Local Faith Communities and the Promotion of Resilience in Contexts of Humanitarian Crisis

Abstract

The potential role of local faith communities (LFCs) in promoting resilience in contexts of humanitarian crisis has, despite recent policy interest, been a neglected area of study. This article reports on a structured review of evidence regarding such contributions based on an analysis of 302 publications and reports, supplemented by 11 written submissions from humanitarian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and 10 stakeholder interviews. Analysis is structured with respect to three major humanitarian processes—disaster risk reduction; emergency response; and facilitating transitional and durable solutions—relevant to the promotion of resilience in populations that are displaced, at risk of displacement or refugee-impacted. Major themes emerging from the analysis concern: the diversity of stakeholder perspectives on the presence and influence of LFCs on local humanitarian response; the resources—material and non-material—potentially made available through LFCs to crisis-affected communities; and the opportunities—and substantive challenges—for greater LFC partnership with humanitarian organizations.