Walking Together: USPG Hosts Partners Forum in Tanzania

Following the call to biblical partnership: Partners from across Africa with Fran Mate and Venetia Asare-Griffiths (USPG), and The Rt Revd Dr Stanley Elilekia Hotay, Bishop of Kilimanjaro (centre)

Church leaders and partners from across Africa came together in Arusha, Tanzania, from 30 November to 6 December 2025 for the USPG African Partners Training Forum – a week of learning, equipping, and a celebration of the important work happening in Anglican churches across the continent.

Hosted at the MS Training Centre for Development Cooperation (MSTCDC), the Forum welcomed delegates from Tanzania, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Madagascar, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia and Seychelles. Over the week, the workshop gave mission partners space to review their programmes, strengthen skills in resource development, storytelling, and reporting, and collaborate on improving the planning and management of church projects.

The week began with worship and a warm welcome from The Revd Dr Shao and The Revd Lipscombe of Christ Church Anglican Cathedral, Diocese of Kilimanjaro. Anticipating the week ahead, Royter Choongo, a dedicated advocate for gender and environmental justice with the Zambia Anglican Council Outreach Programme, shared her excitement:

We always learn something new whenever we come to this Partners’ Forum, and that’s why I always look forward to it.

Training sessions throughout the week were shaped by USPG’s mission priorities and key areas of focus across Africa which include leadership development and climate resilience. Facilitators from MSTCDC guided participants through the resource mobilisation cycle, helping them build confidence in identifying opportunities and managing diverse funding streams.

From the Seychelles, The Revd Christine Benoit is a committed advocate for environmental protection. Now better equipped with project development skills, she reflects on her recent experience at the Forum:

I’ve met wonderful new people and reconnected with old friends. It’s been inspiring to think about how we can put what we’ve learned into practice, so that the Church can truly benefit.

Revd Christine (pictured right) was the first woman in the Seychelles to be ordained as an Anglican priest.

Partners also explored key themes such as storytelling, clear communication, and safeguarding, with safeguarding serving as an important reminder of the need to keep church communities safe and to protect those most at risk, which is central to the Church’s mission.

From the Diocese of Lebombo, The Revd Mauricio Mugunhe is the Executive Director of Acção Social Anglicana, Igreja Anglicana de Moçambique e Angola (IAMA). In his role, he leads initiatives that strengthen the Diocese of Lebombo’s sustainability, including projects that support clergy training, church construction, and financial stability. One example is the “Serving the Lord with Dignity” project, supported by USPG, which trains church members to make liturgical vestments and uniforms. The project provides skills and work opportunities for local people while also generating income to support the Diocese and its ministries.

The Revd Mauricio with a handmade bag from the tailoring programme.

Reflecting on his experience at the Forum, The Revd Mauricio Mugunhe shares his highlights:

I’ve learnt a great deal in terms of mobilising resources. First, it’s important to map who our partners are; and [second] identify areas of strengths and improvement within the diocese and across the new province of IAMA. If we join our hands together with new and old partners, we can address most of the challenges we face.

As the Forum drew to a close, The Rt Revd Dr Stanley Elilekia Hotay, Bishop of Kilimanjaro, offered a moving set of closing reflections. He reminded participants of the biblical call to partnership and the recognition that God’s work is always done in community.

USPG remains profoundly grateful for the faithfulness, wisdom, and witness of our partners across Africa and around the world. As we look ahead, we reaffirm our commitment to walking together in hope, solidarity, and partnership, trusting that God will guide and strengthen us in all that lies ahead.

To learn more about our work across Africa, visit: www.uspg.org.uk/africa.