UPF's Tageldin Hamad and Genie Kagawa at the World Bank Global Roundtable

Washington, DC — Representing UPF, Dr. Tageldin Hamad and Genie Kagawa attended the World Bank Global Initiative Roundtable held on April 10, 2019, during the World Bank’s Spring Meetings. The Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund bring together central bankers, ministers of finance and development, global influencers, private sector executives, civil society leaders, and academics to discuss issues of global concern. In particular, the World Bank is committed to strengthening its engagement and collaboration with faith actors to advance shared development priorities.

Working as part of the United Nations System. the World Bank has been collaborating with faith-based actors over the years since 2015 to join forces in the fight against extreme poverty. This roundtable brought together 60 high-level faith-based actors and representatives from 33 nations to discuss “The Role of Faith in the Human Capital Project.” The World Bank hopes that this dialogue would be a catalyst to foster concrete and effective knowledge sharing and operational collaboration between the World Bank and faith-based organizations as stakeholders working together to achieve sustainable economic progress and end extreme poverty.

The objectives of the event were to convene faith-based actors and other key stakeholders to strengthen partnerships and support for the Human Capital Project of the World Bank. Faith-based actors have become valuable partners as they are trusted by their communities, have a wide reach to marginalized populations and provide a comprehensive approach to development and investment in people.

Panelists discussed recommendations for future engagements with the faith community. There was interest in building the capacity of faith-based organizations to hold governments accountable, to increasing operational collaboration to avoid duplication of efforts and to build a body of evidence to support the effectiveness of the work of faith-based organizations as important focus areas. There was a call for all stakeholders to move these conversations into action, with an emphasis on utilizing evidence and building strong partnerships.

Participating Organizations Act Alliance Baha’I International Community Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs at Georgetown University Bread for Life International Catholic Medical Mission Board Catholic Relief Services Christian Aid The Church of Jesus Christ of LAtter-Day Saints Embassy of Hungary Embassy of Poland Hungarian Delegation: Humanitarian Aid Agency “Hungary Helps” Hungarian Ministry of Finance Episcopal Relief and Development Finn Church Aid Americas Global Water 2020 InspirAction USA International Center for Religion and Diplomacy Islamic Relief USA Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities Living Water International New Humanity of the Focolare Movement NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values, and Global Concerns at the UN Strength in Diversity Development Centre, Nigeria TearFund The Culture Works The Episcopal Church United Methodist General Board of Church and Society Universal Peace Federation USAID World Bank World Council of Churches World Vision Zakat Foundation of America