International Development Services
International Development Services (IDS) partners with Salvation Army territories and local corps (churches) across the world to help tackle poverty and challenge injustice through sustainable development, health and vulnerable children’s programmes, care for older people and mission support projects.
When people have access to health care, clean water, sanitation, food, shelter, education, financial services and income opportunities, it can break the cycle of poverty. With this in mind, our work focuses on six key areas:
Our diverse development programmes build on the strengths of our community members, mobilising them as agents of change.
Our projects are rooted in the local context and locally led. They cover a broad range of thematic areas including water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), agriculture and food security, modern slavery and human trafficking, family and youth development, gender justice and economic empowerment. Improving the health of local communities through hospitals, clinics, community education projects and training for health care workers is a key aspect of our work. Salvation Army health institutions are often situated in hard-to-reach, rural areas where others are unable or unwilling to deliver health care. These hospitals or clinics are often the focal point of the community and offer health care to people of all faiths or none.
The Salvation Army has a long history of providing care for older people, with many territories around the world offering residential care. In some countries in the global south The Salvation Army is one of only a handful of organisations providing this service to an often vulnerable group of people. Sometimes overlooked and underfunded, this important ministry is one we intend to focus on in the next few years.
Caring for children who may have known rejection, abuse and pain is a tremendous responsibility and one which we take very seriously.
As well as providing food, shelter, and space for play and leisure in a caring environment, our residential centres also act as places where children can grow and develop. Our mission is to create brighter futures for children and young people in our care and help them to achieve their full potential. The Mission Support scheme provides funding for projects that strengthen the organisational capacity and spiritual mission of The Salvation Army. The funding for these projects comes through The Salvation Army’s Partners in Mission, a scheme where territories that have been connected by International Headquarters support each other in a range of different ways.
Our community and institution sponsorship programmes aim to ensure holistic development of children. Sponsorship supports corps-based programmes and our residential and day centres. Funds are usually used for shelter, safe spaces, education, care and health to help children living in vulnerable settings build a better life. Sponsorship should end the cycle of poverty and our vision is for a world where it is no longer needed.
Community Development
Health
Residential Care for Older People
Residential Care for Children
Mission Support
Sponsorship
About us
The International Development Services team is diverse and highly skilled. Our work is locally rooted but we have a global reach and remit within The Salvation Army.
While our partners initiate and implement the programmes and projects, IDS offers technical expertise and facilitates the provision of resources. We also support better partnership arrangements and capacity strengthening initiatives to build on the strengths in local communities and corps.
We ensure that our work aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals and that our programmes are as effective, efficient and mission driven as possible. We are able to take a global view; facilitating and supporting networks, and providing global strategies and guidance, in order to further the international mission of The Salvation Army.
Stories of transformation
We love to share the stories of individuals and communities who have been and still are part of our projects.
- Learn more about our projects
- Find out what is happening in Salvation Army territories around the world
Contact us
Contact International Development Services at International Headquarters by emailing [email protected].