“If any of you lacks wisdom, let them ask of God…” – James 1:5
In a world marked by uncertainty and rapid change, the need for wisdom—and the courage to act on it—has never felt more urgent. It was in this spirit that EU-CORD members gathered in Berlin for the 2025 General Assembly and CEO & Senior Leaders Forum: to reflect, to reconnect, and to seek God’s guidance for the road ahead.
Chair of the Administrative Council, Agnes, opened the day with a story—one that would echo throughout the forum’s conversations and contemplations.
The Parable of the 18th Camel
A father passed away, leaving 17 camels to his three sons. In his will, he stated that half should go to the eldest, a third to the second, and a ninth to the youngest. The problem was clear: 17 camels couldn’t be divided in that way without splitting a camel—an outcome nobody wanted.
Unable to resolve the problem themselves, the sons went to a wise elder for guidance. The elder didn’t try to rearrange the inheritance. Instead, she added something: her own camel.
With 18 camels now in the mix, the division became simple. The eldest received 9, the second 6, and the youngest 2. A total of 17. The elder then took back her own camel, and the matter was resolved with peace and honour.
Agnes asked the room: what is the “18th camel” for EU-CORD? What new insight, act of trust, or gift of grace might God be offering to help us find clarity in complexity?
Standing at a Crossroads
The seismic shifts facing our sector this year have also been felt within the EU-CORD network. As members reflected on strategy, sustainability, and the future of collaboration, it became clear that this is not merely a period of change, but a turning point—a time to take stock, re-centre, and reaffirm the value of walking together as a faith-rooted network, even as we recognise the challenge of aligning vision with financial reality.
There was an honest acknowledgement that while the desire for deeper collaboration remains strong, it must be balanced with sustainability and clear priorities. This moment invites us not to scale back our ambition, but to redefine what collaboration and leadership look like in this evolving context. As Ulrich later reflected, the intrinsic value of being together remains foundational—even as the ways we express that togetherness continue to adapt.
A World in Crisis—and the Faith to Respond
Ulrich Nitschke from PIRON offered a wide-angle view of the global context: a “perfect storm” of intersecting crises. As of September 2025, humanitarian funding had fallen by 41% compared to the previous year. Only 21% of global humanitarian needs had been met—marking the worst year of unmet need since the Second World War.
But beyond the numbers, Ulrich painted a broader picture of a world undergoing deep structural change. Multilateral cooperation is weakening under the strain of national interests. Polarisation and right-wing populism are reshaping political discourse, often framing fear as virtue. The climate crisis continues to accelerate, and the benefits of emerging technologies like AI are increasingly concentrated—available to the few, while compounding marginalisation for the many.
His message to the room was unambiguous: this is not a moment to disband, detach, or retreat into organisational silos. This is a time to stand together. The temptation to fragment—to prioritise survival over solidarity—is understandable. But it is precisely in this context that networks like EU-CORD are most needed: to provide spaces of trust, to hold one another accountable, to generate prophetic imagination, and to act collectively with moral clarity.
This is not a time to go quiet. It is a time to speak—and live—the good news more boldly.
Drawing from Matthew 14:25–29, participants reflected on Jesus walking on the water. Before Peter could step out in faith, Jesus had first withdrawn to pray alone. Courage, we were reminded, begins in communion.
Many leaders spoke of how their own leadership has changed over the past year: becoming more prophetic, more relational, more willing to challenge injustice—yet also more honest about fatigue, uncertainty, and the spiritual cost of persistent crisis. There was a deep recognition that renewal will not come through strategy alone, but through faithfulness, humility, and the courage to keep going—even when the water feels unsteady beneath us.
EU External Funding 2028–2034: Key Shifts and Sector Impacts
Among the key contributions to the forum’s discussions on external trends was a presentation by CEO Ruth Faber, who shared an overview of the proposed EU Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028–2034. Her analysis highlighted the implications of structural shifts within the EU’s external funding instruments, particularly the potential impact on civil society engagement, humanitarian principles, and the future of development cooperation grounded in justice and local ownership.
The new structure, known as the Global Europe Instrument, promises simplification and strategic coherence. But as Ruth pointed out, this simplification comes at a cost. The proposed removal of dedicated thematic lines for civil society, the weakening of safeguards for ODA, and the merging of humanitarian aid into broader geopolitical objectives all threaten to compromise the very principles that should guide EU external action.
She warned that this shift risks pushing the EU’s development cooperation towards infrastructure and private sector finance—at the expense of human rights, local ownership, and poverty reduction.
“This is not just a structural change,” she said. “It is a shift in values. And we, as Christian actors, must speak into that. We must remind the EU that justice, dignity, and solidarity are not optional extras—they are essential.”
Building on this, Tabeth Masengu provided a focused reflection on the Global Gateway initiative, drawing attention to how the EU’s pivot towards infrastructure and blended finance risks sidelining core development and human rights objectives.
These presentations deepened a collective sense that strategic and faith-based advocacy is not only still needed—it is more important than ever. In response, there was renewed interest in how EU-CORD can strengthen its member-led approach to policy engagement, particularly within the evolving EU landscape.
A Closing Reflection: The Faith to Keep Walking
Throughout the forum, the story of the 18th camel returned—not just as a clever parable, but as a deep invitation.
Sometimes, what we lack is not more money or another strategy, but a shift in how we see the problem. Sometimes the solution isn’t to change the terms of the division, but to offer something new. Something gracious. Something from God.
Whether that “camel” is wisdom, patience, trust, or a renewed spirit of generosity, the message remains the same: God gives us what we need to move forward—if we ask, and if we listen.
The journey ahead may be uncertain.
But—like the disciples on the Emmaus Road—we do not need to walk alone.
Image Credit: Photo by Digital Buggu: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-pulling-camel-illustration-191295/
