RELIGION MATTERS!
CALENDAR
Mission
The International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD) convenes governments, multilateral entities, academia as well as religious, traditional, indigenous and other civil society actors in a safe space that provides continuity for dialogue, learning, and collaboration to better inform policy and practices in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda.
Foundation, Priorities & Principles
The SDGs set the foundation of PaRD’s work. With the SDGs, 193 countries have set 17 goals to ensure a better life for all, end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and well-being for everyone. PaRD currently concentrates on Health (SDG 3), Gender Equality (SDG 5), Environment, Water and Climate Action (SDGs 6, 13, 14, 15), Sustaining Peace (SDG 16) and Food Security (SDG 2). The basis of PaRD are the fundamental principles of human rights as well as freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief (FoRB), as both are preconditions for sustainable development.
Through PaRD’s workstreams and taskforces, members and interested partners collaborate and gather evidence about the positive role of faith actors in sustainable development. Together, concepts are created for conferences, seminars, guidelines, briefing materials, and learning resources.
Interested parties can find more information about PaRD in our official flyer and in PaRD's strategic plan 2022-2026.
VOICES FROM PaRD AND BEYOND
PaRD provides a unique opportunity for members of several governments to regularly discuss the importance of faith in development and find ways to take action for common cause when it comes to the challenges of our day. Due to its international nature, it is a topic that affects every country and its programming. I am grateful to PaRD for making these essential connections a consistent part of our work.
PaRD Steering Board Co-Chair and director of USAID Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and the Local, Faith and Transformative Partnerships Hub.
We have to act today, not just plan for 2030 and beyond, and planning for development goes beyond electoral cycles.
Chief Senior Expert National Planning Commission Secretariat (NDP), South Africa.
My vision as a new Co-Chair is to see PaRD as a place of healing and empowerment through service and full dedication to the SDGs.
PaRD Steering Board Co-Chair from African Union.
In all the inequity of the world - it is not that there are no resources or aid from richer to poorer, the issue is the effectiveness of the aid which is given. More stakeholders need to be involved, shared wisdom is needed in times of crisis, and PaRD will help ensure that there is transparency.
President of the Southern Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC)
The contributions of religious actors to achieving the SDGs need scientific investigation and scrutiny. A transdisciplinary approach is necessary: research not only about, but with religious actors. The membership of our research programme in PaRD creates excellent conditions for this.
Former Head of the Research Programme on Religious Communities and Sustainable Development of Humboldt University
The successful PaRD General Assembly in South Africa has shown how far this unique partnership has come and how much more potential there is for exchange and cooperation between religious actors, governments and multilaterals for sustainable development. And never has it been more needed than now. Time to get even busier!
PaRD Steering Board Co-Chair from World Council of Churches (WCC)
The development that all SDGs are trying to attain will never happen until the religious language within Muslim societies changes when it comes to girls rights – the girl’s rights to go to school, to get an education, to decide if she wants to marry and when she wants to marry.
Muslims for Progressive Values
PaRD member with focus on Gender Equality and Empowerment
PaRD provides a unique space: It allows faith-based organisations, governments and intergovernmental organisations to directly connect with each other. PaRD enables to learn about the positive potential of religion, and explore creative ways to tackle our common global challenges.
Salam Institute for Peace and Justice
PaRD member
Compassion, healing and unity is at the heart of spirituality – and to transcend man-made boundaries. To strengthen this positive force on a global level through collaboration between state actors and civil society, helps to commonly contribute to sustainable solutions for our wellbeing – and that of the Earth.
PaRD Head of Secretariat
What PaRD has that is its strength right now, is the ability to bring together donor governments from the North with Faith-Based organizations (FBOs). PaRD needs to enable something catalytic, multireligious and multinational that’s transformative for people and lives!
Religions for Peace
PaRD member with focus on Interreligious Dialogue
