Incorporating religion into development cooperation
Context
For 80 per cent of the people worldwide, religion plays an important role in their lives. Faith and religion give meaning to life, offer orientation and can provide motivation to work for sustainable development and peace. It is not uncommon for considerable confidence to be put in religious leaders as state representatives. They reach people even in remote areas. The involvement of religious representatives is therefore essential to achieve climate and sustainability goals.
In view of this, German development cooperation relies on dialogue and cooperation with religious organisations and initiatives.
Objective
Cooperation with religious representatives is an integral part of German and international development cooperation.
Approach
The project highlights the positive role of religious communities and their diverse contributions to sustainable development. It also prepares approaches to cooperation for practical use and advocates getting religious representatives more involved.
In addition, the project works in the Secretariat of the International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD). As a global partnership, PaRD promotes the exchange of experience and innovative approaches for new cooperation and initiatives of state and religious representatives.
For the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the project prepares background papers, makes recommendations for action, organises events and training courses. It also advises on specific opportunities for cooperation with religious representatives by analysing the environment and stakeholders. The project supports existing projects in countries such as Indonesia and Mali and works in close cooperation with the African Union. As a result, the international network ‘Interfaith Dialogue on Violent Extremism’ has emerged. The young people network in iDove, develop projects against violent extremism and implement them together.
Udate: May 2025