Africa-UK Annual Conference 2012

Faith and Development in Africa: A new Perspective on Diaspora Engagement

3 December 2012, 8:45am-4:15pm
Chelsea Old Town Hall, King’s Road, London SW3 5EE

Africa has had a long history of faith-based development intervention. However, the contribution of faith-based organisations to Africa’s development is rarely examined. Nevertheless, FBOs play an integral, if controversial, role in delivering core development and humanitarian assistance, particularly in the areas of health, education, food security and poverty alleviation.

Faith perspectives have traditionally been invisible to institutions and individuals driving the international development agenda. But there is growing recognition of the important part FBOs and inter-faith dialogue can play on both a local and macro level, influencing international development and policy-making.

Informed by the shared religious tenets of social justice, compassion and equality, faith groups (both in the Diaspora and at home) bring unique resources and strengths to their development work in Africa through their strong networks with communities on the ground. On the other hand, outdated value systems and cultural practices, upheld by some FBOs, can also act as obstacles to change and progress towards development goals.

This conference will bring together members of the Diaspora, NGO representatives and policy-makers in an attempt to increase dialogue and support the contribution of the African Diaspora to the UK’s international development agenda and its Africa policy.

The conference is inclusive of all faiths, but there will be an emphasis on the majority Muslim and Christian faiths and organisations.

Conference Programme

• 8:45 – 9:30
  Registration
• 9:30 – 9:45
  Welcome & Introduction by Royal African Society
  Richard May, Deputy Director, Royal African Society
• 9:45 – 10:45
  Diaspora Voices: Is Faith a Driver of Development?
  Parliamentary-style debate exploring the role of faith based organisations in delivering development. How do FBOs define development? Are FBOs drivers of Africa’s development or do they present obstacles to the latter? Speakers:
  Dr Titi Banjoko, Director, Africa Recruit
  Mohammad Zaman, Campaigns Officer, MADE in Europe
  Dionne Gravesande, Head of Church Relations, Christian Aid
  Dr William Ackah, Co-Convenor, Transatlantic Roundtable on Religion and RaceChair: Anna Vanderpuye-Owunne, Africa-UK Co-ordinator
• 10:45 – 11:15
  BREAK
• 11:15 – 12:00
  Keynote Address: Why should the Diaspora engage with Faith-based organisations?
  Bishop Henry Kontor, Chair, Apostolic Congress of Great BritainChair: Gibril Faal, Director and Chairman, AFFORD
• 12:00 – 13:00
  LUNCH
• 13:00 – 14:00
  Faith-Based Development: The limits, challenges and potential
  What are challenges and what is the potential for faith-based development in Africa? And what is the role of FBOs in relation to the state, the voluntary sector and civil society at large? Speakers:
  Tim Aldred, Head of Policy and Communications, Progressio
  Elias Fon, Regional Desk Coordinator for West Africa, Islamic Relief
  Michael Jennings, Department of Development Studies, SOASChair: Alex Jakana, Broadcast Journalist, BBC World Service
• 14:00 – 15:00
  Faith and Development: Interactive SessionsSession A) Accessing financial resources: current models of funding and engagement
  What is the place of FBOs in the context of global development funding? What financial resources are there available? Do FBOs need to become NGOs in order to access funding? Speakers discuss current models of funding available for FBOs to carry out development and humanitarian work in Africa, including success stories, main challenges and lessons learnt. Speakers:
  Mike Battcock, Civil Society, DFID
  Gemma Juma, International Grants Portfolio Manager, Comic Relief

  Chair: Onyekachi Wambu, Engagement and Policy Director, AFFORD

  Session B) A common agenda? Inter-faith dialogue and faith-secular partnerships
  What is the cross over between NGOs and FBOs? What are the current partnership models between FBOs and other secular organisations? How can we make these more sustainable? Speakers discuss barriers and opportunities for inter-faith dialogue and collaboration between FBOs and secular organisations. Speakers:
  Dr Kunle Onabolu, UK Director and Founder, African Child Trust
  Fatima Zahra Khanum, Operational Coordinator, International HIV Fund
  Dr Abdoulie Sallah, Organisational Behaviour, Leadership & Change Management, Staffordshire University

  Chair: Professor Ian Linden, Director of Policy, Tony Blair Faith Foundation

• 15:00 – 15:30
  BREAK
• 15:30 – 15:45
  Feedback from interactive sessions
• 15:45 – 16:15
  Conference Summary, Closing Remarks & Thanks by Royal African Society & AFFORD
  Sally Keeble, Director, Anglican Alliance for Development, Relief and Advocacy
  Gibril Faal, Director and Chairman, AFFORD

Source: RAS newsletter

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