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| Faith-based organisations: should dogma be left out of development? | Faith-based organisations: should dogma be left out of development? |
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| The role of faith in development was once too uncomfortable a subject to grapple with publicly. Now, the contribution of faith-based organisations and local faith communities to the development agenda is increasingly studied and widely debated – and it is clear why. According to a 2009 report by the Woolf Institute (pdf), when it comes to efficiency or building bridges with local communities, faith-based NGOs can teach their secular peers a thing or two. Another report by the UN Research Insititute for Social Development (pdf) found that faith-based organisations "have emerged as fairly new phenomena in response to the rise of identity politics and the limitations of state-based welfare provision". | The role of faith in development was once too uncomfortable a subject to grapple with publicly. Now, the contribution of faith-based organisations and local faith communities to the development agenda is increasingly studied and widely debated – and it is clear why. According to a 2009 report by the Woolf Institute (pdf), when it comes to efficiency or building bridges with local communities, faith-based NGOs can teach their secular peers a thing or two. Another report by the UN Research Insititute for Social Development (pdf) found that faith-based organisations "have emerged as fairly new phenomena in response to the rise of identity politics and the limitations of state-based welfare provision". |
| For faith communities on the ground, their support in times of humanitarian crisis has also been recognised. Writing for Insight on Conflict, Joey Ager notes that "local faith communities ... are often equipped with valuable resources (buildings for shelter and protection) and social capital (volunteers, staff and access to wider networks) that form the physical basis for faith communities' response to emergencies". | For faith communities on the ground, their support in times of humanitarian crisis has also been recognised. Writing for Insight on Conflict, Joey Ager notes that "local faith communities ... are often equipped with valuable resources (buildings for shelter and protection) and social capital (volunteers, staff and access to wider networks) that form the physical basis for faith communities' response to emergencies". |
| But, as with all issues in development, the story isn't that simple. The Woolf Institute report talks about faith-based organisations being challenged from within their own communities, "the baggage of historical memory" and the divisive nature of the language sometimes used. Similarly, the scoping study on religion's role in modern humanitarianism that Ager writes about, finds that certain beliefs held by religious communities can lead to inactivity during crisis, and their impartiality is called into question by their very nature as groups with a shared worldview. | But, as with all issues in development, the story isn't that simple. The Woolf Institute report talks about faith-based organisations being challenged from within their own communities, "the baggage of historical memory" and the divisive nature of the language sometimes used. Similarly, the scoping study on religion's role in modern humanitarianism that Ager writes about, finds that certain beliefs held by religious communities can lead to inactivity during crisis, and their impartiality is called into question by their very nature as groups with a shared worldview. |
| So where does that leave dogma in development? If the contributions of faith organisations cannot be ignored, how can the benefits that come with belief be maximised over the disadvantages, and what can the wider development community learn from them? As important, what is the best practice in engaging with local faith communities? As Ager puts it: "Many humanitarian actors are uncomfortable or unfamiliar with the language, structures and operations of local faith communities." | So where does that leave dogma in development? If the contributions of faith organisations cannot be ignored, how can the benefits that come with belief be maximised over the disadvantages, and what can the wider development community learn from them? As important, what is the best practice in engaging with local faith communities? As Ager puts it: "Many humanitarian actors are uncomfortable or unfamiliar with the language, structures and operations of local faith communities." |
| Join the debate at 1pm BST on Thursday 23 May to share your thoughts on the limitations and advantages of faith in development. | Join the debate at 1pm BST on Thursday 23 May to share your thoughts on the limitations and advantages of faith in development. |
| The live chat is not video or audio-enabled but will take place in the comments section (below). To give your views before the chat, email globaldevpros@guardian.co.uk. Follow our tweets using the hashtag #globaldevlive | The live chat is not video or audio-enabled but will take place in the comments section (below). To give your views before the chat, email globaldevpros@guardian.co.uk. Follow our tweets using the hashtag #globaldevlive |
| Panel | Panel |
| Nadeem Javaid, co-founder, Made in Europe, London, UK. @Njav | Nadeem Javaid, co-founder, Made in Europe, London, UK. @Njav |
| Nadeem specialises in poverty campaigning and digital mobilisation at his Muslim campaigning organisation. He has held roles with various global advocacy organisations, including One and the Tony Blair Faith Foundation. | Nadeem specialises in poverty campaigning and digital mobilisation at his Muslim campaigning organisation. He has held roles with various global advocacy organisations, including One and the Tony Blair Faith Foundation. |
| Ray Martin, executive director, Christian Connections for International Health, McLean, Virginia, USA. @CCIntlhealth | Ray Martin, executive director, Christian Connections for International Health, McLean, Virginia, USA. @CCIntlhealth |
| Ray has 45 years of experience in global health and development, having worked at organisations including USAid and the World Bank. Ray currently works with a large network of Christian organisations and individuals promoting global health from a Christian perspective. | Ray has 45 years of experience in global health and development, having worked at organisations including USAid and the World Bank. Ray currently works with a large network of Christian organisations and individuals promoting global health from a Christian perspective. |
| Inlia Aziz, information and public affairs officer, Muslim Aid, London, UK. @Muslim_Aid | Inlia Aziz, information and public affairs officer, Muslim Aid, London, UK. @Muslim_Aid |
| Inlia works to promote Muslim Aid's humanitarian and development efforts, some of which are ran in partnership with the Christian United Methodist Committee on Relief. | Inlia works to promote Muslim Aid's humanitarian and development efforts, some of which are ran in partnership with the Christian United Methodist Committee on Relief. |
| Christine Allen, director of policy and public affairs, Christian Aid, London, UK. @christian_aid | Christine Allen, director of policy and public affairs, Christian Aid, London, UK. @christian_aid |
| Christine has held senior roles at various faith-based development groups such as Progressio, Cafod, the Justice and Peace Commission of Liverpool Diocese and the Catholic Housing Aid Society. | Christine has held senior roles at various faith-based development groups such as Progressio, Cafod, the Justice and Peace Commission of Liverpool Diocese and the Catholic Housing Aid Society. |
| Elena Fiddian-Qasmiyeh, departmental lecturer in forced migration, Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. @refugeestudies | Elena Fiddian-Qasmiyeh, departmental lecturer in forced migration, Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. @refugeestudies |
| Elena researches faith-based humanitarianism in situations of forced displacement. She specialises in working with Muslim asylum-seekers and refugees in camps and host cities across the Middle East and North Africa. | Elena researches faith-based humanitarianism in situations of forced displacement. She specialises in working with Muslim asylum-seekers and refugees in camps and host cities across the Middle East and North Africa. |
| David Westwood, head of international programmes, World Vision UK, London, UK. @WorldVisionUK | David Westwood, head of international programmes, World Vision UK, London, UK. @WorldVisionUK |
| David works to improve health, education and protection amongst the world's most marginalised children. He has worked in various capacities within the development sector, ranging from programming to advocacy work. | David works to improve health, education and protection amongst the world's most marginalised children. He has worked in various capacities within the development sector, ranging from programming to advocacy work. |
| Richard Verber, campaigns manager, World Jewish Relief, London, UK. @richardverber | Richard Verber, campaigns manager, World Jewish Relief, London, UK. @richardverber |
| Richard works to promote the rights of vulnerable communities around the world. He formerly held various roles at the Union of Jewish Students, and is a specialist in Jewish education. | Richard works to promote the rights of vulnerable communities around the world. He formerly held various roles at the Union of Jewish Students, and is a specialist in Jewish education. |
| Donald Mavunduse, head of east & southern Africa team, Tearfund, London, UK. @Tearfund | Donald Mavunduse, head of east & southern Africa team, Tearfund, London, UK. @Tearfund |
| With over 20 years of development experience, David was a member of a task group created by the former UK international development secretary, that set partnership principles between the Department for International Development and faith groups. | With over 20 years of development experience, David was a member of a task group created by the former UK international development secretary, that set partnership principles between the Department for International Development and faith groups. |
| Charlotte Keenan, chief executive, Tony Blair Faith Foundation, London, UK. @CK_TBFF | Charlotte Keenan, chief executive, Tony Blair Faith Foundation, London, UK. @CK_TBFF |
| Charlotte is responsible for the development and management of global education and health efforts of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation. | Charlotte is responsible for the development and management of global education and health efforts of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation. |
| Christine Anderson, director for global leadership, Faith and Praxis FCJ, Rome, Italy | Christine Anderson, director for global leadership, Faith and Praxis FCJ, Rome, Italy |
| Christine is an organisational analyst and leads training events that focus on the integration of faith within organisational dynamics. Her organisation supports various development and anti-trafficking efforts. | Christine is an organisational analyst and leads training events that focus on the integration of faith within organisational dynamics. Her organisation supports various development and anti-trafficking efforts. |
| Mgr Canon James Cronin, national director, Missio, London, UK. @MissioUK | |
| Canon works to support the development work of missionary churches in 157 countries. |