On 16 December 2021, the Church Board adopted the strategic plan for Act Church of Sweden, which applies from 2022. In the strategic plan, Act Church of Sweden has a clear focus on contributing to partners’ capacities and ownership. In order to do this it´s crucial to be closer to partners, an important focus is (therefore) to increase Act Church of Sweden's presence in the regions and countries where our partner work. Part of this initiative is to establish regional offices, so-called "hubs", where much of the work can be carried out close to partners.
What is a regional hub?
A regional hub is where we center Act Church of Sweden’s regional presence and functions. The regional hub is a hub for the entire Act Church of Sweden – not only the respective regional team/regional program's hub. This means that global capabilities can be hosted at hubs and that the hub's role is not limited to managing collaboration with partners within the regional program. The Hub's responsibilities and obligations include involvement in and support to humanitarian rapid response actions , active collaboration with Uppsala, for example, communication, fundraising, policy and advocacy, church- and ecumenical relations, methods development, thematic support, agreement and financial compliance, etc.
Why does Act CoS need regional hubs?
One of our strategic initiatives is to increase the presence of the Act Church of Sweden in regions/programme countries in order to strengthen partnerships and contribute to local capacity and ownership, as well as an increase in institutional funding. This is a long-term initiative that has been ongoing for some years and will be intensified in the coming years. Our increased presence in programme countries and through regional hubs serves several purposes. We will be able to work closer to partners in their contexts, which means we can provide better support and possibilities for collaboration and capacity sharing. In doing so, we remain relevant both to partners and to different donors (institutional and individual). Through a regional presence, we open up possibilities for a broader funding base and lower overall staff-related costs. We will also see a reduction in office and travel costs from Uppsala.
What is the purpose of regional hubs?
The hubs will ensure close, relevant, contextualized collaboration with partners, and ensure that Uppsala HQ, the movement and governance are well informed and engaged. Regional hubs make Act CoS more relevant in the local context, to partners as well as donors. Local presence enables us to act faster, gain insights we otherwise wouldn’t have, adapt to changes and respond to emergencies faster. Cost efficiency and effectiveness improves, more interactions with partners without intercontinental travels.
With the hubs, Act CoS in Uppsala will have a more concentrated and focused role to set strategies and standards, provide technical guidance, develop systems, processes and methodologies that ensure quality. Uppsala provides strategic guidance and support, maintains global internal controlling, strengthens the links with the Swedish context and movement, and interacts with Governance. Uppsala also promotes global learning, sharing and exchanges, works on global advocacy and policy dialogue, communication, engagement and fundraising.
Where will we have the regional hubs?
We now have hubs registered in Bogotá (Colombia), in Amman (Jordan) and in Kampala (Uganda).
Who has been appointed to be hub managers?
Lennart Hernander has been appointed manager for the Kampala hub, Eva Ekelund for the Bogotá hub and Maria Lövström for the Amman hub.