Faith-based NGOs Research Articles

Les jeunes, cœurs de cible et promoteurs d’une orthodoxie juive globalisée

Since the 1970s, there has been an ‘orthodoxization’ of Judaism worldwide, particularly in France, the United Kingdom, the United States and Israel. This movement is primarily driven by young people. However, until now, studies have not sufficiently addressed the conjunction of globalization, youth and religion in this evolution. This article examines the globalization of an Orthodox Jewish movement, the Lubavitch movement. How does it include youth in a globalization strategy? What are the effects on their religious practice? This faith-based NGO is an important vector of ‘orthodoxization’ among young people. It invests in youth as a priority, in particular through a specific educational system: it aims to encourage integration into the Lubavitch community, through a standardized orthodox training. But within the movement, young people are also agents: they promote a globalized Jewish orthodoxy.

All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten? Evidence from the Philippines

Although there is broad agreement that investments in early childhood education are important, questions about the relative effectiveness of different types of programs persist. We study the effects of two distinct types of kindergarten programs in the Philippines: the Jumpstart kindergarten program, implemented by a local faith-based NGO between 2005 and 2017, and a government-sponsored kindergarten program mandated nationwide beginning in 2012. Exploiting the timing of the rollout of these two programs relative to the age different children within a household could enter kindergarten, we find large effects on primary school academic performance due to attending Jumpstart and smaller effects due to attending the government kindergarten. We then examine mediating characteristics that may explain these differential effects. We find that socioemotional skills such as self-control, openness, and conscientiousness partially mediate our primary results. These findings support other research that highlights the importance of developing socioemotional skills in the pre-elementary grade levels, not only as ends in themselves but also as mediators to better academic performance.

Religious Actors, Care, and Mood in the Time of COVID-19

Abstract The introduction to this special issue considers the interdisciplinary study of religious sentiments, religious care and social actions during the COVID-19 outbreak in South-, East- and Southeast Asia. Our approach in terms of nodes and polarisation allows one to visualise a bundle of religious and secular actors and interests, as well as original strategies and actions, in time of pandemic, which sometimes challenge local regimes of truth and authority. In many cases, faith-based NGO s have been complementing the State, activating their powerful channels of mission in urban and rural areas, under the guise of combating COVID-19 crisis. The studies presented here examine several Asian religious actors during this period of COVID-19 crisis; and the ways in which their creative digitalised measures of worship, protection and healing, and their participation in urgent public health and care provisions, have given them the opportunity to renegotiate their relationships with States and societies.

Christian Social Activism and Rule of Law in Chinese Societies, edited by Fenggang Yang and Chris White.

<i>Christian Social Activism and Rule of Law in Chinese Societies</i>, edited by Fenggang Yang and Chris White.

The RLDS Church, Global Denominations, and Globalization: Why the Study of Denominations Still Matters

The RLDS Church, Global Denominations, and Globalization: Why the Study of Denominations Still Matters

Community-based health coverage at the crossroad; the Muhammadiyah health fund in Indonesia

This paper discusses the complexities of community-based health insurance (CBHI) coordinated by faith-based NGOs in Indonesia, and how government health care schemes threaten community-based health care plans. It discusses, in particular, Muhammadiyah’s history, one of the largest Islamic civil society organizations dealing with the health sector, as well as their struggle to facilitate community-based health care insurance. The role of state-based universal health coverage (UHC) has markedly overshadowed civil society programs, including faith-based NGOs, in implementing and providing health care services in their circles or members. While the State faces a delicate situation in the management of its universal health care, both financially and operationally, civil society groups have sought to revive the limited health care scheme as a way to supplement and even contend with the state welfare regime.

The Faith-Based Advantage: A Case Study on the Adventist Development &amp;amp; Relief Agency’s Response to Humanitarian Impacts of COVID-19 as a Faith-Based Organization

Large-scale health emergencies like COVID-19 oftentimes result in widespread humanitarian impacts. Due to their long-standing relationships and involvement within local communities, along with extensive networks and support from faith-affiliated institutions, faith-based NGOs carry a unique advantage in reaching the most vulnerable during such crises. The Adventist Development &amp; Relief Agency’s (ADRA) experience during its global COVID-19 response showcases how keeping a local presence in-country and fostering partnerships with affiliated faith institutions and constituents can result in a wide reach of programming. By providing dedicated personnel and small seed-funding, developing a flexible global strategy involving strong business continuity plans and emphasis on its faith base, and supporting the sharing of information and lessons learned among local offices, faith-based NGOs are capable of quickly delivering life-saving interventions to vulnerable communities. ADRA and the affiliated Seventh-day Adventist Church have proved during the first year of COVID-19 that they are stronger together, highlighting the importance of utilizing a faith base when implementing humanitarian interventions.

Faith-Based Organizations, Community Development, and Room of Manoeuvre in Gang Controlled Neighbourhoods in San Salvador

This paper aims to contribute to our understanding of the feasibility and effectiveness of development interventions in situations of chronic violence, paying particular attention to the capacity and room of manoeuvre of intervening organisations in contexts where illicit groups have built up a power position. It analyses the interventions of two faith-based NGOs (FBOs) that aim to reduce violence and promote community development in selected gang-controlled neighbourhoods of the Metropolitan Area of San Salvador (AMSS). Based on a literature study and data from fieldwork in several municipalities of the AMSS, it focuses on the ways the organisations navigate in extremely complex contexts. It is argued that the factors that contribute to the capacity of the FBOs to work in gang controlled neighbourhoods include their evangelical identity, the acceptance by and independence from gang and government, their longer-term engagement in selected neighbourhoods, and the combination of social interventions that have a local impact (education, healthcare) with the promotion of moral values. The paper also discusses some of the dilemmas and limitations of these kinds of approaches.

Author Correction: Challenges of Faith-Based NGO Intervention in Community Development: a Case Study in Bangladesh

Author Correction: Challenges of Faith-Based NGO Intervention in Community Development: a Case Study in Bangladesh

Challenges of Faith-Based NGO Intervention in Community Development: a Case Study in Bangladesh

The intervention of faith-based non-governmental organizations in the development area is no more an ignored topic due to their comprehensive coverage in humanitarian assistance, rise of global identity politics, and the changing ideological view of development donors and policymakers. However, such engagements are prone to criticisms. This paper aims to report the qualitative findings highlighting the strengths and challenges of faith-based non-governmental organizations in community development, based on a broader convergent parallel mixed-method study of the first author’s PhD work. The study was conducted in the north-western region of Bangladesh, where Islamic Relief Worldwide, a faith-based international non-governmental organization implemented the Action for Peoples’ Rights and Livelihood (APRIL) project for community development. Using a qualitative approach, this study gathered data from in-depth interviews of 11 participants, five focus groups, and 10 key informants. Results showed that faith-based non-governmental organizations made significant contributions in providing services to the ultra-poor without discrimination, offering flexible “pressure-free” loans, and developing a sense of community ownership. Within this spectrum, this study found a number of challenges in the community development efforts. These include (a) continuation of the provision of interest-free loans, (b) sustaining community-based organizations, (c) labeling of proselytization, and (d) deficient implementation mechanisms. Although this paper focuses on a faith-based non-governmental organization in Bangladesh, the findings have global implications, especially addressing the knowledge gap in the existing literature.

The agency of faith-based NGOs in Turkish humanitarian aid policy and practice

ABSTRACT While Turkish faith-based NGOs have been involved in delivering humanitarian aid for two decades, the relations of these organizations with the state have not received adequate scholarly attention. The main purpose of this article is to address this gap by asking what roles NGOs play in Turkey's humanitarian aid policy and practice. Despite the relative isolation of Turkey's administrative structure as a result of a strong state tradition, this paper shows that NGOs attempt to play political roles in Turkish foreign policy. The study relies on an analytical framework derived from constructivism to examine the agenda-setting and information-providing activities of Turkish NGOs between 2004 and 2016. Based on findings from a series of semi-structured interviews with 25 respondents from nine different NGOs and three state institutions, this artilce expands the research agenda on Turkey's foreign aid and shows that NGOs function as knowledge-providers, powerful catalysts for humanitarian aid activities, and influential voices in bringing humanitarian issues to light.

U.S. Foreign Policy and the Defense of Religious Freedom in India

The defense of religious freedom around the world is a U.S. foreign policy initiative upheld by successive administrations since the passing of the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA). Supported by various religious constituencies that advocate for the freedom of religion of like-minded individuals across borders, the U.S. government engages with foreign governments, human rights groups, and NGOs to preserve an individual’s right to freedom of religion or belief. Their results, however, are mixed, especially in diverse contexts where religious rights are deeply contested. This paper explores the advocacy effort in response to the Government of India’s crackdown on the inflow of foreign funds to NGOs, many of which are faith-based. Using the revocation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) license of faith-based NGO Compassion International as a case study, this paper finds that U.S. involvement in defense of religious freedom meets counter-narratives. These counter-narratives include the preservation of state sovereignty, the protection of national interest, and the privileging of religious tolerance over religious freedom.

Investigating the intersections between counter-terrorism and NGOs in Nigeria: development practice in conflict-affected areas

ABSTRACT This article examines the factors that influence the Nigerian government’s constraints of NGOs in counter-terrorism context, analysing whether NGO type, nature, areas of operation and size were determinant factors. Drawing from mixed-methods design, it argues that NGOs’ political advocacy, reporting of human rights abuses and monitoring the use of security funds were key factors that attract government restrictions. Women, youth, children, and faith-based NGOs experienced more government constraints than human rights NGOs. Advocacy and international NGOs also suffered more restrictions. The findings contribute to generalisable knowledge by demonstrating the link between counter-terrorism and NGOs in Nigeria.

종교기반 NGO(FBO)의 인도주의적 대북지원에 관한 연구

종교기반 NGO(FBO)의 인도주의적 대북지원에 관한 연구

A Comparative Exploration of the Motivational Factors of Faith-Based and Secular NGOs and Their Actors in Cambodia

ABSTRACTSecular and faith-based NGOs are significant non-state service providers in the developing world, yet limited research has been conducted comparing their motivational factors. This paper considers the motivations driving the work of Christian faith-based organisations (FBOs) and secular NGOs working with women and children in Cambodia. The qualitative research design included 41 interviews, with respondents from thirteen FBOs and twelve secular NGOs. The paper makes two substantive arguments. First, faith-related motivations were expressions of the ways in which religious faith infused FBOs in the study. Second, the development context in which the organisations worked led to a clear distinction between FBOs and secular NGOs. The paper makes a theoretical contribution about the importance of considering the convergence of both the development context and the infusion of faith in FBOs when examining similarities and differences between these two types of organisations.

Encouraging Active Citizen Voices on International Policy? The Record of U.S. Faith-based NGOs

How do faith-based NGOs educate and mobilize their US constituencies, beyond appealing for donations? I examine ten diverse faith-based NGOs’ presentation of advocacy on their websites, along with budget and staffing data, finding great variation in the extent of advocacy and its prominence and urgency in agencies’ websites. Some of the most extensive mobilization is done by small Christian sects with historic commitment to social justice, non-Christian minority faiths in the US, and independent NGOs that specialize in advocacy. The religious voice on these matters is modest, with faith-based NGOs giving priority to securing financial support for material aid.

The role of faith-based NGOs in social development: Invisible empowerment

This article makes an attempt to assess the process and outcomes of faith-based non-governmental organizations’ (FBNGOs) interventions toward community empowerment in social development. Data are derived from contemporary literature using a Qualitative Interpretative Meta-Synthesis (QIMS). Results show that there are very few publications that directly examine the contributions of FBNGOs toward community empowerment. There are some publications which indirectly examine the role of the components of community empowerment, such as community participation, community capacity building, local leadership development, or community resource mobilization, though these are mostly concentrated in Western and African countries. After 9/11, much literature has shown that the role of Islamic NGOs has emerged as a significant aspect in social development discourse. The findings will be of interest to policymakers, donors, and development practitioners.

Proclaiming the reign of God in a suffering world: The movement from development to liberation

Today’s missionary, whether long-term or short-term, church-based or part of a faith-based NGO, is faced with grinding poverty and the extreme isolation and marginalization of vulnerable populations. This article will develop a theological foundation that calls missionaries to address the root causes of poverty as a key element of proclaiming the Good News, and will conclude with specific and concrete recommendations for doing so. The article places liberation theology in dialogue with Catholic Social Teaching and with the experiences of faith-based development agencies. Particular attention is given to the work of Gustavo Gutiérrez and Pope Paul VI’s document, Populorum Progressio. The article will illustrate the ways that liberation theology has challenged Catholic Social Teaching in its thinking about how to respond to economic marginalization, insisting that charitable aid is insufficient and highlighting the difference between “development” and “liberation.”

L’humanitarisation du sacrifice musulman

Base sur des enquetes realisees aupres de differentes ONG confessionnelles (France, Turquie), cet article analyse la pratique humanitaire du sacrifice musulman. Il met l’accent sur les raisons et les enjeux de « l’humanitarisation » d’un rituel au statut complexe dans les societes contemporaines. Faisant du sacrifice un acte solidaire et d’aide aux plus demunis, mais aussi un levier de developpement au sein des pays beneficiaires, la pratique humanitaire permet de retrouver le sens d’un acte rituel par ailleurs confronte a de multiples contraintes et transformations. La prise en charge humanitaire du sacrifice implique la conversion du rituel en dispositifs techniques et logistiques, qui interrogent la mutation des normes et des pratiques rituelles sous l’effet de logiques globales.

The well-prepared international development worker

The requirements for effective international development have evolved in recent years toward a greater emphasis on capacity building, integration of entrepreneurship and economic models, and recognition of the role of faith-based NGOs and community groups. Faith-based development work, which parallels missions, must address these emphases in addition to faith-specific requirements. In response to this, the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College and the Center for International Development at Point Loma Nazarene University initiated a project to describe the training requirements for international development workers necessitated by the changing priorities in development. A set of recommended competencies were developed from three different constituencies including employers, academics, managers, and front-line staff within the Christian international development community. First, a group representing six different development organizations and four colleges with development-related programs convened to discuss the question of what do development organizations expect from a well-prepared development worker. The group identified 11 categories for skill development which were then used to create a survey of Christian nonprofit representatives with hiring responsibility. The survey results were then used in a focus group with Christian nonprofit representatives. The results of these three data sets were integrated into a set of desired competencies. The implications for training and development are discussed along with recommendations.