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BUREAU FOR INCLUSIVE GROWTH, PARTNERSHIPS, AND INNOVATION
LOCAL, FAITH, AND TRANSFORMATIVE PARTNERSHIPS HUB
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Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships |
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Message from the Director |
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Colleagues,
Following Women’s History Month, this edition of our newsletter celebrates partnerships dedicated to the advancement of women’s and girls’ empowerment, shares new funding announcements addressing the alarming situation in Haiti, and highlights USAID leaders engaging faith-based organizations on a range of shared development priorities.
In recent weeks, I’ve also been encouraged to meet youth across the US who are deeply committed to making an impact in their communities and around the world. From hearing how Black immigrant female leaders are advancing education opportunities for diaspora communities, to speaking with students at Georgetown University on USAID’s Strategic Religious Engagement Policy and joining youth in Washington, DC to commemorate World Water Day, I’m humbled, inspired and filled with hope for our future.
Finally, to those who observed holy days in March, including Ramadan, Nowruz, Holi, and Easter, I’d like to extend my heartfelt wishes for a season full of happiness, joy and peace.
With deep appreciation,
Amanda Vigneaud Acting Director, Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships USAID
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Partner Resources:
Agency Updates & Funding Opportunities
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ICYMI: On March 15, 2024, USAID announced an additional $25 million in humanitarian assistance to address the dire situation in Haiti that has displaced 362,000 people and left 5.5 million people in need of immediate humanitarian assistance to meet basic needs. This builds on the $33 million for humanitarian assistance Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on March 11. This funding will support efforts by United Nations and NGO partners to provide immediate food assistance, essential relief supplies, relocation support, psycho-social support, emergency health care, safe drinking water, and protection services for the most vulnerable, including women and girls, among other vital assistance. |
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Celebrating Women’s Month: In celebration of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day on March 8, USAID highlighted partnerships that advanced gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment. Read a recent blogpost to learn about USAID’s historic investments to achieve gender equality and improve quality of life globally. Additionally, check out recent twitter posts from @USAIDConnects showcasing faith-based organizations, like Cabrini Ministries and the International Network of Engaged Buddhists, who are making critical contributions to this mission. |
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International Day to Combat Islamophobia: On March 15, 2024, USAID joined the Biden-Harris Administration in commemorating the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. USAID remains committed to combating islamophobia and rejecting discrimination, hate, and violence on the basis of religion or belief, both at home and abroad. First designated by the United Nations in 2022, the International Day to Combat Islamophobia calls on the global community to engage in dialogue to promote a culture of tolerance and peace, based on respect for human rights and for the diversity of religions and beliefs. |
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Funding Opportunity: The Limited Excess Property Program (LEPP) is accepting applications for federal surplus property - including medical, dental, and lab equipment; hygiene supplies; personal protection equipment; computers and cellular phones; and more - from non-governmental organizations through May 6, 2024. LEPP provides Private Voluntary Organizations access to federal surplus property to support their humanitarian and development projects in over 70 countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. |
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How to Work with USAID: On Tuesday, April 23 at 10:00 a.m. ET, join USAID’s Industry Liaison team for a virtual How to Work with USAID 101 session. Current and prospective partners can engage with Agency staff and learn about USAID’s operational framework and how to find funding opportunities. Register for the event here. Prior to the webinar, check out WorkwithUSAID.gov, a comprehensive resource hub that is now available in Spanish and French. When navigating the website, simply select your preferred language from the dropdown menu in the top right corner. |
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Industry Liaison Linkedin Group: Do you represent a faith-based or community organization looking to partner with USAID? Join the Work With USAID Linkedin Group, a free and accessible forum that connects organizations with the information and resources they need to work with USAID. With over 700,000 members, the Work With USAID Linkedin Group facilitates networking between organizations in the development and humanitarian space and allows for direct engagement with USAID staff so you can find the answers you need. Join the group and start making connections! |
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Translated Policy: “Building Bridges in Development: USAID’s Strategic Religious Engagement Policy” is now available in French and Spanish. The policy affirms the essential role religious actors play in their communities and is working to align Agency practices to elevate the distinct perspectives, expertise, and leadership of faith-based and religious communities through partnerships that drive development progress worldwide. Check out the policy webpage to find the translated policy and other resources. |
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New Training from USIP: Religions, Beliefs, and Human Rights The U.S. Institute of Peace is hosting a new four-week online course that explores the intrinsic link between human rights and peacebuilding, and the unique role faith-based actors play in facilitating partnerships for peace. The training uses peer-to-peer learning methodology of the #Faith4Rights Toolkit for religious, faith-based, and belief actors, policymakers, and practitioners to explore these links. It is intended to serve as a practical guide for protecting and promoting human rights to prevent, manage, and resolve violent conflict. USIP will be joined by the UN Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights, Religions for Peace, and the University for Peace in the facilitation of this course. Those enrolled can earn a certification of participation upon completing the course. Register here. |
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Strategic Religious Engagement in Practice:
Creating Spaces for Hope: Working with Local Communities to Address Gender-based Violence in Honduras
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 A Consejería Familiar, or family therapist, waits to meet with clients at a church in San Miguel, Tegucigalpa. Often, these therapists provide their services to people who are vulnerable to violence in spaces that are easier for them to access and that they are more comfortable in, such as churches. Photo credit: Jim Huylebroek for USAID
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 Activist Erilha* sits in front of a bus station plastered with signs saying, “Know, Prevent, Act,” part of a campaign to address and eliminate sexual harassment on transportation for women. Photo Credit: Jim Huylebroek for USAID
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Honduran women face one of the highest rates of gender-based violence (GBV) in the Western Hemisphere—a USAID survey recently revealed nearly 65 percent of women and girls aged 12 to 29 had encountered sexual violence, and 70 percent have experienced domestic violence.
USAID works with local women’s networks to identify GBV cases, provide legal guidance to victims, and support shelters in Honduras, like the newly opened Casa Refugio Lucesitas in San Pedro Sula, supported by USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives.
USAID and local partners also engage a cross section of religious leaders to reduce domestic violence. In Honduras, as in many countries around the world, community members often turn to religious leaders for advice, especially in situations involving domestic violence or other forms of abuse. Unfortunately, due to a lack of training and societal taboos around discussing GBV, both abusers and survivors often receive poor or inadequate advice by religious leaders. Some religious leaders do not feel comfortable discussing the subject at all.
In Honduras, USAID partnered with local organizations to organize a ‘Family Counseling with a Gender Perspective’ diploma course for pastors, priests, and other religious leaders to ensure they can provide quality advice and referrals to their communities.
One course participant said the training was exceptionally helpful for his church, which now engages with municipal authorities to better respond to GBV cases and closely collaborates with local networks that can provide advanced support services to survivors, such as referring them to safe spaces and centers for holistic services.
Through an approach that includes healthcare, community engagement of women’s networks and religious leaders, and advocacy, USAID supports local partners in Honduras as they work tirelessly to challenge the culture of violence and provide hope for a safer future.
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USAID Highlights Partnerships with Faith-Based Organizations at CUAMM Doctors for Africa Event |
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Earlier this month Peter Natiello, Senior Humanitarian and Development Advisor in USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, joined representatives from the private sector, civil society and governments at a gathering hosted by CUAMM Doctors for Africa to discuss how to “Connect, Strengthen, and Empower Faith Based Organizations in Delivering Healthcare Services.”
During a panel discussion, Senior Advisor Natiello, Marco Ricccardo Rusconi, Director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, and Juliette Prodhan, Deputy Director of Foreign Commonwealth and Development, discussed how international agencies are strengthening partnerships with faith-based organizations to achieve shared objectives around locally-led and inclusive development.
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USAID Senior Advisor for Localization Sarah Rose (center right) speaks during a panel discussion.
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On March 14, USAID Senior Advisor for Localization Sarah Rose and colleagues from the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and the New Partnerships Initiative (NPI) attended the SCOPE End-of-Project Learning Event, hosted by World Relief.
The NPI SCOPE Project was a five-year community-based reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health project implemented by World Relief in Haiti, Kenya, Malawi, and South Sudan. The event highlighted program learnings and results related to community health worker capacity strengthening, faith leader engagement around family planning, and the use of community groups to strengthen and extend the reach of the health system. Senior Advisor Rose spoke on a panel discussion and highlighted how USAID’s New Partnerships Initiative is providing capacity strengthening services for local partners and shared updates on Agency priorities including localization and strategic religious engagement.
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Acting Director Amanda Vigneaud attends a Religions for Peace Forum in New York City. Photo Credit: Religions for Peace
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From March 26-27, Acting Director Amanda Vigneaud attended a Multi-Faith High-Level Forum hosted by Religions for Peace on “Advancing Positive Outcomes for Children, Families, and Communities.” During the two day event, Acting Director Vigneaud joined religious leaders, interfaith networks, implementing partners, including faith-based organizations, and government representatives to discuss how faith-based and secular stakeholders can improve collaboration and coordination to more effectively respond to emerging needs around the world. |
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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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