Relief and International Development

Working with vulnerable people across three continents, we help to break the vicious cycle of poverty by resourcing local communities to create lasting change.

Churches of Christ Overseas Aid (COCOA) is the humanitarian relief and international development program of Global Mission Partners, operating in Asia, Africa, and the Pacific. We’re an international aid organisation working with local communities and organisations on the ground to provide everything from education and healthcare to hygiene and livelihood initiatives, we strive to make sure our local partners are equipped to be incredible agents of change in their communities.

The goal of our global development projects is to support disadvantaged communities as they work towards their international development aspirations, whether that be:

  • clean water,
  • education,
  • disaster risk reduction,
  • productive livelihoods,
  • healthcare, or
  • another objective.

We partner with local civil society organisations to direct support towards the most vulnerable—those who have been marginalised, economically disadvantaged, or disempowered politically.

Through COCOA, we want to empower and enable people to change their own situations with dignity and respect. All of our projects through this program are designed to help people living in poverty take ownership of the international development work and create lasting change in their communities.

COCOA is the international relief and development program of Australian Churches of Christ Global Mission Partners Limited. Gifts to Australian Churches of Christ Global Mission Partners Limited (ABN 30 455 408 814) are tax-deductible under the Australian Taxation Office Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) endorsement.

COCOA is a member of the ACT Alliance, a global alliance of church-based agencies working in advocacy, international development and humanitarian aid work for a fairer world for all. In situations where COCOA does not have a partner that can respond to a humanitarian crisis, we will often work through ACT Alliance.

Global Mission Partners is accredited by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), responsible for managing the Australian Government’s development program. Global Mission Partners receives support through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).

Relief and Development News

A Harvest of New Skills

In the highlands of northern Thailand, families in Karen hill tribe communities are finding new ways to strengthen their livelihoods through farming. For one woman, that started with learning how to make better use of something she already had. Her…

A Place to Learn and Grow

In Prakash Tekadi- an informal settlement on the outskirts of Mumbai in India, staying connected to education can be difficult when families are facing the daily pressures of poverty. Rising living costs have pushed some families to work longer hours…