During my tenure at FOCUS Kenya, I often had to draft and design concepts and communication materials that avoided faith-related vocabulary to attract corporate entities that might hesitate to support anything religious. It was challenging to remove the faith element from a Faith-Based Organization (FBO), but I did my best.
Once, while visiting one of the big banks with a colleague from the resource mobilization department, we were delighted to meet their faith department team – a department I hadn’t anticipated. In August, I was intrigued to see an advertisement from Equity Bank for the position of Head of Faith-Based Sector – Kenya (Readvert). After several similar occurrences, I began to realize that many organizations were starting to open up to partnerships with FBOs.
FBOs play a critical role in society, contributing positively to social, economic, political, and environmental dimensions (Marshall et al., 2021). Public trust in FBOs and their extensive social networks creates a conducive environment for achieving organizational goals. Recognizing this, even secular institutions like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have developed innovative strategies to engage and partner with FBOs to advance Agenda 2030 (UNDP, 2014). I sympathize with donors who hesitate to associate with FBOs, despite their immense potential for societal development.
In my current role at World Concern, I frequently visit field sites to document project implementation. These visits reveal communities’ deep appreciation for organizations genuinely committed to their welfare, regardless of sector. World Concern, inspired by faith, upholds integrity and accountability – values that enable us to achieve significant outcomes with limited resources. This commitment fosters trust and paves the way for transformative development in the communities we serve.
However, FBOs face ongoing challenges, especially in sustainability. Inadequate funding threatens their impact as they grow into larger organizations (Skelcher & Smith, 2017). To remain relevant, FBOs must capitalize on the growing interest from secular sectors, positioning themselves as alternative development vehicles. Effective stakeholder engagement is crucial – it enables organizations to affirm their value to stakeholders, guide their expectations, and secure essential resources (Gagné et al., 2021).
One persistent challenge for FBOs is the lack of structured systems to measure the effectiveness of stakeholder engagement. There’s a growing need to focus on stakeholders directly supporting operations while also identifying and cultivating new partnerships. By doing so, FBOs can maintain their relevance and enhance their sustainability.
It’s encouraging to witness the growing recognition of the role FBOs play in fostering societal transformation. With intentional engagement and collaboration, FBOs and their partners can achieve even greater impact.
References
- Gagné, M., Sharma, P., & De Massis, A. (2021). Strategic Stakeholder Engagement: Fostering Organizational Effectiveness. Journal of Organizational Development Studies.
- Marshall, K., Olivier, J., & Gironés, M. (2021). Faith and Development: Rethinking Development Partnerships. Palgrave Macmillan.
- Skelcher, C., & Smith, S. R. (2017). The Third Sector and Public Services: Accountability and Performance in a Multi-Stakeholder World. Policy Press.
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). (2014). Engaging with Faith-Based Organizations as Partners in Development. UNDP Policy Brief.
If this can be practiced we would have more impact at community levels. Working with FBOS means appreciating their mandate and not seeking to change it for numbers. As well as enhancing many structures for FBOs that would benefit from corporate offices in NGOs like finance, human resource and resource mobilisation. This is a good article Peter that should be embraced for such partnerships. Merry Christmas
Thank you Carol. That quest for numbers is what at times leads to vision imparement. I see you are advocating for a sympiotic partnership that leads to the development of the partners involved. Merry Christmas too.
Good work!
Partnership in FBOs perspective is beyond financial muscles. It’s the bigger picture for community wellness in ‘faith currency _ alternative strengths.
Thank you Jacinta for the perspective you have added. I agree with you that partnership goes beyond financial focus.