ADRA Australia and Other Charities Join Forces to Save Lives

Sixteen Australian charities, including the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), joined forces for the first time on August 6, 2021, to launch the newly formed Emergency Action Alliance (EAA) at an online event that featured prominent government leaders, media executives, and charity leaders.

The humanitarian agencies will unite in their campaign and fundraising efforts to improve how Australians can support and donate when large-scale overseas humanitarian disasters occur.

The CEOs of the charities believe that through this new single fundraising entity, more money can be raised from the Australian public more quickly so that there can be a rapid distribution of funds allocated to where the money is most needed. This will save more lives and can enable the quicker and more efficient rebuilding of communities.

“We at ADRA are very pleased to join the Emergency Action Alliance as one of the founding members,” Denison Grellmann, CEO of ADRA Australia and New Zealand, said on August 6.

“Our world is changing, and we need to position ourselves to address new humanitarian realities. Unfortunately, we see more natural and man-made disasters, and we must be better prepared to respond and save lives.

“Being part of the Alliance allows us to have a wider appeal reach, and as a result, fundraise and coordinate humanitarian efforts in a more significant way. This Alliance also strengthens ADRA’s purpose to serve humanity so all may live as God intended.”

EAA executive director Kerren Morris said, “Around the globe, the number of large-scale disasters is increasing. The complexity of these emergencies is also accelerating, and new factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic mean that communities are even more vulnerable.

“It’s no surprise that the needs for disaster response and recovery are escalating,” Morris continued. “Our member organizations already work in close collaboration during a disaster response — but there has been a common agreement that a more formal alliance was needed to make it easier for donors to give. Today is a historic moment in Australia’s response to disaster relief.”

The online launch on August 6 featured speakers including Senator Marise Payne, Australian Broadcasting Corporation Board director Jane Connors, CEO of the Australian Council for International Development Marc Purcell, CEO of the Fundraising Institute of Australia Katherine Raskob, and each of the EAA member CEOs.

Matthew Maury, chair of the EAA Board and CEO of Tearfund Australia, said, “Australians are incredibly generous when a disaster strikes, and the EAA is designed to maximize the impact of this generosity. When a crisis occurs, the Emergency Action Alliance works with its 16 members to quickly direct resources to the member agencies best positioned to respond to the disaster.”

“ADRA recognizes that the increasing impact of disasters on families, communities, and nations today requires innovative and collective ways to resource responses to major disasters as soon as they occur,” Murray Millar, ADRA Australia’s Emergency Management director, said.

“The newly formed Emergency Action Alliance will be a very helpful mechanism to achieve this. As a foundation member of the EAA, ADRA is committed to strengthening its capabilities and competence to ensure that when the Australian public provides resources, we will be able to rapidly deploy these resources responsively and responsibly for the greatest good,” Millar added.

The complete list of member organizations of the EAA includes Action Aid, ADRA, Act for Peace, Australian Lutheran World Service, Anglican Overseas Aid, Baptist World Aid, Caritas Australia, Care, CBM, ChildFund Australia, Oxfam, Plan International, Save the Children, Tearfund Australia, Australia for UNHCR, and World Vision.

The original version of this story was posted by Adventist Record.