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

Without Water, There Is No School

By Lachlan Strybosch This is my first year running Safe Water September, so travelling to Zimbabwe to meet our partners and see the impact of the campaign firsthand was profoundly eye-opening. I expected to see the difference safe water could…

Choosing Peace Together

For many people living in Salaam, South Sudan, the effects of conflict have shaped everyday life for years. The community includes internally displaced people, returnees and host communities, many of whom were affected by the 2013 conflict and left their…