A word from JLI President, Jean Duff

JLI is pleased to bring you news of the launch of the Multi-religious Faith in Action COVID-19 Initiative —please see below for the joint launch statement from Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director, and Religions for Peace most senior religious leadership.

The Multi-religious Faith in Action COVID-19 Initiative affirms the unique roles played by religious leaders and actors, in influencing values, attitudes, behaviours and actions that affect the development and wellbeing of the world’s children. The Initiative is coordinated by Religions for Peace (RFP)  and UNICEF with support from Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities (JLI) as part of the global partnership on Faith and Positive Change for Children, Families and Communities. The initiative engages senior leaders of the world’s religious and spiritual traditions - including Bahai, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islamic, Jain, Jewish, Sikh, Zoroastrian and Indigenous spirituality - joined by RfP’s interfaith youth and women’s networks,  along with local and  International Faith-Based organizations, and calls upon all communities across the world, together with governments, UN entities, and broad civil society organizations, to join forces in keeping people safe and well. 

The Initiative will strengthen multi-religious collaboration and community mobilization in countering the COVID-19 pandemic. The Initiative will roll out via a series of regional and country level briefings beginning next week for faith leaders, local faith -based organizations, UNICEF staff and others. Resource materials prepared by JLI and aligned with WHO guidance and designed for religious leaders and faith-based organizations, will provide guidance on key areas of faith influence and activity including: effective communication; countering false information, stigma and discrimination;  religious gatherings and adapting funerals burials and other rituals; promoting spiritual well-being, resilience and community service;  protecting children and vulnerable populations, and addressing the special needs of people in low resource settings. These materials will be adapted to local contexts and languages. The Initiative will be supported by communications and media. There will be opportunities for international and Local FBOs to align with the Initiative.

JLI recognizes the generous collaboration under extreme time pressure of many faith-based and academic partners, including in particular members of the FPCC Advisory Group.

The evidence base and the global guidance documents will continue to evolve to reflect new information, and to link to the many complimentary campaigns and initiatives underway.