Center for Church-Based Development

Center for Church-Based Development (CKU) is a Danish resource center for development cooperation through church networks. We represent 37 member organizations and provide support to more than 200 projects in 40 countries.

Church-based development cooperation has deep local roots

Churches and church-based organizations worldwide are distinguished by their ability to engage large segments of the population. Church networks extend into the poorest and most remote areas, where other organizations often cannot reach. Here, they are deeply rooted and enjoy the trust, support, and respect of local communities.

Church-based development cooperation is sustainable because locally rooted churches and committed volunteers often continue and expand the work after a project has ended. We build on long-term, solid partnerships founded on shared values and common goals.

— and transformative power

The vast majority of the world’s population has a religious affiliation and is guided by religious values. Churches and church-based organizations have significant influence on social conditions, values, and attitudes, and church leaders often enjoy greater trust than politicians. Our partners understand religion and are well-positioned to promote change and reconciliation in the world’s conflict areas.

The belief that humans and the world are created by God motivates us to work for reconciliation, equal rights, peace, justice, and a sustainable world. For us, every person is valuable and must not be left behind.

Our mission is for the world’s poorest to experience fundamental change and astrengthening of their dignity and capacity for action, enabling them to pursue a better life.

We call this global diakonia—a hallmark of church-based development cooperation.

CKU is a resource center for specialized knowledge and learning about church-based development cooperation, which we make accessible and relevant to all interested organizations and networks. We serve as a voice for our members and provide information about church-based development cooperation. We provide project support for development cooperation within church networks, which on average receive contributions of more than four times our funding.