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A Partnership Note, setting out broad guidance about

engaging with, reaching out to and partnering with faith-

based organizations, local faith communities and faith leaders

was issued in June 2014 and timed to coincide with UNHCR’s

annual consultations with non-governmental organizations. It

sets out examples where faith actors have played an important

role at local level and by actively meeting the needs of forci-

bly displaced populations. Given the diversity of contexts in

which UNHCR operates, the guidance is meant to be adapted

to local circumstances and realities.

The Partnership Note also recognizes that faith-based organi-

zations, local faith communities and faith leaders vary in size

from a group composed of a few believers to global religions

and broad interfaith networks. These groups encompass a

range of faith identities and motivations, with diverse degrees of

knowledge of, willingness and capacity to observe humanitarian

principles. Faith leaders are believers who play influential roles

within their faith communities and the broader local community.

By providing concrete examples, the Partnership Note

demonstrates that faith leaders benefit from trust and exercise

moral authority over members of their local faith community,

as well as shape public opinion in the broader community

and even at the national or international level. These exam-

ples were drawn from a survey UNHCR undertook in 2013

with the support of a coalition of faith-based organizations

to better understand the breadth of existing partnerships

between faith actors and UNHCR at all stages of the refugee

and displacement cycle. The Partnership Note further recog-

nizes that faith-based organizations have consistently been

among UNHCR’s top 10 implementing partners.

Partnership is not a unilateral undertaking and must be viewed

from the perspective of both UNHCR and faith actors. UNHCR,

like the broader humanitarian community, is committed to

upholding humanitarian principles and ensuring that protection

underpins all its activities. UNHCR does not engage in partner-

ships that are contrary to these principles and, in particular,

support cannot be used for proselytising or imposing conditions

on delivering aid that are contrary to humanitarian principles.

On the other hand, it must be recognized that faith actors

are occasionally confronted with UNHCR staff who appear

to have a bias against them. The challenges of partnership

need to be viewed from both perspectives if they are to be

overcome, particularly through positive changes in attitudes

and approaches.

From UNHCR’s perspective, the most difficult partnership

challenges are presented when faith actors promote:

• antagonism towards or exclusion of members of other

faith backgrounds

• hate speech or incitement to violence directed against

individuals or communities of another faith

• proselytization and pressure to convert as a precondition

for continued support

• early marriage or other harmful traditional practices

• gender stereotypes and disregard for the specific rights

of women, boys and girls, and vulnerabilities in contexts

where sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and

negative coping mechanisms are widespread

• stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV/AIDS

• stigma and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual,

transgender and intersex individuals and communities.

UNHCR staff report that partnering with local faith

communities can become a source of frustration and misun-

derstanding when the latter lack familiarity with UNHCR’s

Image: UNHCR/H. Caux

Malian refugees get ready to break the fast in Goudoubo refugee camp

gree

iffer