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TARA (Theological Institute for Advocacy & Research in Africa), has been developed to help address the various needs and challenges of our sub-region through capacity-based social development and advocacy.
Persistent levels of mass poverty and inequality are challenging the theological foundation of churches in Africa. The need for leadership training and capacity building in applied social research and advocacy towards a meaningful social development involvement of the churches in Africa has come to the forefront in this crisis. The TARA Program intends to make a contribution in addressing this need concretely and holistically.
It is widely accepted that the Church in Africa needs to play a pivotal role in development due to its
theological self-understanding as well as its social acceptance and infrastructure throughout society. In Southern Africa the churches have a long traditionof social involvement. The churches were an
integral part of the struggle for political freedom and they became people's platforms, where human
rights and social issues were taken up directly. The church could often speak up where the liberation
movement was silenced.
After achieving political freedom, churches understood their continued role in society as being
one of social involvement. With this came various challenges of finding a role in societies under the newly established governments throughout the sub-region. A delicate balance between community involvement and direct political involvement became a tremendous task.
A critical reflection and assessment of church involvement in development during the last few years has brought to the forefront that poverty cannot be tackled on an individual or community project basis only. Up to now many churches in Africa are still faced with continuing and ever deepening levels of poverty and inequality, meaning that people are denied their GOD-given right to live in dignity and in His image. Staggering mass poverty thereby challenges the divine mission of the church in Africa and necessitates a spiritual and practical renewal to again become prophetic witnesses and meaningful actors on the societal level.
In order to be effective and become a meaningful player in a more and more technical development
debate, often removed from the reality of the people, the churches need to have an in-depth
sociological and economic understanding and ability to conduct quality research in order to use their
advantage of being a 'people-centred organisation' and to make this fruitful for local development
agendas. This highlights the urgent need for capacity building within the churches to combine
theological reflection, a professional understanding of the economic structures at play and the ability to conduct Participatory Learning and Action research. This is the gap the TARA Program intends to address.
TARA aims at supporting churches in Africa to acquire the necessary skills to act prophetically and
professionally in their context, taking ownership of local social development agendas. The intention is three-fold:
1) To train and build capacity locally in Africa and to network among the churches.
2) To provide expertise to assist and professionally support research, analysis and advocacy work
amongst local churches, thus fostering expertise in social development and concrete involvement of
churches in the development of the African continent.
3) To render sound information and regional strategic positions ondevelopment in a globalized world within the worldwide ecumenical community.
The TARA Program is based in Windhoek, Namibia and directed by Rev. Dr. Dirk Haarmann & Rev. Dr. Claudia Haarmann. For more information about the Haarmann's and their work within the region CLICK HERE
For more information on LUCSA and the Haarmann's work within the Basic Income Grant (BIG) Coalition in Namibia CLICK HERE
To Access The TARA Program's Report To LUCSA Council 2011 Click Below:
11_07_23 - LUCSA council - TARA write-up.pdf
To Access The TARA Program's Outline For Member Churches Click Below:
Outline_10_07_01 - TARA briefing - to churches.pdf
To Access The TARA Program's "Time to Kiss Reconciliation Goodbye"- A Look At Food Security In Southern Africa, Click Below: