Kafa Development Programme
The Kafa Development Fund seeks to enable churches and church-related organisations and action groups to respond ecumenically and in a timely way to local, national and regional emerging priorities and solidarity needs through the provision of grants.
“Kafa” is a Tongan word to define the rope that is made from coconut sinew and used in many parts of the Pacific to bind pieces of wood in building structures and also used as decorative pieces.
The kafa is the central piece of material that is used to symbolise the building component of this fund to assist churches in their service to the communities of the Pacific region.
Full guidelines and the Grant Application Form are available as a download.
You can also call the PCC Secretariat on (679) 3311 277 or email.
Introduction
The Pacific Conference of Churches considers diakonia (churches’ service to the communities) to be an intrinsic component of the ecumenical vision of promoting just and sustainable communities in which people’s participation is a leading principle.
People are called to take matters into their own hands by defining and shaping their own future.
In order to realise this vision, genuine, credible and relevant acts of solidarity rooted in people’s lives are essential.
The Kafa Development Fund will embody the PCC’s commitment to fostering, encouraging and facilitating the sharing of resources amidst growing poverty, polarisation between rich and poor, displacement and exclusion.
Through the promotion of local church and community initiatives, the Fund will aim at strengthening ecumenism and ecumenical co-operation, which also contributes to the ultimate goal of the PCC: the quest for visible unity.
Since the PCC is uniquely placed to enable and strengthen encounters and co-operation among churches in all regions of the world, the Fund supports initiatives where ecumenism is furthered, Christian values are multiplied and diakonal work is enhanced.
Emphasis will be placed on strengthening churches, national councils and regional conferences of churches, theological institutions and grassroots ecumenical networks.
As a PCC initiative, the Kafa Development Fund will be managed and monitored by the ecumenical animators and the General Secretary to ensure a coordinated and transparent approach to supporting ecumenical initiatives.
Purpose
Through the provision of grants, to enable churches and church-related organisations and action groups to respond ecumenically and in a timely way to local, national and regional emerging priorities and solidarity needs.
The Fund aims to foster ecumenical relationships and cooperation among beneficiary churches and organisations at the local and national level.
Through the provision of financial support to PCC member churches, national and regional councils of churches, and church-related and ecumenical organisations, the Fund will offer opportunities for the PCC to deepen the relationships with its constituency.
The Fund will also offer the opportunity to those funding partners that are interested to express solidarity with local/national initiatives – particularly those without ready access to international funding – through the ecumenical sharing of resources, making use of the good offices of the PCC for screening, administration, monitoring, reporting, evaluation and follow-up.
Thematic Scope
The Fund will support initiatives in the following areas:
a) Promoting justice, peace and human dignity;
b) Addressing poverty issues, namely unjust social systems and structures;
c) Supporting capacity building;
d) Supporting community organisation and mobilisation.