Bread for the World

“Sated is not enough!” is Bread for the World’s motto of the 56th, 57th and 58th annual campaigns respectively. Eating enough, eating healthily and having a balanced diet are God-given promises, great pleasures and essential prerequisites for human development. Nevertheless, more than 800 million people worldwide are still starving. Around two billion are somehow able to allay their hunger, yet stay malnourished as their food does not contain sufficient nutrients.

There are many reasons for this: whereas for people living in poverty and precarious conditions the priority is to fill their stomach, the quality of food seems less important. Since the 1960s, global food production has been focused on increased yields, not on food quality. Mass-produced convenience food with high fat and carbohydrate contents but containing few nutrients is on the rise and—as a result of price wars—often replaces healthier locally grown products. Knowledge about nutrition is a prerequisite for healthy eating, even more so when old eating habits and traditions have been destroyed or replaced. To know what is good for one’s body and what is not, requires at least a basic awareness of food quality and nutrient requirements.

Malnourished people are often less able-bodied and mentally productive and also more prone to illness. This particularly affects children: the lack of proper nutrition in early childhood causes long-lasting harm. Bread for the World, therefore, supports partner organisations in numerous countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, which raise the population’s awareness of the importance of a balanced, healthy and affordable diet, of nutritional requirements and corresponding crop growing, resource-conservation and the use of natural fertilisers. As many people as possible should get a chance to learn how to grow their own healthy food—especially women as, within their families, traditionally they are mainly responsible for food and nutrition!

Still, malnutrition is on the increase, also in our part of the world. It causes illness, contributes to the waste of resources and sets a poor example in establishing unsustainable trends all over the world. Imitating western lifestyle, hugely promotes diseases of civilisation such as diabetes in the countries of the Global South. The corresponding treatments, however, are affordable only to the very few.

The brochure which you can download beneath this paragraph provides data on these issues as well as information on projects and suggestions for your own involvement. Let us join people all over the world on the road to healthy nutrition, and take better care of our wonderful world’s resources and the riches of Creation so that we can ensure there will be enough for everyone in the future.

Projects Through its worldwide work Bread for the World – Protestant Development Service seeks to overcome poverty and achieve more justice. In almost 100 countries all across the globe we empower the poor and marginalised to improve their living conditions by themselves.

More than food

The primary objective of our work is food security. But we also advocate the promotion of health and education, access to water, the respect for human rights and gender equality as well as the integrity of creation. Because bread means much more to us than simply food: In keeping with Martin Luther, we believe that it stands for everything people need for living.

United we stand

An essential feature of our projects is the close and continuous cooperation with local, often churchrelated partner organisations. Because they are best acquainted with the needs of the local people. Together with them we develop sustainable solutions for the most urging problems.

In addition to its projects Bread for the World – Protestant Development Service also sends experienced specialists and young volunteers to the countries of the South. They work for a fixed term in the projects of the partner organisations.

Sharing Expertise

Upon request of its partner organisations, Bread for the World provides specialists with long-standing professional experience. They share their knowledge in areas where there are no or too few native specialists. Their active cooperation is the living proof of their solidarity with the people in the countries of the Global South.

Working as a Volunteer

Likewise young committed people can contribute for the duration of twelve months to the work of Bread for the World projects within the scope of a volunteer programme. Thus they support the work of the partner organisations while simultaneously gaining valuable life experience. Seminars help prepare them for their overseas placements.

We cannot overcome the hunger and poverty in the world without changing our life styles and our economic activities. Raising awareness for this is a key objective of the work of Bread for the World – Protestant Development Service in Germany.

Dialogue with Politics

In order to highlight injustices and to initiate desperately needed changes, Bread for the World – Protestant Development Service seeks the continuous exchange with the decision makers in politics, economy und society. This is often done in cooperation with partner organisations and other civil society actors.

Public Relations

However, shaping sustainable development is not exclusively a task for experts. Hence Bread for the World – Protestant Development Service also engages in public relations and promotes the development educational work of parishes, schools, one world shops, partnership projects and political initiatives.

In 2015 Bread for the World issued the largest volumeof approvals in its history: 238 million euros. This was possible due to the generous support of the agency’s work by the Protestant church and the donors. The agency had donations and collections in the amount of 57.5 million euros and church funds in the amount of 52.5 million euros at its disposal. The German Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development provided 125.8 million euros for the support of partners in 2015.

In 2015 Bread for the World approved 553 new projects worldwide with a total budget of 211 million euros. The regional focus was on Africa with 183 projects and Asia and the Pacific with 174 projects. Most of the funds were approved for Africa, which received 70.5 million euros. Asia and the Pacific received 69 million euros.

Thematic funding priorities were food security, promoting education and health, access to water, strengthening democracy, respect for human rights, safeguarding peace as well as the integrity of creation.

By founding the Protestant Agency for Diakonie and Development the Protestant churches in Germany accepted the challenges of a globalised world.

The new agency located in Berlin merges the competences of the Social Service Agency of the Protestant Church in Germany, including its agencies Bread for the World and Diakonie Emergency Aid, with those of the Church Development Service. In doing so international development cooperation and national diakonia work are more closely interlinked with each other, yet maintain individual areas of responsibility in the divisions Bread for the World – Protestant Development Service and Diakonie Germany – Protestant Federal Association.

The merger generates valuable synergies and new impulses. It allows the Protestant regional and free churches as well as the regional and specialist associations of Diakonie to speak with one voice on behalf of the people who suffer from poverty and injustice – in our own country and all over the world.

Do you have any questions regarding the work of Bread for the World – Protestant Development Service? Or do you need more information? Please do not hesitate to contact the respective departments!

How to Contact Us

via e-mail

• Africa
  afrika@brot-fuer-die-welt.de
• Near East, Caucasus and Asia-Pacific Region
  asien@brot-fuer-die-welt.de
• Latin America and the Caribbean
  lateinamerika@brot-fuer-die-welt.de
• Europe and Worldwide Programmes
  weltweit-europa@brot-fuer-die-welt.de
• Politics
  politik@brot-fuer-die-welt.de
• Public Relations and Cooperation
  info@brot-fuer-die-welt.de
• All other subjects
  kontakt@brot-fuer-die-welt.de

via mail

• Bread for the World – Protestant Development Service
  Caroline-Michaelis-Str. 1
  10115 Berlin
  Germany

via phone

• +49 30 65211-1189