Emergency relief to save lives is not a one-off intervention—it is the starting point for long-term recovery and transformation. With the support of our donors, we deliver assistance that meets immediate needs such as food, clean drinking water, and shelter, while already laying the groundwork for resilience and recovery. After the initial response, we analyse how communities can emerge stronger and better prepared for future crisis.
Working together: the Christian Emergency Relief Cluster
Depending on the context and the type of intervention required, we often collaborate with the Christian Emergency Relief Cluster, a coalition of seven Dutch Christian organisations active in the field of emergency relief and development. Working together strengthens the quality, speed and reach of our response.
Building Resilience
While disasters like earthquakes are hardly predictable, others—like droughts— develop over time. In areas facing so-called slow-onset disasters, we invest in building resilience at both household and community levels. Our approach is based on three main aspects: (existing or available) capital (what people have or can access, such as land, assets and savings etc.), organisational capacity (how communities organise themselves to prepare and respond) and the learning capacity (how they adapt, innovate, and learn from experience).
Our approach
People and mindset
Woord en Daad helps people recognise their talents and responsibilities, encouraging collective action as a household or as a village, and a hopeful, proactive mindset—before, during and after disaster. Our goal is to equip individuals and communities to take the lead in improving their own situations.
Environment and economy
We work with professional local organisations, governments, and businesses to turn environmental challenges into opportunities. We prioritise revitalising local economies, promoting sustainable trade, and restoring natural living environments.—helping communities recover and move forward.
Long-term perspective
At Woord en Daad, we believe in collaborative, long-term solutions. We connect different stakeholders with complementary expertise to work towards a joint vision of restoration. This includes linking immediate relief to training and capacity building in areas such as drinking water and food systems, income-generating activities, natural resource management and restoring community harmony and cohesion.