Local power creates lasting change: Dorcas strategic plan 2026-2030

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Dorcas is proud to announce the publication of its strategic plan 2026-2030: Local power creates lasting change. This roadmap sets out Dorcas’s vision for the coming years, focusing on empowering local communities, driving innovation, and creating measurable impact for people vulnerable to poverty, exclusion, and crises.

Facing a changing world

The world is rapidly evolving, with technological, economic, and demographic shifts often hitting the most marginalised the hardest. Dorcas recognises that the needs of the communities it serves are growing, even as funding environments become more challenging. From climate-induced agricultural issues in Africa to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and the isolation of older people in Eastern Europe, Dorcas’s mission is more vital than ever.

Three pillars for impact

The new strategic plan is built on three core pillars:

• Grow: By 2030, Dorcas aims to reach 1.5 times as many people as our income increases over 60 million euros and a significant increase in volunteers and supporters.
• Quality: By 2030, Dorcas has a clear track record, invests in quality standards and continuous improvement to ensure its support leads to lasting, positive change.
• Positioning: Dorcas seeks to be recognised as a leading international partner in humanitarian and development cooperation, with a strong presence in the Netherlands and beyond.

Seven programmatic themes

Dorcas will apply seven programmatic themes to sharpen expertise, strengthen its track record, and define clear organisational positioning. By 2030, Dorcas aims to harmonise and standardise our approaches resulting from these themes through a lens of inclusion and vulnerability, with community-based programming as our core approach.

Dorcas’s approach is defined by the following programmatic themes:

• Crisis Response
• Protection
• Community Development
• Climate Adaptation
• Water
• Livelihoods and Food Security
• Economic Development

These themes guide Dorcas’s work across the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Eastern Africa.

Empowering local communities

A key feature of the strategic plan is the commitment to localisation. Dorcas will invest in building the capacity of local partners and country offices, shifting expertise and resources closer to the communities served. By 2030, country offices will have expanded their programme portfolios by 40 per cent, strengthening both their sustainable presence and overall impact.

Innovation and collaboration

Dorcas will foster a culture of innovation, investing in new ideas and partnerships to address emerging challenges. The organisation will also strengthen its fundraising, aiming to double its supporter base and become the largest charity thrift store chain in the Netherlands.

Looking ahead

Dorcas’s strategic plan 2026-2030 is a response to a fragile and unpredictable world. By focusing on local power, operational excellence, and strategic partnerships, Dorcas is committed to enabling people and communities to flourish in the face of adversity.

Read the full strategic plan:

29 September 2025