Lutheran World Relief (LWR)

Envisions a future where all people, in every corner of the world can live full, dignified lives

Founded by Lutherans in the United States at the end of World War II, grounded in Lutheran theology and building on decades of experience, Lutheran World Relief tackles global poverty by helping people adapt to the challenges that threaten their livelihoods and well-being.

LWR works work with people based on need, regardless of race, religion or nationality and we do not evangelize.

LWR provides aid in emergencies and help families restore their lives. They partner with communities to build and grow rural economies. They break the cycle of poverty, so families and communities can thrive.

LWR’s goal is to help people build self‐sufficiency and create new community‐owned approaches to problem‐solving that will last long after our projects end.

LWR led the Nepal-India Trans-boundary Resilience project under the Water Window Challenge.

Latest news and articles

Investor Forum 2024: Locally driven projects with real-world impact

At Climate Week NYC, a group of innovators pitched their projects to prospective funders and partners. These locally-driven solutions, addressing everything from sustainable agriculture to resilient infrastructure, showcased the power of small-scale initiatives to drive global impact.

Resilient Planet Initiative: Delivering solutions to build resilience to climate change

Join us during Climate Week NYC to discover more about RPI and explore collaboration opportunities for delivering essential climate resilience solutions

Southern African Resilience Academy: Call for transdisciplinary working groups (2025-2027)

The Southern African Resilience Academy (SARA) invites proposals for collaborative working groups to pursue inter- or transdisciplinary research and engagement that synthesize understanding under the guiding theme of “Transformative pathways to Resilient and Sustainable Futures”.

Highlights from the Southern African Resilience Academy’s Knowledge Exchange

Julian van Velden recaps the SARA Knowledge Exchange. Don't miss the chance to be involved in the next iteration. Details will be announced soon!

Flood risk communication through art in Nepal

Youth Innovation Lab, a 2023 Knowledge into Use award winner, presents a documentary that showcases how they partnered with the local municipality to map flood risks and turn these learnings into accessible knowledge for the wider community.