The Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities (JLI) will provide evidence support to PaRD’s three work streams Health, Gender Equality and Empowerment, and Sustaining Peace.
Based on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on October 27, 2018 at JLI’s Annual Board Meeting, JLI and PaRD have intensified their cooperation.
As outlined in the MoU, JLI provides evidence support to PaRD’s three work streams:
- SDG 3 Health with a focus on faith and adolescent sexual and reproductive health,
- SDG 5 Gender Equality and Empowerment with a focus on the role of faith-based partnerships in preventing and addressing gender-based violence and
- SDG 16 Sustaining Peace with a focus on effective peacebuilding
The studies and evidence briefs have been co-designed by the work-streams and JLI experts. They draw upon PaRD and JLI members’ information and experiences, and aim to, in turn, inform joint research and advocacy agendas. Each of the three workstreams will present preliminary reports for discussion during the PaRD annual meeting on May 2 and 3 in Copenhagen.
The JLI and PaRD seek full and appropriate engagement of the capacities of faith-based and religious groups in the achievement of the SDGs through effective partnerships with public sector and secular entities, as well as among religious groups themselves. JLI brings knowledge partner capacities, a proven track record in preparing evidence reports, briefs, calls to action, conference programs, peer-reviewed articles, and journals. PaRD brings together over 100 members with diverse backgrounds from around the world. It focuses on joint activities in its three areas of engagement knowledge exchange, capacity building, and joint advocacy.
Jonathan Duffy, JLI Board Chair and Jean Duff, JLI President and Thomas Lawo, PaRD Secretariat Coordinator signed for their respective organizations. The PaRD Steering Group ratified the MOU at its meeting in Toronto in November 2018.
