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EU-CORD Strategic Impact: 2022-2025

Over the past four years, EU-CORD has risen to the challenge. Together, members and partners reframed partnerships, engaged the humanitarian–development–peace nexus, strengthened funding capacity, and made faith visible in European and global debates. This Annual Report highlights the achievements, the impact, and the road ahead.

Four years of ‘rising to the challenge’

In our 2022 strategic framework we set ourselves a bold tagline: Rising to the Challenge. Looking back, it is clear that we did rise — sometimes with confidence, sometimes with struggle, but always with movement. What began as strategy on paper became lived practice: in how members relate to partners, how we engage across the humanitarian–development–peace nexus, how we strengthen funding opportunities, how we show up in Brussels and beyond, and how we bring faith into public debates.

At a Glance

  • 500+ people engaged in webinars, learning events, and consultations across the network
  • 20+ members using the Values Toolkit to express Christian distinctiveness with clarity
  • 5 members piloted the Partnership Survey Initiative, with a second round already in the pipeline
  • 10+ reflections written by the Secretariat since 2023 on EU politics, climate, civil space, humanitarian narratives, and advocacy framing
  • Representation in 5 EU/global platforms: CONCORD, VOICE, IDDC, PaRD, and the Brussels FBO Group
  • Submissions to EU consultations, including the Civil Society Strategy, humanitarian principles, and climate justice
  • Joint statements co-signed with CONCORD, VOICE, PaRD and others on civil society space and humanitarian access
  • Critical Raw Materials webinar (2025) co-sponsored with Caritas and Bahai International, expanding FBO voices into new policy areas
  • Faith, Climate & Environment series (2025): three webinars linking grassroots practice with EU policy, reaching 128 participants including 46 local partners
  • Expanded focus on funding and alternative financing, supporting members to access EU grants and test new financial models

Rising to the Challenge: What We Achieved

On voice and influence, the network rose strongly. Consultations, joint statements, and the Critical Raw Materials webinar show EU-CORD stepping forward as a recognised actor. Importantly, this was not just Brussels-based advocacy: staff and partners from across regions engaged more directly in these conversations, showing that EU-CORD’s influence is rooted globally as well as in the EU capital.

On funding, the network provided targeted support on EU grant acquisition, compliance, and alternative financing models. Members shared lessons on diversification and risk, helping one another to secure new opportunities in a challenging funding climate. Rising to the challenge meant not only speaking into policy but also strengthening financial sustainability.

On faith identity, we moved beyond assumptions. The Values Toolkit, and various Secretariat reflections showed that faith can be articulated clearly and credibly in public debates.

On reframing partnerships, we broke new ground. The pilot Partnership Surveys gave members and partners structured ways to speak honestly about power dynamics, building trust while exposing areas for growth.

On the humanitarian–development–peace nexus, members brought lived experience into European policy conversations. Through VOICE and joint initiatives, EU-CORD contributed to debates on localisation, fragility, and resilience. Our strength lay in bridging perspectives — showing how humanitarian response, long-term development, and peacebuilding are connected in practice, not theory.

Strategic Impact Summaries: These summaries show how EU-CORD has risen to the challenge across our strategy: strengthening funding, reframing partnerships, amplifying advocacy, engaging the nexus, articulating faith in action, and contributing to the wider sector. Click on the links below to find out more.