January 23, 2018 | In Africa's Sahel region, religious institutions play key roles in daily life, and measures of religiosity are among the world’s highest; however, religious factors are often neglected in development plans and programs, including those that affect family welfare. This is partly because of sensitivities around religious roles, but also because there are many presumptions made about religious perspectives. In Senegal, religious actors are increasingly recognized as important players in advancing the fight against maternal and child mortality, notably by promoting approaches to family planning that are consistent with religious teachings. The results are promising, but point to issues where dialogue is vital—for example, in discussions on reproductive health education. The same is true in Guinea. In Niger, religious dynamics influence gender roles at a systemic level, most notably through issues like girls’ education, maternal mortality, and early marriage. The World Faiths Development Dialogue is supporting efforts to understand specific roles played by various religious actors in the region. This event explored critical issues facing countries in the Sahel, highlighting the roles religious leaders do and could play, as well as points of consensus and contention.
November 7, 2017 | Catholic peacebuilding efforts in Africa face three related cross-cutting challenges: under-utilization and insufficient awareness of the Church's unique potential to promote peace and reconciliation; the lack of pertinent information on the underlying causes of such problems; and insufficient coordination of the Church's initiatives for peace and reconciliation. Previous meetings have identified a specific need to promote synergy through closer collaboration between universities, research centers, Justice and Peace Commissions, and various levels of Caritas active in Africa. Held in Entebbe, Uganda, the Africa Institute on Peace and Justice Studies Program brought together five dozen attendees from 15 countries across Africa, Europe, and North America as part of an effort to invigorate the growing field of justice and peace studies in African universities. Berkley Center Senior Fellow David Hollenbach, S.J., offered the keynote address.
For more on the event, visit: http://bit.ly/2y8utl2 For more on the Berkley Center, visit: http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/ September 26, 2017 | This past July, a special UN conference adopted a Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which opened for signature on September 20. In observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, Archbishop Silvano Tomasi visited Georgetown and discuss the need for the treaty, the Holy See’s role in its development, and the Vatican's hopes for the successful reallocation of resources from nuclear weapons to sustainable development—a priority of Pope Francis.
March 28, 2007 | Co-sponsored with the Luce/SFS Program on Religion and International Affairs, this symposium analyzed the effect that evangelicals have on foreign policy. Six core questions guided discussion: To what degree has Evangelical engagement around development agendas increased over the last decade, and how do you account for the increase? What issues and priorities do Evangelicals groups bring to global development policy, and how do they arrive at them? What form of advocacy coordination exists across Evangelical groups, and in collaboration with other religious and non-religious organizations? When did Evangelicals begin to make foreign affairs a priority, and why? What specific issues have most galvanized the Evangelical community (religious freedom, support for Israel, family values, human trafficking, poverty, genocide, etc.), and why? How do Evangelical leaders mobilize public support for their positions and collaborate with other religious -- and secular -- advocacy org
Sep 27, 2016 | In 2013, the U.S. State Department established the Secretary's Office of Religion and Global Affairs (S/RGA). The office advises Secretary of State John Kerry on policy matters as they relate to religion, supports U.S. diplomatic missions overseas in assessing religious dynamics and engaging religious actors, and serves as the first point of entry for those seeking to engage the State Department on religion. This year, the S/RGA, in partnership with the Secretary’s Open Forum, hosted the first Religion and Diplomacy Conference. The two-day event explored ways in which religion matters to foreign policy in various regions of the world and on a number of global, cross-cutting issues. A public component took place at Georgetown University on the second day, featuring two panel discussions. The first focused on the role of religious actors in communities in implementing the UN's Sustainable Development Goals; the second examined the two incongruent poles of global xenophobia and discrimination on one hand, and efforts to promote interreligious understanding, inclusion, respect, and cooperation on the other.
Sep 27, 2016 | In 2013, the U.S. State Department established the Secretary's Office of Religion and Global Affairs (S/RGA). The office advises Secretary of State John Kerry on policy matters as they relate to religion, supports U.S. diplomatic missions overseas in assessing religious dynamics and engaging religious actors, and serves as the first point of entry for those seeking to engage the State Department on religion. This year, the S/RGA, in partnership with the Secretary’s Open Forum, hosted the first Religion and Diplomacy Conference. The two-day event explored ways in which religion matters to foreign policy in various regions of the world and on a number of global, cross-cutting issues. A public component took place at Georgetown University on the second day, featuring two panel discussions. The first focused on the role of religious actors in communities in implementing the UN's Sustainable Development Goals; the second examined the two incongruent poles of global xenophobia and discrimination on one hand, and efforts to promote interreligious understanding, inclusion, respect, and cooperation on the other.
October 3, 2016 | How do religious institutions and beliefs approach the challenges of modernization and development? And how do religious and secular actors engage on the relevant policies and programs? The Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs and the World Faiths Development Dialogue are completing a three-year research project that has explored the complex ways religious institutions and practices intersect with efforts to advance international development and peace in four countries: Bangladesh, Senegal, Kenya, and Guatemala. The goals are to enhance mutual understanding, identify obstacles and knowledge gaps, and look for opportunities to engage in partnerships that promise to improve the quality of development interventions. This capstone event highlighted findings from research in the four countries and explored cross-country comparisons for various development sectors. The event began with a reception. Opening remarks from the project leader, Katherine Marshall, began at 6:00 p.m., followed by a discussion with panelists.
February 8, 2013 The UK's funding of the Pergau hydroelectric project in Malaysia in the early 1990s created a political storm in the UK and Malaysia and had a lasting impact on subsequent aid policies. In a new book, The Politics and Economics of Britain's Foreign Aid: The Pergau Dam Affair, Sir Tim Lankester offers an ex post political and economic evaluation of the project—the largest and most controversial project in the history of British aid. Sir Tim, who was permanent secretary of the UK's Overseas Development Administration at the time, offered an insider's perspective of the politics, the individuals, and the decisions that helped to shape this important period in British development assistance. He also discussed broader insights and lessons on governance, accountability and aid policy that are relevant to this day.
April 29, 2008 What role do faith-based initiatives play in US foreign policy? Jay Hein, deputy assistant to the president and director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, outlined the efforts of the George W. Bush administration to collaborate with faith-inspired organizations, particularly in Africa. Through targeted funding and cooperative networks, the White House program has helped to support the struggle against HIV/AIDS and malaria, and to draw public attention to pressing development challenges and find new ways to address them. The ensuing discussion centered on the proper relationship between secular governments and religious organizations in addressing common policy agendas.
December 2, 2013 Since his election last March, Pope Francis has repeatedly called attention to the plight of the world's poor and challenged political leaders to address poverty in its economic, political, cultural, and spiritual dimensions. How does Francis' priority for the the poor both draw on and extend Catholic Social Thought? What are its implications for politics and policy in the United States, where issues of poverty are often ignored in the midst of partisan polarization and paralysis? Georgetown's Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life hosted a public dialogue on these questions, including speakers E.J. Dionne, Michael Gerson, Bishop Stephen Blaire, and Kathryn Lopez. John Carr moderated the discussion and Cardinal Theodore McCarrick delivered opening remarks.
Following Pope Francis's historic visit to the United States and just a month before the momentous COP21 climate negotiations in Paris, the Berkley Center, in collaboration with the State Department, assembled a group of faith leaders, representatives of faith-based NGOs, scholars, and government policymakers to address the complex intersection of faith, science, and policy that surrounds the challenge of global climate change. Two panels addressed the moral and theological underpinnings of the climate action movement, and the connections between climate, justice, and poverty. A third panel explored climate challenges and possible policy responses. US Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz delivered the keynote address.
Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme Ertharin Cousin explored how the current unprecedented level of crisis in our world—coupled with persistent hunger and poverty—undermines global stability and threatens our collective global future. Cousin addressed the vicious cycle of conflict, climate change, and hunger—sharing real-life examples from the World Food Programme's work to provide immediate life-saving humanitarian assistance as well as longer-term solutions to hunger and malnutrition. This luncheon and conversation continued a semester-long dialogue about “The Global Future of Security” sponsored by Georgetown’s Global Futures Initiative. Ertharin Cousin began her tenure as executive director in 2012. Cousin brings more than 25 years of national and international non-profit, government, and corporate leadership experience focusing on hunger, food, and resilience strategies.
In November 1986, in the midst of an economic expansion, the Bishops of the United States published a pastoral letter on Catholic Social Teaching and its policy implications. They gave it the title "Economic Justice for All." A quarter century later, the economy is stagnating, the Tea Party and Occupy Wall St. have emerged, and we are in the midst of a prolonged budget crisis.
April 28, 2014 What motivates social entrepreneurs? For many, religion serves as a key source of inspiration in the pursuit of entrepreneurial solutions to social problems. This event explored how faith has been a motivator for social entrepreneurs and how faith communities can better employ entrepreneurial methods to achieve social aims. This morning conference featured social entrepreneurs who have been inspired by their faith as well as those who are working to tackle faith-related issues. Participants had the opportunity to engage with speakers and each other and discuss the unique advantages—and challenges—that faith and faith communities can provide in the burgeoning field of social entrepreneurship. This event was co-sponsored and organized by the World Faiths Development Dialogue; the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs; Ashoka: Innovators for the Public; the Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation; the SIPS Fund; and the Center for Social Entrepren
Over the past two decades, much of Latin America has made progress toward greater economic growth, democratic consolidation, and social inclusion. Yet pressing problems remain. What are the critical issues facing Latin America over the coming decade? What opportunities and challenges do they pose for the United States and for hemispheric relations? How can Georgetown university support stronger U.S.-Latin America ties in its teaching, research, and outreach mission? Ambassador Thomas Shannon, under secretary for political affairs and former U.S. ambassador to Brazil, discussed these issues with Samuel Lewis, the former vice president of Panama and chair of Georgetown's Latin American Board. Professor Ricardo Ernst of the McDonough School of Business moderated the conversation.
April 28, 2014 What motivates social entrepreneurs? For many, religion serves as a key source of inspiration in the pursuit of entrepreneurial solutions to social problems. This event explored how faith has been a motivator for social entrepreneurs and how faith communities can better employ entrepreneurial methods to achieve social aims. This morning conference featured social entrepreneurs who have been inspired by their faith as well as those who are working to tackle faith-related issues. Participants had the opportunity to engage with speakers and each other and discuss the unique advantages—and challenges—that faith and faith communities can provide in the burgeoning field of social entrepreneurship. This event was co-sponsored and organized by the World Faiths Development Dialogue; the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs; Ashoka: Innovators for the Public; the Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation; the SIPS Fund; and the Center for Social Entrepren
Following Pope Francis's historic visit to the United States and just a month before the momentous COP21 climate negotiations in Paris, the Berkley Center, in collaboration with the State Department, assembled a group of faith leaders, representatives of faith-based NGOs, scholars, and government policymakers to address the complex intersection of faith, science, and policy that surrounds the challenge of global climate change. Two panels addressed the moral and theological underpinnings of the climate action movement, and the connections between climate, justice, and poverty. A third panel explored climate challenges and possible policy responses. US Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz delivered the keynote address.
Faith-inspired actors have long played critical roles in global development around the world, however their contributions can often be overlooked or viewed with suspicion. Drawing on new research carried out by the World Faiths Development Dialogue and the Berkley Center in Bangladesh, Senegal, and Kenya, this event shed light on the complex and varied roles religious actors play in development. Taking a 'country-level' approach, the research aimed to provide practitioners with a focused view of the many ways local religious actors, institutions, and ideas intersect with national development agendas. The goal was to inform new approaches and highlight potential for positive collaboration between the worlds of religion and development. The event also marked the release of several recent publications including the Bangladesh country report "Faith and Development in Focus: Bangladesh."