Emerging lessons from CREID
This CREID Learning Briefing is intended as a point of reflection and discussion for bilateral and multilateral donors who have an interest in the promotion of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB), or at the very least the inclusion of FoRB in a broader agenda of rights and wellbeing.
It draws on emerging lessons in promoting FoRB in highly fragile contexts from the IDS-led Coalition for Religious Equality and Inclusive Development (CREID), a programme established to “provide research evidence and deliver practical projects which aim to redress the impact of discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, tackle poverty and exclusion, and promote people’s wellbeing and empowerment”.
The Learning Briefing shares insights which we hope will help international institutions and agencies who are grappling with the following challenges:
- Navigating the sensitivities surrounding the promotion of FoRB on the ground
- Promoting FoRB in a consistent manner in unpredictable contexts
- Responding to and engaging with faith and non-faith partners with contending legitimacies.
The briefing shares three key learning points emerging from the CREID programme so far, which amount to a broader strategy. They are not intended to be prescriptive, since there will always be exceptions, but are useful as a point of a point of reflection and discussion. And, in some conflict-affected situations, where there is no security on the ground, little can be done until the situation stabilises.
