The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) was honored with two awards at the 2024 Conference of the Council for International Development, held in Wellington, New Zealand, September 4-5.

ADRA won both the Collaboration 2024 Award and the “Locally Led” Photo Award. In the Collaboration Award category, there were five other nominees: Anglican Missions, Save the Children, TearFund, Fred Hollows, and World Vision. ADRA won the award for its SHAPE project, which stands for Sustainable Health, Agriculture, Protection, and Empowerment. The project has united ADRA teams from several countries including Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Timor-Leste, Myanmar, and New Zealand.

The judges praised SHAPE for facilitating a rich exchange of knowledge and culture and collaborative action across multiple countries.

“The SHAPE project is a remarkable demonstration of ADRA’s dedication to integrating indigenous approaches and practices into development work, empowering communities to shape their own futures,” the judges said.

“By embracing Māori values and other indigenous principles, they have redefined conventional development frameworks to better align with the cultural contexts of the communities they serve. This approach has not only fostered a strong sense of ownership among local partners but has also transformed the way these communities engage with and contribute to development activities,” they added.

The SHAPE project has had a significant impact, benefiting more than 75,000 people across multiple countries. From pioneering economic resilience strategies in Timor-Leste to advanced WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) solutions in Vanuatu, ADRA’s collaborative efforts have inspired and empowered communities, creating a sustainable path forward.

“We commend ADRA for their visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to collaborative development. Their work stands as a powerful example of what can be achieved when organizations unite with a shared purpose,” the judges said.

Photo Award

ADRA also received the “Locally Led” Photo Award with an image entitled “Elia Nakamal.” It was taken by Kusal Perera on the west coast of Vanuatu. The photo depicts local farmers gathered in a community setting, learning new agricultural methods.

“The judges particularly loved the use of the meeting house, paper laid out and held down with rocks,” they said. “Simple but effective with clear engagement and interest from the local farmers which clearly met the brief.”

ADRA New Zealand international program director Sahara Anae said the image symbolizes a powerful shift in how ADRA Vanuatu is reimagining development through indigenous wisdom.

“As part of our SHAPE program, this image captures the very essence of community-led innovation,” she said.

She elaborates, “Here, we were not just discussing value chain processes with local farmers; we were rethinking what value chains could look like from the perspective of Vanuatu’s rich cultural heritage. What started as a typical linear model has evolved into something far more meaningful — an ecosystem of value, rooted in the harmony between culture, environment, and people. This new approach, which we proudly call the ‘Ni-Van Method,’ embraces the balance of life and honors the deep connections that sustain us."

Anae said they are very excited for the future of this new approach. “As we prepare to roll out the action plans of the Ni-Van Method, we believe this approach has the potential to reshape not only how we work but how we see our place in the world,” she said. “By fusing traditional knowledge with modern strategies, we are crafting a future where sustainability isn’t just a goal, it’s a way of life. The Ni-Van Method is a bold step forward, rooted in the past but designed to thrive in the future, and we can’t wait to see its impact unfold across Vanuatu,” she shared.

The Council for International Development is New Zealand’s peak body and national umbrella agency for the country’s international NGOs and organizations working in international development and humanitarian response.

The original version of this story was posted by the South Pacific Division news site, Adventist Record.