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Potential for Building an African FBO Forum

22nd

November, Nairobi, Kenya

FBO Forum on Multi-religious Cooperation for Humanitarian Relief, Development and Peace

The fourth FBO Forum is convened in Nairobi, Kenya. African FBOs Participants to previous Forums have

informally indicated the need to address unique challenges related to Africa through a similar Forum,

but one that is African based.

There are many FBOs and initiatives across Africa engaged in humanitarian, development and peace

building work. Joint humanitarian actions by Islamic and Christian FBOs in Somalia and other places, for

example, have been noted. Such actions are normally designed to respond to specific situations, mostly

of humanitarian disaster, and to mobilize relief aid.

There have also been joint missions by faith leaders mainly from Muslim and Christian faiths to fragile,

war-torn countries, including in the war zones for example in DR Congo, Somalia, Guinea Conakry, Ivory

Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Eritrea and others. Most times these are prompted by

emergencies, and the need for rapid mobilization to reduce tension.

When such joint actions are undertaken, faith leaders and FBOs usually meet in the theater, without

having known each other before. Leading up to these missions and work, little or no confidence is built

before hand to have a sufficiently cohesive team to mount joint actions and missions. Added value to

these work, where relevant and necessary can benefit from a more inclusive process where other faiths

are also included.

The African Union and the Religious Leaders convened a landmark event in Abuja Nigeria in June 2010 to

find ways to mobilize religious leaders and communities in Africa to work closely, and cooperate withthe African Union in various areas. (See the Declaration). A Permanent Steering Committee was formed

to ensure that proposals put in place during the First African Union Interfaith Dialogue Forum are carried

out, and to ensure sustainability of these engagements. The PSC will be composed of mainly

constituency-based organizations. While this body will explore and act on areas where Tracks I, II and III

actions and engagements add value to each; expanding these spaces, where ideas, challenges, success

stories and others are shared formally and informally is an important step in helping faith communities

and FBOs to build confidence to work across these tracks, and with each other.

An African FBO forum will provide space where an extended and inclusive platform that brings also FBOs

key resource organizations that will complement what FBOs are already doing; add value wherepossible to emerging joint and/or separate Tracks I, II and III processes.

An African FBO Forum would potentially address the following;

y A regional platform will add more value to on-going work through existing platforms in Africa

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y Need for an African FBO Forum informed by realities in Africa driven by need to have FBOsfrom or working in Africa to have a loose and flexible Forum where challenges can be discussed

and experiences shared challenges and experiences related to Africa

y An informal space where FBOs can build trust and confidencey An informal, loose and flexible Forum in Africa can be space where learning, sharing best

practices of the work of FBOs, multi-religious engagements, and other actions related to

response to disasters, delivery of humanitarian assistance, peace building and development is

done

y An informal and flexible Forum where joint/common actions, strategies, advocacy and ideas canbe raised, addressed and shared