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Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships |
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A Message from Peter Mandaville,
USAID's New Senior Advisor for Faith Engagement
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Colleagues,
I’m so pleased to be joining USAID as the Agency’s new Senior Advisor for Faith Engagement, and especially excited to have this opportunity to introduce myself through the FBNP Newsletter. I’m coming to USAID from the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) where I was part of the Religion & Inclusive Societies team. My career has been primarily in the academic field of Islamic Studies, with some previous government experience at the Department of State–including a couple of years serving in what was the Office of Religion and Global Affairs.
When USAID Administrator Samantha Power launched Building Bridges in Development: USAID’s Strategic Religious Engagement Policy last year, it marked the first time a U.S. foreign affairs or national security agency had ever created a comprehensive set of principles and action framework for integrating strategic religious engagement across its work. My primary focus will be on implementing the SRE Policy, and in the weeks ahead I look forward to sharing details about how we’re putting the policy into action. (You can get a sneak preview of a few core aspects of our approach by reading the FBNP team’s recent blog post highlighted below...)
In this month’s newsletter we note the significance of commemorating Yom Hashoah at a time of rising antisemitism; share some important reporting from our colleagues at the United States Commission on the state of International Religious Freedom around the world; flag upcoming USAID partnership opportunities; and showcase a project implemented with one of our major faith-based partners focused on land restoration and economic opportunity in Madagascar.
Finally, I want to say a special thank you to Amanda Vigneaud for her leadership over these past months. Thanks to Amanda I’m joining a fantastic and highly energized team. I’m so looking forward to working with them as well as with all of you—both within and outside USAID—as we move into this exciting next phase of strategic religious engagement in the development and humanitarian sectors.
Warm regards,
Peter Mandaville Senior Advisor for Faith Engagement USAID
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Partner Resources:
Agency Updates & Funding Opportunities
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Celebrating World Press Day: On May 3, USAID Administrator Samantha Power released a statement marking World Press Day and celebrated the courage and sacrifice of “journalists all over the world who help shine a light on corruption, encourage civic engagement, and hold governments accountable.” Today, violence, threats, and censorship against journalists are at record highs. In response to these challenges, USAID is making investments to protect journalists and free expression including by equipping journalists and their allies to protect themselves from attacks online and offline, strengthening investigative journalism networks, advancing freedom of expression, and amplifying citizen voices. |
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Commemorating Yom Hashoah: This year, in commemoration of Yom Hashoah, Administrator Power released a statement remembering the six million Jews – as well as the millions of persons with disabilities, LGBTQI+ persons, Roma and Sinti, and other targeted groups – who were persecuted and brutally murdered at the hands of the Nazis. Yom Hashoah is a day of remembrance and an occasion to commemorate the countless acts of bravery of those who resisted. Through traditions like sharing stories of survivors and lighting candles in memory of the victims, the international community bears witness to the horrors of the Holocaust and stands against antisemitism, Holocaust denial and distortion, bigotry, and injustice in all forms, everywhere. |
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USCIRF Annual Report: On May 1, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released its 2024 Annual Report, which documents key findings and explores emerging trends around international religious freedom in 2023. The report also proposes policy recommendations to enhance the U.S. government’s promotion of freedom of religion or belief abroad. This year’s report also commemorates the 25th anniversary of the enactment of the International Religious Freedom Act. This landmark law made promoting the guaranteed right to freedom of religion or belief a priority in U.S. foreign policy. |
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New Blog: Interested in learning more about when, where, and how USAID conducts strategic religious engagement? A new blog post from the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships dives into USAID’s Strategic Religious Engagement Policy, including the key principles and four-step framework that guide USAID’s engagement with faith-based organizations and religious communities. Explore illustrative examples and learn how USAID integrates strategic religious engagement across countries and sectors where the Agency operates. |
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Funding Opportunity: USAID/Senegal is seeking applications for grants to implement the "Malaria Elimination in Senegal, Community Health and Strengthening MNCH” activities. Applications for potential awards of up to $3,000,000 are due by June 28, 2024. The activities aim to advance Senegal toward its goal of malaria elimination by 2030. The activities also seek to strengthen the quality of healthcare services, including family planning, maternal and child health (MCH), and nutrition services, in addition to supporting obstetrical surgical units and neonatal care services. Finally, the activity seeks to increase preventive and care-seeking behaviors for MCH, family planning, nutrition, and zoonotic diseases. For more information, visit the award page at Grants.gov. |
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Funding Opportunity: USAID/Kyrgyz Republic is seeking applications for grants to implement the “New Civil Society in the Krygyz Republic.” Applications for potential awards of up to $10,000,000 are due by July 24, 2024. Through the activity, USAID/Kyrgyz Republic will support Kyrgyz civil society to build stronger relationships with their constituencies, enhance their resilience in the face of democratic backsliding, strengthen trust-based relationships and networks among diverse civic actors, and generate support for promotion of democratic values through value-based messaging. For more information, visit the award page at Grants.gov. |
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ICYMI: At USAID, partnerships are at the center of everything we do – and woven throughout our history of partnerships are examples of religious actors on the front lines of development and humanitarian assistance across the globe. A new video from USAID celebrates the Agency’s first-ever Strategic Religious Engagement Policy and highlights the principles and framework guiding USAID’s approach to faith-based partnerships. |
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Strategic Religious Engagement in Practice:
In Partnership with the Private Sector, Catholic Relief Services Advances Land Restoration and Economic Opportunities in Madagascar
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Heirloom cacao thriving in Sambirano Valley. (Photo Credit: Beyond Good)
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Madagascar, a noted hotspot for biodiversity, has been rapidly losing its forest cover in part due to unsustainable agricultural practices. As arable land decreases, farmers are increasingly cutting down trees in an effort to expand the area where they can plant crops or graze livestock. At the same time, as demand for sustainably produced chocolate and spices grows and creates economic opportunity for local communities, Malagasy farmers are looking for sustainable ways to increase agriculture production.
Through the Thriving and Sustainable Investments for Land Restoration and Economic Opportunity – TSIRO, which also means “flavor” in the local Malagasy language – USAID is co-funding a public-private partnership to address the country’s biodiversity challenges through sustainable agroforestry practices. Launched in July 2021, this five-year activity is implemented by Catholic Relief Services and private sector partners Beyond Good Chocolate, Akesson’s Chocolate, Guittard Chocolate, Heirloom Cacao Preservation Fund, Sahanala, and the Fine Chocolate Industry Association (FCIA).
TSIRO is committed to conserving biodiversity, as well as training and improving the livelihoods of more than 2,000 Malagasy cacao and spice farmers on sustainable cultivation methods that promote biodiversity and help communities withstand extreme weather caused by climate change. To date, TSIRO has supported over 15,000 people to adapt to the effects of climate change and trained over 2,000 farmers on improved agricultural practices, financial literacy, and business best practices. Farmers supported by the TSIRO Alliance have sold over $1,200,000 worth of sustainably produced cacao and other spices over the last three years.
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By teaching farmers sustainable techniques and increasing incomes, the Alliance reduces environmental pressures and deters practices that damage land for future farming. The Alliance is also planting 1.5 million trees to enhance biodiversity and raise international awareness of the environmental and biodiversity benefits of responsible agriculture production and consumption. |
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Beyond Good farmers in Ambanja, Madagascar. Credit: Beyond Good
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The Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships is part of the Local, Faith, and Transformative Partnerships (LFT) Hub, situated within USAID's Bureau for Inclusive Growth, Partnerships, and Innovation (IPI).
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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