1. Save lives.
2. Promote self-reliance and dignity.
3. Enable people to invest in their future.
4. Regardless of race, creed, gender or nationality of the recipient.

If all these criteria shall be fulfilled, there are certain approaches and strategies that need to be undertaken. IAS is working in some of the most extreme environments in the world, trying to assist the most vulnerable and un-reached people groups. IAS has therefore categorised its interventions and the people these interventions are addressing in three different categories:

1	Disaster response People living a high risk due to man-made or natural catastrophes. The only way for these people to survive is to deliver emergency relief.
2	Disaster preparedness People living in a situation where their vulnerability is likely to increase. IAS will assist in preventing suffering by preparing people for what is likely to come.
3	Disaster mitigation People who have gone from the survival phase and now look forward to a ‘normal’ life. Through a humanitarian intervention, suffering can be addressed by reducing vulnerability and improving the capacity of people who live in situations where their socio-economic security and dignity are threatened.

Each of these categories requires a different approach and is applicable to different criteria of the mission statement. Out of the three categories, saving lives is primary applicable to the first two. Unless these two points are fulfilled, e.g. the basic needs have been met, such as security, shelter and food, it is difficult to motivate people to participate in other humanitarian programmes and consequently promoting self reliance and dignity and enable them to invest in their future; the second and third criteria in the mission statement.

In order to fulfil the second and third criteria of the mission statement, it is imperative to use a participatory approach; engaging the recipients in the project from the planning process, to the actual implementation and to the evaluation. The project belongs to them and the issue of ownership should be addressed at an early stage. IAS has developed a specific policy for its participatory approach. The policy is called ICEP and will be a guiding document in all IAS interventions.

Finally, in all IAS interventions, IAS does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, gender or nationality of the recipient, thus fulfilling the fourth and joint criteria. This is of great importance to bear in mind, that even though IAS is a Jesus-centred organisation standing on a biblical foundation, it will never discriminate in its delivery of humanitarian services.

1. Equality
2. Empowerment
3. Engagement
4. Equipping
5. Entrusting

1. Equality

- We believe that all people are equal before God and aid should be given without adverse distinction. Aid should be calculated on the basis of need alone. IAS recognises that equality relates to the way we value those who are different from ourselves. All people should be treated with respect and dignity.

- We believe that all people have an equal right to access resources and opportunities.

- We believe that all people have the right to basic care and protection and that people who are marginalized, disadvantaged and disabled should have the same opportunities as others.

- We believe that poverty must be reduced and hopefully be eradicated in a world full of rich resources.

2. Empowerment

- We believe that in order for communities and individuals to be self-reliant, they must be encouraged and empowered through increased participation in the planning and implementation of projects through dialogue, community mobilisation, and sensitisation meetings, all done in an effort to bring about an increased sense of ownership of projects.

- We believe in the importance of identifying and empowering vulnerable groups e.g. the disabled, widows and orphans, through training, workshops and seminars to enable them to become self-reliant e.g. the disabled, widows and orphans.

3. Engagement

- We believe that the engagement and participation of the beneficiary community is imperative to the success of a project. The engagement is a result of being empowered and will serve as a base for addressing other important issues such as democracy, human rights, peace building etc.

- We believe that people should play an active, not passive, role in the implementation of projects, despite the poverty that might exist. They are people from whom others can learn and receive; they can also give.

4. Equipping

- We believe in the importance of equipping those we are called to serve with tools that will transform lives. These tools could be capacity building, sensitisation and information sharing.

5. Entrusting

- We respect the beneficiaries and in all our activities entrust them with responsibilities.

- We give priority to people above priority given to money, structures, systems and any institutional machinery. We act in ways that respect the dignity and uniqueness of every person.

- We realise that the resources at our disposal are not our own. They are entrusted to us by God through donors on behalf of the poor. We therefore hold ourselves accountable to both the beneficiaries and to those who have released funds to us.

- We are honest and open in our dealings with donors, communities and other partners. We make every effort to maintain a trustworthy relationship between all parties concerned.

IAS activities are guided by the Sphere Project standards
(Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response), the Do No Harm (DNH) approach and United Nations Millennium Development goals. The organization is also a signatory to the ICRC Code of Conduct.

Download the Do No Harm Handbook 120 Kb
(The Framework for Analyzing the Impact of Assistance on Conflict)

The ICRC Code of Conduct

The UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG) (English)
The UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG) (Svenska)
The Millennium Campaign - Voices against poverty