Introduction

Faith-based organizations (FBOs) have played a central role in humanitarian work for centuries, driven by the values of compassion, justice, and solidarity. Their reach, local knowledge, and community trust make them vital actors in disaster relief, development, and human rights advocacy. This 5-day course will explore the unique role of FBOs in humanitarian settings, examining how they contribute to and complement traditional humanitarian responses while navigating potential challenges in cross-cultural, interfaith, and multi-sector contexts.

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will:

1. Understand the Role and Significance of FBOs: Gain an in-depth understanding of the role that FBOs play in humanitarian action and the distinctive contributions they offer.
2. Explore the Theological Foundations: Study the theological principles that guide FBOs in humanitarian work and how these align with humanitarian standards and principles.
3. Recognize the Strengths and Challenges: Identify the strengths, challenges, and opportunities in working with faith-based organizations in humanitarian crises.
4. Build Partnerships with FBOs: Learn how to collaborate effectively with FBOs to enhance humanitarian impact and integrate their values into broader humanitarian responses.
5. Address Ethical and Cultural Considerations: Understand the ethical and cultural sensitivities when engaging with FBOs and their constituents.
6. Evaluate the Effectiveness of FBOs in Humanitarian Action: Learn how to assess the success and impact of FBOs in humanitarian contexts.
7. Strengthen the Role of FBOs in Advocacy and Human Rights: Examine the role of FBOs in advocacy, policy change, and human rights protection in humanitarian contexts.

Who Should Attend?

This course is ideal for:

• Humanitarian professionals who wish to understand the role of faith-based organizations in humanitarian action.
• NGO staff, donor agencies, and international organizations working in humanitarian settings and interested in collaborating with FBOs.
• Faith-based leaders, clergy, and faith community representatives involved in humanitarian or development work.
• Community development professionals seeking to integrate religious values and community-based support in their interventions.
• Human rights advocates and policy makers interested in exploring the intersection of faith and humanitarian work.
• Researchers studying the role of religion and spirituality in disaster response, human rights, and peace-building.

Course Outline

Day 1: Introduction to Faith-Based Organizations in Humanitarian Work

• Morning Session: The Role of FBOs in Humanitarian Contexts
  • What are faith-based organizations (FBOs)? Definition, scope, and types (e.g., Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and interfaith organizations).
  • The historical context: How FBOs have been involved in disaster relief, healthcare, education, and refugee assistance.
  • The global presence of FBOs: Key statistics, reach, and local impact.
  • Case study: The role of the Catholic Church in post-disaster response (e.g., the Philippines or Haiti).
• Afternoon Session: Faith-Based Motivations and Humanitarian Principles
  • Theological foundations guiding humanitarian work: Compassion, solidarity, justice, and dignity.
  • Aligning faith-based values with humanitarian standards: The Sphere Standards, Do No Harm principles, and international humanitarian law.
  • The role of spiritual care and faith-informed interventions in humanitarian action.
  • Group discussion: How do faith-based values shape humanitarian practices?

Day 2: Strengths and Challenges of Faith-Based Organizations in Humanitarian Work

• Morning Session: Strengths of FBOs in Humanitarian Action
  • Local knowledge and trust: How FBOs connect with communities on a deep level.
  • Long-term commitment: The ability of FBOs to provide sustained support over time, from relief to recovery.
  • Holistic approach: Addressing physical, psychological, and spiritual needs.
  • Case study: Islamic Relief and their role in food security and healthcare in conflict zones.
• Afternoon Session: Challenges in Working with FBOs
  • Navigating religious diversity in humanitarian settings: Interfaith collaboration and conflict resolution.
  • Potential risks: Proselytization, missionization, and exclusion of non-believers.
  • Challenges in accountability, transparency, and effectiveness when working with FBOs.
  • Group activity: Identifying the key challenges and developing strategies to address them in interfaith humanitarian settings.

Day 3: Effective Collaboration with FBOs

• Morning Session: Building Partnerships with FBOs
  • Approaches to collaboration: Establishing partnerships with faith-based organizations and understanding their organizational structure.
  • The importance of mutual respect and cultural sensitivity in building effective partnerships.
  • Co-creating programs with FBOs: Integrating faith values into education, health, disaster recovery, and peace-building efforts.
  • Case study: World Vision and its collaboration with local churches to provide education and healthcare in conflict-affected areas.
• Afternoon Session: Operationalizing Collaboration
  • How to align project objectives, resources, and staff in a partnership with FBOs.
  • Addressing capacity gaps: How to strengthen program delivery and evaluation frameworks.
  • Developing joint communication strategies and outreach materials that are respectful of religious diversity.
  • Group exercise: Create a collaborative action plan for an FBO-led humanitarian project.

Day 4: Ethical and Cultural Sensitivities in Faith-Based Humanitarian Work

• Morning Session: Ethical Considerations in Working with FBOs
  • Ethical dilemmas: Religious proselytization, fundamentalism, and neutrality in humanitarian work.
  • Ensuring inclusive approaches: Engaging with communities that may not share the same faith.
  • Understanding the role of spirituality in humanitarian action without infringing on human rights.
  • Case study: Addressing ethical challenges in faith-based disaster response in Syria.
• Afternoon Session: Navigating Cultural Sensitivities
  • Understanding the cultural context of faith-based organizations and their beneficiaries.
  • Sensitivity to gender and sexuality: Promoting gender equality and LGBTQ+ inclusivity while respecting faith traditions.
  • The importance of dialogue and mutual respect in cross-cultural collaboration.
  • Group discussion: Discuss best practices for cultural sensitivity in humanitarian contexts involving religious groups.

Day 5: Monitoring, Evaluating, and Sustaining Faith-Based Humanitarian Efforts

• Morning Session: Monitoring and Evaluating FBO-Led Humanitarian Programs
  • The importance of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) in ensuring the effectiveness of FBO-led interventions.
  • Key indicators for measuring success: community impact, health outcomes, education access, and spiritual support.
  • Evaluating accountability and sustainability: Tools for assessing FBO programs in complex humanitarian settings.
  • Case study: Evaluating the effectiveness of faith-based interventions in refugee camps.
• Afternoon Session: Sustainability of Faith-Based Humanitarian Action
  • Ensuring the long-term sustainability of programs: The role of FBOs in capacity building, local leadership, and institutional support.
  • Strategies for scaling and expanding faith-based initiatives in humanitarian settings.
  • Collaborative advocacy: The role of FBOs in advocating for human rights and policy change.
  • Group exercise: Develop a sustainability plan for a faith-based humanitarian initiative.