the integrity of creation are protected. It also informs our preference to work with churches in the ecumenical movement and engage in interfaith dialogue and cooperation. In a world where religion continues to play an important role in people’s lives and provide the basis for cultural norms and practices, mobilising faith assets to engage contextually and inspire positive change represents a key added value of NCA’s work.

NCA is committed to designing holistic programmes that support people’s needs in the short and long term and address inter-connected rights deficits, requiring NCA to move beyond thematic silos and integrate immediate humanitarian assistance, long-term development, peacebuilding, and advocacy efforts as we strive for sustainable and lasting change. When NCA’s programmes and interventions are holistic and complement the work of others, our efforts will be more effective and sustainable, and we are less likely to cause harm.

People and communities affected by crises have the right to participate in decisions that affect them and play a leading role in driving change in the local context. NCA’s preference is to work through faith-based actors and civil society organisations that are rooted locally and can facilitate the participation of communities in programme design and implementation. When NCA’s programmes and interventions are locally led, our efforts will have greater legitimacy and be less likely to build dependency.

Human rights and international humanitarian law form the basis for NCA’s work, and all our programmes and interventions address rights deficits. NCA applies a Rights-Based Approach (RBA) founded on the principles of participation, accountability, non-discrimination, empowerment, and link to human rights instruments. When rightsholders are empowered and mobilised for inclusive and collective action, civil society is better equipped to address the root causes of injustice and inequality and to hold duty-bearers accountable for fulfilling their obligations. In our humanitarian responses, we are guided by the humanitarian principles.