1. We are a member of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) and a compliant signatory to ACFID’s Code of Conduct. The Code requires members to meet high standards of corporate governance, public accountability, and financial management. More information about the ACFID Code of Conduct can be obtained from ACFID at: www.acfid.asn.au.

Read about Australian Aid Myths Busted - an ACFID publication.

2. ALWS is also accredited with the Australian Government’s aid and development agency, AusAID. This means that ALWS is eligible to receive funding from the government and must meet strict financial, reporting and project requirements. More information about AusAID is available on their website: www.ausaid.gov.au.

Aid Review

ALWS has welcomed the government’s response to the Independent Review of Aid Effectiveness, which has affirmed Australia’s commitment to increasing its support for efforts to alleviate global poverty (www.aidreview.gov.au/report/index.html)

 “It is especially pleasing that the report clearly stated that Australian aid should put people first and the focus is on helping them overcome poverty, said Peter Schirmer, ALWS Executive Secretary. “It was also noteworthy that in his response to the report Kevin Rudd, the Minister responsible for the Australian aid program, highlighted the importance of a focus on people with disabilities. This highlights that priority should be given to the most disadvantaged and vulnerable”, he added.

 ALWS has broadly endorsed the proposed geographic focus of the program. Mr Schirmer noted that: “It is reasonable that Australia should give priority to the Asia-Pacific region, but it is very important that we continue to engage in Africa, where poverty is endemic”.

 ALWS is also very pleased that the Government has recognised the importance of community organisations as partners in development and humanitarian assistance. The commitment to increase funding to agencies such as ALWS, is a recognition of the role they play in helping people and communities in developing countries overcome poverty.

3. ALWS is regularly and systematically monitored and evaluated by independent assessors. Jan Cossar, an independent International Development Consultant, recently said the following of ALWS:

“Although a small NGO in Australia, ALWS is highly regarded in the NGO community. Its contribution to NGO and development work in Australia as well as to the broader LWF community is much bigger than its size. ALWS punches above its weight!

“One of the challenges when an organization is considered so effective and doing such a good job with limited resources is a tendency to take on more and more work with the same level of human resources. There is a need for ALWS to have the resources to ensure the quality and quantity of work that they do, and I urge Lutheran supporters to assist as much as possible given ALWS’s great contribution to the aid and development sector.”

4. We are committed to using your gifts as efficiently and effectively as possible. This means keeping our overheads as low as possible. The table below shows our overheads (administration and fundraising costs as defined by the ACFID Code of Conduct) for the past 6 years:

5. After disasters, we work through actalliance to deliver emergency relief.  actalliance is a global alliance of churches of different denominations working together. It was formed in March 2010, combining the agencies involved in emergency relief and long term development work. The alliance comprises over 100 different organizations working in 130 countries.

Working in this way means your gifts can be used most effectively and efficiently because we’re working together rather than duplicating and thereby wasting precious resources.

There are other Australian and New Zealand church agencies who are members of actalliance. An ACT Australia/NZ Forum has been established to enhance cooperation in our region. Peter Schirmer, ALWS’ Executive Secretary, is the Chair of this Forum.

6.  We are accountable to the Lutheran Church of Australia.  ALWS is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the General Church Council and the District Church Councils. ALWS reports to the Church through General Church Council and Synods. This includes submission of Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements.