The International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD) is a unique and dynamic global multi-stakeholder partnership. PaRD brings together governmental, intergovernmental, religious and other civil society actors, and focuses on the positive potentials and contributions of religion to the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda.
PaRD warmly welcomes five new members, who recently joined the growing global partnership. For the first time since PaRD was established in 2016, a Sikh organisation became a member of PaRD. With the joining of United Sikhs along with the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society – HIAS Europe, the Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA), India as well as the Institute for Development & Leadership in Africa (IDEA) and the Institute for Global Health and Development (Queen Margret University), PaRD marks an important step towards diversification of its membership and outreach to the Global South. The PaRD steering group and members are looking forward to a fruitful and successful collaboration with all new members.
Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society – HIAS Europe
HIAS was founded in the 1880s to help resettle Jews fleeing persecution. Today, HIAS provides services to any refugees who are in need of assistance, regardless of their national, ethnic or religious background. Over the course of its history, HIAS has helped more than 4.5 million refugees start new lives. HIAS currently operates programs in 16 countries focusing on psychosocial care, legal assistance, gender-based violence and economic livelihoods. It also implements resettlement operations and integration activities, and is actively advocating on behalf of refugees. HIAS partners with a broad range of (inter-)governmental and civil society partners, including religious based organisations. HIAS Europe in Brussels, Belgium, was founded in 2019 to allow for deeper connections and partnerships with European stakeholders, including Jewish communities. HIAS Europe currently oversees humanitarian and development projects in 13 countries.
UNITED SIKHS is a U.N. associated non-profit grassroots organisation based in New York, USA with chapters in America, Asia, Africa and Europe. It was founded in 1999 and is registered in ten countries. It pursues initiatives for the spiritual, social and economic empowerment of underprivileged and minority communities. UNITED SIKHS works in the field of advocacy, anti-discrimination and legal support, peace and security, education, interreligious dialogue, humanitarian and emergency aid. UNITED SIKHS is mainly driven by around 1,000 volunteers (sevadar). Its outreach includes Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Kenya, Malaysia, Pakistan, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Sweden and the United Kingdom. UNITED SIKHS has collaborated with UNFPA in Nepal after the devastating earthquake in 2015 and with Religions for Peace UK on interfaith issues. Currently it supports people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in India.
Institute for Development & Leadership in Africa (IDEA)
The AU-ECOSOCC affiliated Institute for Development & Leadership in Africa (IDEA) is an international think tank based in Nairobi, Kenia and was founded in 2000. It is a capacity building, research and training institution committed to the enhancement and promotion of development in Africa. IDEA focuses on peace and security, economic development and employment, education, environment and climate change. Its geographical areas of engagement include Japan, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia. IDEA collaborates with partners such as the Japan International Corporation Agency and the Institute of Social Studies (ISS) in the Netherlands. IDEA is currently working with local, regional and international trading partners of Africa to enhance cooperation. In addition, it organised and attended different conferences on regional development and leadership related matters.
Institute for Global Health and Development (Queen Margret University)
The Institute for Global Health and Development (IGHD) at Queen Margret University in Edinburgh in the UK is a multidisciplinary centre for postgraduate education and research, founded in 1993. It addresses contemporary health and development challenges in low and middle income countries with a focus on the relation of the Global South to the Global North. IGHD is currently conducting a study within the PaRD Health work-stream on “faith-based mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) with children in humanitarian settings”.
Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA)
CASA India is a member of ACT Alliance. The organisation was founded in 1947 and is based in New Delhi, India. It is operational in 10.000 villages in 26 states around the country. Its primary objective is to strengthen the poor and promote the efforts of marginalised groups towards sustainable development. CASA focuses on peace and security, economic development and employment, environment and climate change, humanitarian and emergency aid, child labour and education. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it provided hygiene Kits for rural families.
