World Relief Announces Launch of New Local NGO in Rwanda, Celebrates the Legacy of World Relief Rwanda

Mature local organization launching out  of 82-year-old global evangelical humanitarian organization 

Contact: Lauren Rasmussen, media@wr.org, 802.310.4255

BALTIMORE, Md. – Today, World Relief announced the creation of a new, independent Christian NGO in Rwanda, birthed out of World Relief Rwanda: Murika Development Partners. Led by a fully local leadership team and board of directors, the organization’s mission is to catalyze holistic transformation of the poor and foster resilience and social-economic growth of local communities in partnership with the church and other organizations. 

Over its 82 years, World Relief has worked across 100 countries. Due to its deep institutional value of empowering, equipping and sending local leaders, the humanitarian arm of the National Association of Evangelicals only maintains international offices in eleven countries today, in addition to disaster response work. The organization continues to adhere to its mission to go boldly into the world’s most fragile contexts, places where environmental factors, conflict, displacement and other shocks intersect with opportunities for community and institutional development.  

“World Relief, Rwanda office has been a partner and a witness to the kingdom-building reality of the Gospel at work, both in word and in deed. When the church takes on its rightful role as an instrument of Jesus, souls are saved and lives are changed. It has been a great honor to partner with the local church and our communities through the work of World Relief Rwanda,” commented Clemance Nkulikiyinka, country director of World Relief Rwanda. “It is now time for Murika Development Partners to take up that mission. Building on the incredible legacy of its now sister organization, World Relief Rwanda, the new local NGO is poised to creatively and responsively engage challenges as they emerge, tailoring them as only a locally-led organization can.” 

World Relief began its work in Rwanda in the immediate aftermath of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi, providing emergency relief such as food and non-food items to affected communities. What began as a crisis response evolved into a long-term presence as World Relief continued supporting the country’s recovery and rebuilding, including economic empowerment through savings groups, family strengthening to address lingering relational brokenness, agricultural and livelihood development and health interventions. As the HIV/AIDS storm gathered, World Relief worked in partnership with the church to destigmatize the disease and provide care for those suffering, as well as orphans and other vulnerable children. Around 2010, Rwanda became the pilot location for what would become World Relief’s flagship church engagement model – now called Church Impact Partners – soon replicating its success across other country offices. 

“Murika means ‘to be a light’, and that is just what we are setting out to be for Rwanda. We firmly believe that the Gospel is good news for our heavenly future, but also for the kingdom here on earth, and we intend to partner in this word and deed Gospel with the church for the good of Rwanda,” commented Pascasie Nsazabonzwa, interim director for Murika Development Partners. “When World Relief entered Rwanda, over half of the population was below the poverty level. Now, that number is less than a third. The light is growing, but the work is not done. By addressing the root and the branches of suffering in partnership with the church, we believe that even more shalom is possible for Rwanda.” 

Murika Development Partners is launching in four districts, including two new ones beyond where World Relief Rwanda had worked. Its leadership is deeply rooted in the community and enjoys relationships with the local church and government as a trusted partner. 

“The ideal culmination of an international NGO’s work is the healthy handoff of operations to a local team with a shared vision and lasting commitment to the local community” commented Myal Greene, president and CEO of World Relief. “I’ve known many of the leaders of Murika Development Partners for nearly twenty years, and I believe they will lead faithfully and with great purpose. In Rwanda, decades of partnership with the local church, community stakeholders and in-country leadership have blossomed into a locally-driven, Gospel-centered vision that World Relief is proud to support in a new capacity as a peer organization.” 

Murika Development Partners will carry on the existing programming provided by World Relief Rwanda, maintaining the level of excellence the communities and partners have come to expect. World Relief will continue to support the new local entity in the startup phase, through 2028, with in-country support from World Relief Rwanda through September 2028. 

“We believe that this move is a faithful next step in the stories God is writing for World Relief and Rwanda,” commented Lanre Williams-Ayedun, senior vice president of international programs at World Relief. “We at World Relief are eager to cheer on the work in Rwanda, initially in a support role, and increasingly as Murika Development Partner’s greatest cheerleader and ultimately as a peer.”  

World Relief Rwanda is the second of four country offices to embark on a wave of localization. Beginning in 2026, this multi-year initiative is designed to come alongside countries that have achieved development and organizational milestones that support them as they establish with local structures and systems for success into the future, in partnership with their local and national governments and the local church. As this wave of localization concludes, World Relief will evaluate where to embark on new missions in the most fragile and hardest-to-reach countries in the world. 

To learn more about Murika Development Partners, visit murikadevelopmentpartners.org. 

To learn more about World Relief, visit worldrelief.org.