PaRD Africa

Background

The Partnership on Religion and Development (PaRD) has grown into a global network with 171 members, including faith-based organizations, governments, academia, and multilateral institutions. Given Africa’s rich religious diversity and the importance of faith-based approaches in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a regional expression of PaRD in Africa is highly relevant. PaRD Africa will facilitate stronger regional cooperation, enhance localization efforts, and support African stakeholders in engaging more effectively within the global PaRD network. This includes strengthening participation, collaboration, and advocacy in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and PaRD’s overarching mission.

PaRD has over 30 members in Africa, including organisations in Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda. PaRD has been established in 2016 and has around 170 members worldwide, with the African Union Citizens & Diaspora Directorate, African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council, Arigatou International, and Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa on the Steering Board. Against the backdrop that diverse religious and traditional actors are working towards achieving the SDGs in Africa, it is an appropriate context for a regional expression of PaRD. The approach is an opportunity to pave the way for a coordinated localization of member activities and the PaRD Secretariat, for example through a local secondment of staff.

Mandate of PaRD Africa

To strengthen cooperation, communication and coordination amongst African PaRD members and Develop mechanisms to align PaRD Africa’s priorities with global workstreams, enhancing impact and representation.

To demonstrate the added value of being a PaRD member and motivate new organisations to join the partnership through an inclusive approach; this includes inviting organisations to relevant events who are not PaRD members yet.

To support localization efforts by deepening PaRD’s engagement with new stakeholders in Africa and attracting the interest of governments, academia, multilateral institutions and FBOs and other civil society organisations from Africa.