Finn Church Aid and LWF sign Letter of Intent 

Four people have gathered around one table to smile to the camera.
The Letter of Intent between Finn Church Aid and LWF World Service was signed in Geneva, Switzerland on Monday, September 29th. Photo: Cornelia Kästner-Meyer / LWF

FCA and LWF World Service sign a new cooperation agreement, working together to expand reach, share expertise, and better serve people in crisis.

FINN CHURCH AID (FCA) and The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) World Service and have signed a Letter of Intent to strengthen humanitarian emergency response through a consortium model. The agreement outlines the way in which LWF and FCA will in the future work together and respond to humanitarian emergencies.

“The humanitarian system is undergoing unprecedented change,” says Tomi Järvinen, Executive Director of Finn Church Aid (FCA).

“At the same time, we face significant funding cuts. Yet our mission remains as vital as ever: to support people in greatest need. To do this effectively, we must work together and collaborate across sectors to maximize our collective impact.”

“This collaboration is about more than saving costs. It’s about increasing our reach and deepening our impact in communities affected by crisis,” says Maria Immonen, Director of LWF World Service.

“By working together, we aim to expand our presence and attract additional donor support, ensuring more effective and coordinated responses.”

Strenghtening the emergency response together

The Letter of Intent for Humanitarian Emergency Response Cooperation between LWF World Service and FCA is strengthening the emergency response opportunities on both organizations.

In countries where LWF World Service has a presence and FCA is not established, LWF World Service will act as lead for humanitarian response and first response to emergencies. Where FCA is established and LWF World Service is not, FCA will take the lead, with LWF World Service providing support. In the case of complex emergencies in countries where none of the Partners are present, LWF World Service and FCA commit to seeking synergies in their response.

The coordinated effort helps to avoid parallel structures and enhances the effective use of funds and expertise for the benefit of the beneficiaries.

“Finn Church Aid and LWF have been partners since LWF’s founding. By signing this Letter of Intent, we reaffirm a long-standing partnership built on shared values and mutual trust,” Immonen continues.