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Establishing the WFDD
From Lambeth Meeting in 1998
± UK NGO
±
Executive Office of the World Bank ± Independent, non-profit research group in the
USA
Our own story reflects the tension between
faith and international development at large.
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Navigating Tensions around Religion
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Tensions:
Development Perspectives
In the World Bank, early discussions about working with
religions prompted much tension. The following reflects some
of the questions that arose, instructive for broader discussions Religion was seen as divisive: conflicts around religion,
tensions within religions, issues of separation of church and
state, issues of voice and representation
Seen as simply too complicated to deal with
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Tensions:
Development
Perspectives
Religion was seen by some as essentially
dangerous: some arguments: religious leaders
and institutions are opposed to modernization,reproductive health rights; religious hierarchies
seen as patriarchal, excluding women or
opposing womens rights
On health, questions arose as to whether workis evidence based or grounded in faith. Is
there a hidden motivation for work, notably
conversion?
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The Tensions
Development Perspectives
Religion was seen as defunct or declining in
importance, thus low priority; the secular
myth still persists in some quarters
Bottom line: not a priority
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The Tensions
Development Perspectives
The Religion
and Poverty
Blindspot.
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The Tensions
Development Perspectives
In many cases religion tends to be seen
through personal and emotional eyes
Parallels with gender discussions in early
years
Lessons from that experience: importance of
having solid evidence, taking the time to
convince and work through doubts
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Worlds in Tension? Faith
Perspectives
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Faith communities have expressed an equal
range of doubts about the developmentapproaches and world
± Far-ranging critiques of the development processes
± Suspicions
±
Neo-liberalism, injustice ± Materialism
± Concern about Effects
± Debt, environment, changes brought by modernization
± Lack of Understanding
± Economic Theology, Ethics
± Clashes of civilizations
± Tensions around issues of money
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The Faith and Development
Intersection
For all the tensions and mistrust the
intersection is real.
Religion is. Not about norms.
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Faith and Development: a Stock-
taking: past, present, future Missionary past, traditional practice, religious
origins in religion: Damascus, early hospitals
Colonial period leaves a marked legacy Post colonial: turbulence
Conflict situations as a special challenge
Mosaic has emerged; complex, not wellmapped or understood
Global health context, poverty challenge has
special importance
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Hypotheses and facts: quantity,
quality, reach Data issues where do religious networks fit
in global and national care systems?
Better quality? True or false?
Reaching the poorest? True or false?
Hypotheses: bias against, not a fair share
Issues of addressing huge diversity
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Community Approaches
The faith picture is far more chaotic and organic than
the development industry expects and would like it
to be. This is true for all communities and
community structures, but perhaps even more so
for the faith world. Bureaucracies want order and
structure. They also want fast results. Moving faster
is likely to be less effective in the long term, seen
from the community perspective. It is essential totake into account how communities see realities
and their priorities.
Mark Webster Nov 2008 interview
http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/essays/view?author=1813&project=23
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What does the WFDD do?
Research.
± Faith in terms of both:
Institutions
Communities
Methodology: Cornerstone is the interview
with the practitioner.
Release reports and organize consultations.
Sectoral and regional approaches.
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Caveats and Approach: Our
lessons learned Diversity
Terminology
Ethics and values are intertwined in the debates Religion and culture
Development is also a complex world of institutions and ideas, in flux and with many
different approaches Local and community anchor
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I deas on the paths forward
Strong country focus is a prerequisite for real
progress
Evidence amassing and using Discernment and political antennae
Dialogue on tough issues
Purposeful thinking on networks
Interfaith?
At the table or on the menu?
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More resources
Two books of case studies, most recent
Development and Faith: Where Mind, Heart
and Soul work Together
Berkley Center Regional and Issues reviews,
practitioner interviews;
http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu
Newsweek/Washington Post On Faith: Faith
in Action, weekly column
World Bank, Development Dialogue on
Values and Ethics (DDVE)
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