A Potent Fuel? Faith Identity and Development Impact in World Vision Community Programming

Jennings, Michael; Clarke, Matthew; Feeny, Simon; Westhorp, Gill; Donohue, Cara

doi:10.1002/jid.3512

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Debates around the role(s) of local faith actors in the humanitarian sphere, as distinct from International Faith-Inspired Development Organisations (IFIDOs) (Jennings et al, 2021), in some ways epitomise these fears around engaging local actors for humanitarian responses. Major IFIDOs occupy a prominent place in the formal humanitarian architecture (see Gaillard and Texier 2010;Ferris 2011;OCHA 2016).…”

Section: Key Debates On Localisationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Localisation in the Context of UK Government Engagement With the Humanitarian Reform Agenda

Goodwin

Ager

2021

Front. Polit. Sci.

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Localisation is a key element of the humanitarian reform agenda. However, there are continuing debates regarding its form and emphasis, linked to understandings of the local, the role of the state and the implications for interpretation of humanitarian principles of “de-internationalised” humanitarian response. This paper considers UK engagement with the localisation agenda, particularly through examination of the policies and programmes of the Department for International Development (DFID). The UK was a major contributor to dialogue on localisation at the World Humanitarian Summit of 2016 and has subsequently shown strong support for Grand Bargain commitments and implementation of a larger proportion of programmes involving cash transfers. Overall, however, advance on this agenda has been limited. The paper notes three major areas of constraint. First, logistical concerns have frequently been noted, particularly with respect to tasks such as procurement and financial monitoring. This has limited the engagement of many local actors lacking organisational capacity in these areas. Second, conceptual ambiguity has also played a significant role. Localisation is poorly theorised, and the roles, functions and capacities—beyond procurement of supplies and emergency technical assistance—that local actors may be able to fulfil far more effectively than international ones are not frequently addressed. Narrowly framed understandings of principles such as independence and impartiality, for instance, appear to severely limit confidence in engaging with local religious actors. Third, political considerations appear to have increasingly limited the space for more radical interpretations of the implications of localisation. Successive UK Secretaries of State for International Development have defended the commitment to a fixed proportion of Gross National Income (GNI) for development assistance based on strong public support for UK aid expenditure to reflect national interests and values. In this context, there are few clear political incentives to cede power over decision-making regarding UK Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) to national and local actors in a manner required for fundamental localisation of humanitarian response. Even where there is a clear potential UK interest—for example, bolstering capacity of local actors in contexts vulnerable to humanitarian emergency to avert more costly emergency response—the public perception of capacity strengthening (compared to life-saving humanitarian actions) mitigates against such moves in a climate of contested public spending. The establishment of a merged Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office in 2020 signals the likelihood of a reframing of localisation. While some advancement in terms of some logistical and conceptual barriers may be anticipated, issues of both national interest and public perceptions of national interest seem likely to continue to constrain a more radical implementation of localisation, particularly with current suspension of the commitment to spend 0.7% of GNI on ODA.

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Section: Key Debates On Localisationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Localisation in the Context of UK Government Engagement With the Humanitarian Reform Agenda

Goodwin

Ager

2021

Front. Polit. Sci.

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“…As with non‐faith‐based NGOs, FBOs, in general, play a major role in providing services to people. For faith‐based development organisations, Jennings et al (2021: 82) state that their ‘faith identity is inextricably entwined with a development one, and it is this interaction that creates particular pathways for interventions, opportunities for impact and potential obstacles and challenges’. Given research over the past 20 years, FBOs are now ‘increasingly well‐documented’ (Ware et al, 2016: 322).…”

Section: Introduction and Development Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring why religious faith may distinguish faith‐based from non‐faith‐based NGOs: Theoretical insights from Cambodia

Frame

2022

J of Intl Development

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Faith-based and non-faith-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are significant service providers in the developing world, yet limited research has compared these organisations, especially in the context of Southeast Asia. This paper explores a theoretical concept related to why religious faith may distinguish Christian faith-based organisations (FBOs) from non-faith-based NGOs. Qualitative data were analysed from 41 interviews across 13 Christian FBOs and 12 non-faith-based NGOs working with women and children in Cambodia who have been (or were at risk of being) sexually exploited, trafficked or involved in sex work. Faith was found to distinguish FBOs from non-faith-based NGOs in all four of the dimensions comparatively examined in the study: (1) goals and missions, (2) motivations, (3) approaches to care and (4) conceptions of success. It is argued that the contrasts between these two types of organisations, in terms of faith, are related to the combination of both the infusion of faith in FBOs and factors related to the development context in which these organisations worked, a theoretical concept posited as Context-Infusion Convergence.

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A Potent Fuel? Faith Identity and Development Impact in World Vision Community Programming

Cited by 2 publications

References 23 publications

Localisation in the Context of UK Government Engagement With the Humanitarian Reform Agenda

Localisation in the Context of UK Government Engagement With the Humanitarian Reform Agenda

Exploring why religious faith may distinguish faith‐based from non‐faith‐based NGOs: Theoretical insights from Cambodia

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