Leveraging Faith Actors during Crises | Sustainable Development Summit 2020

TL;DR

Faith actors play a transformative role in communities during crises, offering strength, solutions, and trust. Partnering with faith actors is crucial for integrated and authentic responses to COVID-19.

Transcript

good morning i am amy goldman chair and ceo of ghr foundation based in minneapolis minnesota in the united states and i'm so pleased to moderate this conversation today on the promise of partnership with faith actors particularly as our world faces the compounding crises brought on by cobin 19. at no other time in history has our interdependence an... Read More

Key Insights

• 🖐️ Faith actors consist of a diverse array of religious institutions, leaders, and NGOs that play an integral role in development and crisis response.
• 😌 Their strengths lie in service delivery, trust-building, integrated approaches, and cultural influence.
• ✖️ Multi-religious and multi-stakeholder collaborations are essential for holistic and effective responses to global challenges.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the scale of the global faith community and its potential for partnership?

The global faith community is massive, composed of various religious institutions, leaders, and NGOs. They are reliable service providers and cultural gatekeepers, holding tremendous potential for multi-religious collaboration.

Q: What strengths do faith actors bring to development and crisis response efforts?

Faith actors have a strong focus on service and community-based approaches, making them trusted and respected in their communities. They also provide integrated solutions and play a crucial role in behavior change and social cohesion.

Q: What are the pitfalls and opportunities of working with faith actors?

One pitfall is an overemphasis on Christian communities, neglecting the significant presence of other religious actors. However, the opportunity lies in fostering multi-religious and multi-stakeholder collaborations for more authentic and effective responses.

Q: How can businesses and organizations partner with faith actors?

Businesses can leverage the trust and reach of faith actors by forming partnerships focused on shared values and goals. Engaging with faith actors can enhance community engagement, behavior change initiatives, and service delivery.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Faith actors encompass a diverse range of religious institutions, leaders, and NGOs that provide extensive service delivery and social cohesion in communities.

• Collaborating with faith actors can lead to holistic and integrated approaches to development and humanitarian work.

• Faith actors are vital in crisis response as first responders, serving as cultural gatekeepers and drivers of behavior change.