East Africa
Danmission has been present in East Africa since 1948. From our regional office in Tanzania, we work with local partners to promote peacebuilding, democratic participation, and sustainable stewardship of natural resources.
Building just and sustainable societies
Danmission has been present in East Africa for nearly 80 years. Our regional office is located in Kiembe Samaki on Zanzibar, from where we work with churches, universities, and civil society organisations in Tanzania and Kenya.
Tanzania is developing rapidly, yet the benefits of economic growth remain unevenly distributed. Wealth and power are concentrated in the hands of a small elite, while the poorest continue to struggle. In both Tanzania and Kenya, climate change and poor resource management threaten livelihoods and fuel conflict. Forests are disappearing at an alarming rate due to illegal logging.
Together with local partners, Danmission works for sustainable solutions: planting mangrove trees, protecting forests, and empowering communities to manage land and water resources in fair and peaceful ways.
Partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania
Since 1948, Danmission has worked closely with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT). Our joint efforts focus on:
- Raising citizens’ awareness of their rights
- Supporting village groups that engage in dialogue with government, authorities, and religious leaders
- Addressing conflicts over land, water, and forests.
We also support theological education and church development, helping pastors and communities explore a faith that speaks into contexts marked by poverty, inequality, and limited opportunities. The church plays a vital role in advocating for vulnerable and marginalised groups.
Church organizations should focus on people’s real needs and challenges, such as climate change. We must raise awareness about its causes and address its impacts, drawing on both biblical perspectives and scientific facts. The Global South bears the consequences created by the Global North, so support and access to renewable energy are urgently needed.
Promoting peace and interfaith dialogue
Along the East African coast, religious diversity is both a strength and a challenge. On Zanzibar and at Kenya’s coast, the Christian minority makes up only a few percent of the population. Here, Danmission works to promote dialogue, peace, and cooperation between Christians and Muslims.
In partnership with the Lutheran Church, we have established the Zanzibar Interfaith Centre (Zanzic) – a hub for interreligious dialogue and faith-based peacebuilding.
Danmission in East Africa
- Danmission has worked in Tanzania since 1948 and in Kenya since 2005.
- Our regional office is based in Zanzibar, coordinating partnerships with churches and civil society.
- Together with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, we focus on church development, environmental protection, and sustainable livelihoods.
- We build bridges between people of different faiths and promote human rights, democracy, and peace.
Where we work
Danmission works across Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Denmark, with regional offices in Tanzania, Lebanon and Cambodia.
Our main programmes are implemented in close collaboration with local partners in Tanzania, Kenya, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Denmark. We also support smaller-scale initiatives through volunteers and networks in Bangladesh, India, Madagascar, and Pakistan.
See where we work
