Faith-Based International Development Work: A Review

Abstract

Abstract:In the wake of the Faith-Based Initiative in the USA, substantial research has resulted in an increased awareness of religious congregations and faith-based organizations as welfare service providers. The next frontier appears to be the role of religious organizations in international social and economic development, a topic that only recently started to attract academic interest. In this paper, we review available literature on the role that religious, or faith-based, organizations play in international social and economic development. We also provide results from our own study of USA international NGOs 1 that are faith-based. We divide the paper into the positive contributions of faith-based international NGOs and the drawbacks of these NGOs. We find that faith-based nonprofits constitute almost 60 percent of USA-based international development organizations, and their contribution to international social development is quite considerable. We conclude with a call for further research and nuanced understanding of the role religion plays in international development.

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

“…There is a significant level of overlapping in the definitions of FBOs and FBNGOs. For example, Dicklitch and Rice refer to FBNGOs as 'nonstate actors that have a central religious or faith core to their philosophy, membership, or programmatic approach, although they are not simply missionaries' (cited in Heist and Cnaan, 2016). Berger (2003) refers to FBNGOs as religious NGOs, which are the formal organizations whose identity and mission are self-consciously derived from the teachings of one or more religious or spiritual traditions and which operates on a non-profit, independent, voluntary basis to promote and realize collectively articulated ideas about the public good at the national or international level.…”

“…FBNGOs receive strong popular support among the poorest as they are rooted in the community, having the ability to facilitate developmental processes and having strong social networks and motivation (James, 2009;Tomalin, 2012, all cited in De Cordier, 2009Heist and Cnaan, 2016;Lunn, 2009;Nishimuko, 2009). FBNGOs are engaged in providing services in various fields including health, education, poverty reduction, environmental protection, and sustainability.…”

“…They are noted as contributors to establishing transnational links (Ahmed, 2009;Ozkan, 2012), innovators of alternative development models (Atia, 2012;Salek, 2015), and having strong links with communities. In 2013, private donations in the USA were received by four international FBOs, which was also 20 percent of the total donations given to international affairs (Heist and Cnaan, 2016). On the other hand, FBNGOs are criticized due to their narrowly focused mission: commitment to specific outcomes and programs based on donors' goals rather than genuine needs (Harrelson, 2010).…”

South Sudanese Refugee Survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and Torture: Health and Justice Service Responses in Northern Uganda

“…The research highlights some valuable work being undertaken by CSOs and some faith-based organisations in restoring hope in refugees. However, it is important to note that whilst these organisations are attempting to alleviate the negative life conditions of people in the communities they are serving, concerns have been raised regarding some faith-based organisations engaged in development work, and an emphasis sometimes on attempting to convert people to their own faith [42,43]. We therefore argue for a more nuanced and in-depth understanding of the role civil society and faith-based organisations play in the provision of health and justice provision that empowers refugee survivors of SGBV and torture in the context of international development [43].…”

Insights Into the Tensions Facing Western Christians Working Overseas in an Educational Faith-Based Organisation: A Case Study

“…Research on FBOs was almost inexistent merely 20 years ago, but has grown considerably since the new millennium (for recent reviews of the literature, see Clarke and Ware, 2015; Deneulin and Rakodi, 2011; Heist and Cnaan, 2016; Tomalin, 2012). Two major insights have emerged from the literature: a) FBOs are very diverse and must be seen on an individual basis.…”