Health
- A Principal Recipient for the Global Fund in South Africa is a opportunity – strengthening Prevention and Behaviour Change Programmes, Care Programme for people infected and affected, care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children, etc. We work in partnerships with churches, business sector and NGOs.
- Primary Health Care: the NRASD is committed to strengthen primary health care programmes in South Africa through a partnership with the Health Ministry and international agencies. The patrons of this initiative are Health Minister Motsoaledi and Archbishop Thabo Makgoba – since our 2010 national conference: As religious sector the NRASD wants to make a real, concrete contribution through the envisaged “religious community health care workers” – working within church and religious structures (in cooperation with community structure, health clinics, business, etc.). They can play a crucial role to link community needs at grassroots level to the health care system.
- The “Religious sector HIV/AIDS Task Team” (RSHATT) is a platform for the sharing of experience and best practice case studies of the religious sector – a network with representatives in all the Provinces.
- The NRASD has been selected as the coordinator for the Religious Sector programme of the”South African National Aids Council” (SANAC). In terms of national footprint, this is by far the largest sector in South Africa – with networks in every corner of South Africa.
- The “Johns Hopkins Health and Education Programme” work in partnership with church and community partners – especially in districts where there is a high infection rate.
- The “Church and Business against HIV and Aids”, a partnership between churches and business networks to strengthen community responses.
Education
- The “Adult Basic Education and Training” (ABET) programme – reaching into the rural areas with the participation of the largest faith networks.
- The “Early Childhood and Development” (ECD) programme: supporting the work of pre-school centres that cares for young children.
- The “Community Leadership Academy” for young social entrepreneurs – a skills development programme to strengthen community projects.
- The “Religion and Education” programme – giving hope for education through new partnerships and models to increase the quality of learning in public schools (Patrons Bishop Z. Siwa, Presiding Bishop of Methodist Church, and Prof Jonathan Jansen, Rector of the Free State University
Economic, development & welfare policy
- The comprehensive “National Development Plan 2030” is one of the focal points to give inputs in the national debate on priorities to ensure that it could be implemented
- Religion and Welfare/Community development policy – a think-tank to explore creative models of fostering local community empowerment (Dr. Braam Hanekom, Dr. Willie van der Merwe, etc.)
- Economics and Social Cohesion: fostering of dialogue and partnerships to strengthen social capital, cooperation between sectors; What kind of economic growth can reduce inequality in South Africa, and foster development? (JP Landman, etc.);
Gender & Human rights
An African research and theological training programme: developing curricula to address gender issues in theological training programmes; to address stigma of HIV and AIDS within theological context; to address violence against women and children, etc.
Economics, social justice and environmental protection
A consultation process hosted by the EFSA Institute and the Social Chamber of the EKD (Germany) – including church representatives in the North and the South: to reflect and guide the debate on social justice in economic systems, and to ensure the protection of our national resources and environment for future generations.