Agree to Differ

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in some parts of the world. But in reality, many societies

have remained ‘religious’ and many communities maintain

values, norms and attitudes deeply influenced by religious

paradigms of one sort or another.

Faith-based infrastructures include religious institu-

tions, religious leaders (male and female), local community

networks and entities, faith-affiliated and faith-inspired

service delivery mechanisms, government-sponsored faith-

based service partners, government-affiliated faith-based

advocates, and international faith-based organizations with

local offices. They are tightly interlinked with – if not one

and the same as – the often referred to concept of ‘commu-

nities’. In order to focus the lenses on communities, this

kaleidoscope must be appreciated.

Religious institutions are capable of significant social

mobilization in addition to a distinct moral standing. Beyond

the convening capacities inherent in raising and utilizing

legions of volunteers (which no other institution can boast

in similar volume and worldwide), they are owners of the

longest standing and most enduring mechanisms for raising

financial resources. In times when traditional ‘secular’

development is confronting its strongest set of resource chal-

lenges, these capabilities cannot be underestimated.

Religion is an important thread running through the fabric

of cultural considerations which are used to justify some of

the harmful practices and violence against girls and women

– such as female genital mutilation (FGM), sex-selective

abortions, child, early and forced marriages to name but a

few. Religion and culture are also critical backdrops, as both

causes as well as drivers of reform and justice, around issues

pertaining to women’s empowerment, girls’ and women’s

rights to freedom from discrimination, and the right to

health more generally. Most specifically, religion belies the

most stringent attitudes around family planning – which

include some of the most universally sensitive social and

political debates around abortion and contraception – as

well as sexuality education. These are all areas in which

the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has worked

for decades, serving and working with governments and

communities. All these sensitive issues, in short, form an

important part of UNFPA’s mandate.

Which is why, since the early 1970s, long before it was

on the radar of international development, UNFPA offices

set out to identify key traditional and religious leaders,

faith-based health service delivery organizations, religious

academia, and religious non-governmental organizations

rooted in rural communities. UNFPA sought them out as

cultural agents of change and implementing partners in

development. Faith-based actors are advocates, champi-

ons, advisors, educators and also health service providers.

Below are some examples of this engagement from diverse

parts of the globe

The UNFPA Ethiopia Country Office started its

engagement with faith-based organizations with the

Image: UNFPA’s Programme on FGM, 2014

Faith-based actors are advocates, champions, advisors, educators and health service providers

gree

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