Responding Together
Responding Together is the Baptist disaster response system. It is a guide for Baptists to work together in times of crisis, supporting each other through a coordinated response. Responding Together acknowledges that when churches and organisations respond together, it promotes efficiency with opportunities to help each other grow.
What does a BFAD Coordinated Response look like?
Each response will look different. Some responses (Type 1) do not need BFAD coordination. Type 2 and 3 responses refer to a response where three or more Baptist organizations agree to work together in a disaster by following the shared principles and steps in the Responding Together guidance manual.
There are five steps involved in a BFAD Coordinated Response once a disaster has occurred (see Responding Together Steps Visual Guide).
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- Raise Alert
- Convene for Initial Update and Prayer
- Confirm Response Type and Coordination Needs
- Assess High Compliance Funding Opportunities
- Periodically Convene for Reassessment of Coordination Needs and Learning
Functional Roles may be taken on by one or more Organisations during a response – not all roles will be needed in every response. These include Response Coordination, Operations Coordination, Funding & Finance Management, Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL), Communications & Donor Engagement, and Advocacy & Policy Engagement.
Responding Together
- Coordination Calls: We convene regular coordination calls that equip members to share updates, align strategies, and respond more effectively together during crises.
- Collaboration: We strengthen collective impact by fostering collaboration that connects partners and resources across the global Baptist network.
- Surge Support: We mobilize rapid surge support to help members meet urgent needs with timely communication, assistance, and action.
Networking
- Two open meetings are held annually where we provide opportunities for partners to interact and engage in theological reflections on the work we do together. These reflections are important for grounding our work in biblical tenets as we serve the people of God.
- BWA Annual Gathering meetings provide opportunities for members to engage on various issues. BWA Annual Gathering forums provide opportunities for members to learn from one another’s work, exchange ideas, and explore ways to support one another for greater impact. These face-to-face discussions lay the foundations for further coordination and collaborations.
Capacity Strengthening
- Includes webinars and virtual workshops
- In-person workshops during BWA Annual Gatherings
- Regional training sessions for BFAD Member Partners
This is an ongoing exercise that builds BWA and Partners’ capacity to respond effectively and efficiently to the humanitarian and development needs of their communities. Periodic in-person workshops during BWA Annual Gatherings and regional training sessions for BFAD members are held to support this pillar.
BFAD also reaches out to members across the world through online webinars and virtual workshops. BFAD is also building a repository of these training materials for online access by partners when required.
The model assists with assessment and critical early response; identifies and empowers lead partners for project design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation; ensures good stewardship through transparency, accountability, and rigorous monitoring and evaluation; and pools resources from the global Baptist family and partners for the most efficient and effective impact.