CIFA was represented in a US Delegation of twenty faith leaders and faith-based organizations at a consultation in Jakarta, Indonesia on "Indonesia-US Interfaith Cooperation, Building Collaborative Communities: Enhancing Cooperation among People of Different Faiths".
Following on the call for closer collaboration among Muslims and Christians made by President Obama in his Cairo speech, the event was sponsored by the US Department of State and facilitated by Religions for Peace. US and Indonesian participants from Muslim and Christian and other major faith communities, as well as representatives from several key South East Asia countries (see list of participants below) explored common concerns, with a view to framing common interfaith action.The work of the consultation is summarized in a declaration, the text of which is available in full below.
Click here to read a summary of the event Click here to read the declaration Click here view a list of event participants Click here to view coverage of the event
On November 10, 2009, CIFA co-hosted the Consultation on NGO Mapping Standards: Describing Religious Health Assets with the World Health Organization in Geneva. The conference addressed the mapping of religious health care facilities on country-wide maps, and more broadly, how FBOs can advocate for themselves to national governments, donors and multilateral organizations.
Consultation participants discussed WHO surveys and how they could be reworked to accommodate religious health facilities. Community health facilities were also discussed in a working group initiated by several conference participants. If a health facility has not been mapped, there is little awareness of its physical existence or the services it offers. WHO Representative Ted Karpf emphasized the importance of facility mapping for funding and accessibility purposes, stating that "if you're not on the map, you don't exist." This shaped the conversation as participants were able to share best practice methods and issues regarding facility mapping.
Click here to view the report Click here to view an example of a survey instrument
JANUARY 28, 2010: CIFA Board Member and former Washington lobbyist for the National Association of Evangelicals announced the launch of his new endeavor, "The New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good." Focusing on issues ranging from "Creation Care" to Muslim-Christian dialogue and Nuclear Disarmament, the NEP is now actively lobbying for Haiti's internal debt to be forgiven.
Click here to view the New Evangelical Partnership's website
JANUARY 12, 2010: The southern region of Haiti was struck by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, destroying buildings and triggering tsunami alerts for Haiti and the surrounding islands in the Caribbean.
In the wake of destruction, the dedication and agility of faith-based organizations can truly be seen.
Click below to see how many partners in faith have given their time and resources to help all of those in need.
Click here to see coverage of faith-based organizations helping in Haiti
JANUARY 13, 2010: Over forty senior faith leaders from communities and organizations throughout metropolitan Washington, D.C. gathered at Washington National Cathedral to explore avenues of collaboration between local faith communities against global poverty. Although the meeting had been scheduled for weeks, the magnitude 7.0 earthquake in Haiti, which happened less than 24 hours earlier, quickly took center stage. The faith leaders expressed their common commitment to and expression of solidarity with the victims of the January 12 earthquake. The group will continue to work together to craft an interfaith response to the earthquake and build an interfaith network in Washington DC to combat global poverty.
Click here to read the press release