Washington, DC—Representing UPF, Dr. Tageldin Hamad and Genie Kagawa attended the World Bank Global Initiative Roundtable held on April 10, 2019, during the World Bank’s Spring Meetings. The Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund bring together central bankers, ministers of finance and development, global influencers, private sector executives, civil society leaders, and academics to discuss issues of global concern. In particular, the World Bank is committed to strengthening its engagement and collaboration with faith actors to advance shared development priorities.
Working as part of the United Nations System. the World Bank has been collaborating with faith-based actors over the years since 2015 to join forces in the fight against extreme poverty. This roundtable brought together 60 high-level faith-based actors and representatives from 33 nations to discuss “The Role of Faith in the Human Capital Project.” The World Bank hopes that this dialogue would be a catalyst to foster concrete and effective knowledge sharing and operational collaboration between the World Bank and faith-based organizations as stakeholders working together to achieve sustainable economic progress and end extreme poverty.
The objectives of the event were to convene faith-based actors and other key stakeholders to strengthen partnerships and support for the Human Capital Project of the World Bank. Faith-based actors have become valuable partners as they are trusted by their communities, have a wide reach to marginalized populations and provide a comprehensive approach to development and investment in people.
Panelists discussed recommendations for future engagements with the faith community. There was interest in building the capacity of faith-based organizations to hold governments accountable, to increasing operational collaboration to avoid duplication of efforts and to build a body of evidence to support the effectiveness of the work of faith-based organizations as important focus areas. There was a call for all stakeholders to move these conversations into action, with an emphasis on utilizing evidence and building strong partnerships.
Participating Organizations
Act Alliance
Baha’I International Community
Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs at Georgetown University
Bread for Life International
Catholic Medical Mission Board
Catholic Relief Services
Christian Aid
The Church of Jesus Christ of LAtter-Day Saints
Embassy of Hungary
Embassy of Poland
Hungarian Delegation: Humanitarian Aid Agency "Hungary Helps"
Hungarian Ministry of Finance
Episcopal Relief and Development
Finn Church Aid Americas
Global Water 2020
InspirAction USA
International Center for Religion and Diplomacy
Islamic Relief USA
Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities
Living Water International
New Humanity of the Focolare Movement
NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values, and Global Concerns at the UN
Strength in Diversity Development Centre, Nigeria
TearFund
The Culture Works
The Episcopal Church
United Methodist General Board of Church and Society
Universal Peace Federation
USAID
World Bank
World Council of Churches
World Vision
Zakat Foundation of America