An international collaboration on evidence for faith groups’ activities, contribution and challenges to achieving humanitarian and development goals.
Founded in 2012, JLI Leadership came together by a single shared conviction: there is an urgent need to build our collective understanding of the potential of local faith communities.
Our Vision:
Full and appropriate engagement of the capacities of faith-based groups in the achievement of the SDGs through effective partnerships with public sector and secular entities, as well as among religious groups themselves.
Our Goals:
JLI Leadership
The JLI Board of Directors, Executive Committee and Advisory Group guide the project with support from Coordinator, Jean Duff, Research Director, Olivia Wilkinson and Senior Programs and Knowledge Manager, Stacy Nam.
How we work
The JLI serves as an open access knowledge sharing platform for all sectors and organizations of all backgrounds. JLI works through Knowledge Partnerships and Learning Hubs to fully engage the capacities and assets of faith groups to realize a world without poverty.
More than 500 stakeholders globally are members of Learning Hubs coming from policy, practitioner and academic sectors. Our Learning Hub approach was inspired by the experience of the Joint Learning Initiative on Children and HIV/AIDS. Read about their work here,
Learn more about JLI Leadership and key publications here.
Framing Questions:
- What is the evidence for local faith community and actor activity and impact?
- What do policymakers and practitioners want and need to know?
- How can what we know be better communicated for change?
- How can we collaborate to fill critical research gaps?
Major Publications
- Lancet Series on Faith-based Health Care Delivery
- Scoping Studies on HIV and Maternal Health, Resilience in Humanitarian and Disaster Situations, Immunization, Peace and Conflict, Gender-based Violence, Refugees and Forced Migration, Ending Violence Against Children
- Five Evidence Briefs relating to Humanitarian Need
- Review of Faith and International Affairs special issue on Religion and Development
Major Dissemination Events
- Religion and Sustainable Development: Building Partnerships to End Extreme Poverty, July 2015 at World Bank
- Religious Groups’ Contributions to Humanitarian Response, May 2016 at World Humanitarian Summit
- Engaging Religious and FBOs: Localizing Response to Humanitarian Need, October 2017 in Sri Lanka
Our funders and contributors:
JLI Board members and other organizations, and Foundation Grants fund the JLI. Since its inception, JLI’s activities have been supported by diverse faith-based organizations, UN agencies, Governments, and Foundations. These include ACT Alliance, ADRA, American Jewish World Services, Anglican Alliance, CAFOD, Christian Aid, DanChurch Aid, UK DFID, Episcopal Relief & Development, Federal Public Service of Belgium, German BMZ/Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit-
GIZ, GHR Foundation, IMA World Health, Islamic Relief Worldwide and Islamic Relief USA, Henry Luce Foundation, The MacLellan Foundation, Religions for Peace, Tearfund, UNFPA, UNICEF, USAID, the World Bank, and World Vision International and World Vision US. McKinsey & Company and other partners contribute pro bono expert advice and support.
