A vibrant network with a long history

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Our Network

Kenya. Photo: Job Mainye

Two happy people participating in a group conversation at a meeting in Kenya.

We bring together 29 member organisations operating in around 50 countries across the globe.

The roots of our network can be traced back to the Ecumenical Mission Conference held in Edinburgh in 1910. At that time, Swedish missionary work was a dynamic, popular movement that inspired wide public engagement. While that engagement takes different forms today, the Church’s global mission remains at the heart of our work.

Our network encompasses a diverse range of organisations and churches representing various Christian traditions. Some are engaged in long-standing and vibrant missionary work, while others focus primarily on development cooperation.

This diversity is a defining strength of the Swedish Mission Council. It challenges us to learn from one another and encourages collaboration in pursuit of God’s mission for a more just and compassionate world.

Connections with Civil Society in Over 50 Countries

In addition to our Swedish member organisations, our network includes hundreds of local partner organisations across more than 50 countries. Through these members and partners, we maintain strong and long-standing ties to civil society in countries such as Bangladesh, Colombia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Nepal. These partnerships often involve collaboration with congregations, human rights defenders, youth movements, and climate organisations.

While we do not always share the same perspectives, we regard our differences as a source of strength—challenging us to learn from one another and to work together in God’s mission.

Network events

Each year, we offer a range of events, capacity-building seminars, trainings, member gatherings, and our Annual Meeting. Some of our seminars and workshops take place in Sweden and in Swedish, but we also arrange international events around the world or online. Some are available for everyone, and others are exclusive to our network, usually at no or very low cost. You can find upcoming events in our calendar.

Become a Member of SMC

Your organisation is welcome to apply for membership in the Swedish Mission Council. Becoming part of a broader network strengthens your organisation and provides opportunities for shared learning and collaboration.

The first step towards membership is to get in touch with us. You can email us at info@smc.global, and we will arrange a meeting to explore the potential for collaboration.

Membership requirements
To be eligible for membership in SMC, your organisation must meet the following criteria:

Be based in Sweden.
Share our core values and support the overall purpose of our work.
Have a democratic structure, a broad public base, and a documented record of international cooperation spanning at least five years.
Actively participate in our work by attending meetings, engaging in networks, and being willing to contribute to the board.
Pay the annual membership fee.

What Membership Offers

All member organisations are part of, and have access to, our broad ecumenical platform, our shared network.
As a global network, SMC offers access to common resources such as knowledge, methods, relationships, and funding opportunities.
There are numerous possibilities for collaboration and mutual learning, for example, through the various gatherings and meeting spaces we organise throughout the year.
Together, we amplify our impact. Whether through SMC directly or through joint efforts within the network, we are better positioned to raise shared concerns with actors such as Sida, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and other key decision-makers.
By actively engaging in our work (including participating in our Annual Meeting each May), member organisations also have the opportunity to shape the long-term direction of SMC.