Our work abroad is done in close cooperation with local partners. As coordinators or holders of the projects and programmes they are responsible for the work done locally. These represent in terms of size, structure and emphases of their work a large variety of different approaches. We generally operate with partners who are committed to a broad, ecumenical Christian basis. In addition to the immediate work in their projects, they are committed to furthering the rights of children and young people in their country.
The local situation
We are convinced that effective assistance cannot be dictated from Europe but has to be designed locally. For this reason we cooperate in all countries with local organisations which are dedicated to working with disadvantaged children and young people.
Function
Kindernothilfe is a Christian, but not a Church organisation. In comparison to churches and their overseas partnerships our role is more limited: in the context of our working relationship we and the foreign partners are all working prag-matically for the interests of a third party. Both parties have an instrumental role. This is to say that we have our main responsibility towards the children and young people we support on the one hand and towards the donors on the other hand. Our partners are independently responsible for the projects in terms of finances, administration, and programmatic approach. They exercise this responsibility in dialogue with us.
Structure
The structures of these partners are quite varied. In many countries they are independent organisations related to the local churches, co ordinating a large number of projects run by local organisations and supported by Kindernothilfe. In other countries our partners are Child and Youth Care Departments of national churches. Both are partners who generally co operate almost exclusively with us. These account for the majority of our work. In addition to these, we cooperate, among others, with smaller project holders and Non Governmental Organisations (NGO), for which we are only one among many donors.
In all these cases we sign agreements with our partners which ensure mutual commitment and reliability. The above mentioned structures have advantages and disadvantages. The decisive factor in assessing them is the quality and effectiveness of their work with young people and the competence in intervening on behalf of their interests.
Inequality
In an atmosphere of willingness to learn, we and our partners are in a constant dialogue about the concepts and contents of our respective work. In so doing we are aware that an issue focused dialogue between donors and recipients of money is particularly challenging. Despite the term "partnership" it is a dialogue between unequals, particularly when finance is taken into account.
This inequality obliges both sides to a special degree to be honest, transparent and reliable in cooperation, in order to achieve the common goal. Contractual regulations support this mutual obligation. We want to facilitate the ongoing improvement of the pedagogical and administrative competence of our partners. To this end we regularly evaluate the quality of the work together with them.
Qualification
In pursuit of a hopefully successful co operation we require and encourage further education and discussion on topics relating to the different approaches in development cooperation. This applies to both our partners and ourselves. Therefore we support the multilateral dialogue among our partners and with other organisations active in their country or region. This dialogue should also facilitate networking. It is also meant to make possible an effective commitment for a more just order: in public affairs and in discussion with those responsible in politics and in the economy.