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BUREAU FOR DEVELOPMENT, DEMOCRACY, AND INNOVATION
LOCAL, FAITH, AND TRANSFORMATIVE PARTNERSHIPS HUB
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Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships |
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 Director Phillips shares FBNP’s monthly message at the United States Institute of Peace.
Friends and colleagues,
Please find this month’s message from USAID’s Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships here.
ADAM NICHOLAS PHILLIPS
Director, Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
USAID
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USAID Launches New Report on International Religious Freedom at the United States Institute of Peace |
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 Director Phillips speaks at an August 2 United States Institute of Peace event. / USIP
On August 2, Director Phillips joined the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) for a discussion on key findings and implications of a new USIP report, “Global Trends and Challenges to Protecting and Promoting Freedom of Religion or Belief.” The report summarizes the key findings of Closing the Gap, a two-year research collaboration between USIP and The Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships examining the relationship between religious freedom and regime type, political stability, and economic development. A recording of the event can be accessed here.
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Focus on the Field: Instilling a Respect for Wildlife |
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 Venerable Jutipa (second from left) discusses community campaigns with other nuns during the June 2022 workshop. / USAID
To commemorate National Tiger Day (July 29), USAID published a story highlighting the efforts of a Buddhist nun in Thailand who, with USAID support, has led ethical training camps to instill a respect for all life, including wildlife. Below is an excerpt:
“The Venerable Jutipa Thappasuth, a local Buddhist nun, has made it her personal mission to teach and remind young people to respect all life. After attending a USAID workshop last year, she learned how spiritual leaders can help reduce the demand for wildlife products among their followers. Through the four-day moral and ethical training camps she organizes, she has engaged more than 100 children, youth, teachers, and community members on this topic, instilling respect for the life of wild animals like elephants and tigers.
‘It is quite challenging to organize activities in communities where people like ivory or tiger talismans or amulets, which they think bring protection or good luck,’ she said. ‘My strategy is to introduce children and youth early to the law of karma and the consequences of breaking the precepts to discourage killing animals or consuming products made from wildlife products. In turn, children are very good at reminding their parents about these things.’
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In October 2019, USAID launched the Spiritual Beliefs campaign in partnership with Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP). The campaign used social and behavior change communication tools to reduce the demand for wildlife products and used data from the USAID study to determine the best way to reach wildlife consumers and potential buyers…USAID has also partnered with the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB) and engaged around 100 Thai spiritual leaders in a series of workshops since 2020 to champion the campaign in their communities. Many of the spiritual leaders who attended the workshops have since undertaken community actions, including elephant conservation projects — building salt licks, wells, and dikes in the forest as food and water sources for wild elephants — and telling children folk tales promoting animal conservation.”
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Advancing Interagency Collaboration at the Department of Defense Joint Strategic Religious Affairs Symposium |
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 Deputy Director Vigneaud (front row, third from left) at the Joint Strategic Religious Affairs Symposium.
Deputy Director Amanda Vigneaud was a featured speaker at the 2022 Joint Strategic Religious Affairs Symposium hosted by the Office of Religious Affairs for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Department of Defense. The two-day Symposium was attended by Department of Defense leaders, including senior chaplains and advisors, and explored opportunities and challenges in joint strategic religious affairs. Deputy Director Vigneaud delivered a presentation on the purpose and mission of USAID’s Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, detailed USAID’s commitment and approach to strategic religious engagement, and offered recommendations for areas of future collaboration.
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USAID Supports Civil Society Dialogue on FoRB and the SDGs at Wilton Park |
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Director Phillips (center) with Ambassador to the Holy See Joe Donnelly, Jill Donnelly, Hyrije Kryeziu Connell, and Deputy Chief of Mission Patrick Connell.
Director Phillips traveled to the United Kingdom to attend a USAID-sponsored Wilton Park event entitled “Freedom of Religion or Belief and the Sustainable Development Goals (FoRB).” The three day conference explored how FoRB can help deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ensure a sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, while creating a space for the active engagement and networking of government officials and civil society leaders. In turn, the event informed the International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief hosted by the UK Government the following week.
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USAID Joins the U.S. Government Delegation at the 4th Annual Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom |
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 The United States delegation at the 4th International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief in London.
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Director Phillips was a member of the Department of State’s delegation to the UK-hosted International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief. The Ministerial brought together international leaders to discuss the challenges facing religious freedom, identify means to address religious persecution and discrimination worldwide, and promote greater respect and preservation of religious liberty for all. |
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ICYMI: As of June 13th, the United States has officially delivered 550 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to more than 115 countries, and will continue to work on expanding resources to reach those in need.
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ICYMI: Ukraine Corporate Call to Action The most immediate and effective way the private sector can assist relief efforts for the Ukrainian people is by making cash contributions to humanitarian organizations providing aid on the ground. If you are interested in making a corporate donation, please contact Yoshi at USAID@gofundme.org and the team will reach out to you and walk you through the process. You will be able to select your organization(s) and make an offline contribution with no processing fee. |
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ICYMI: June 28 to 30th marked the annual civil-society led Summit on International Religious Freedom in Washington, DC. Featured speakers included Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Rashad Hussain. USAID participated in the Summit and its inaugural Civil Society Congress, a listening session for participants to learn about innovative development solutions to strengthen civil society engagement and international religious freedom. |
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The Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships is part of the Local, Faith, and Transformative Partnerships (LFT) Hub.
The LFT Hub focuses on strengthening USAID’s ability to partner with non-traditional and diverse actors including local, faith-based, and community organizations; schools and hospitals; minority-serving institutions; foundations; diaspora communities; cooperatives; and volunteer organizations. Learn more about how LFT is harnessing the power of partnerships through the following:
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