First published by The Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers

From June 24th to 26th, 2024, the Peacemakers Network participated in the Hidden Peacebuilding Network meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This gathering brought together academics, faith actors, practitioners, and policymakers working at the intersection of faith, development and peacebuilding. Participants included Network members Islamic Relief Worldwide, World Vision, and YELI Burundi.
The Hidden Peacebuilders Network was established in 2018 as an international collaboration of academics, faith actors, pracitioners and policy makers to bridge the gap between local and international approaches to peacebuilding as well as between policy, practice and research through the following objectives:

1. Identifying and sharing existing evidence about the role of local faith actors (LFAs) in peacebuilding, including attention to both the ‘tangible’/’visible’ and ‘intangible’/’invisible’ dimensions of their contribution.
2. Carrying out new research to fill evidence gaps.
3. Translating research into policy and practice.

As a member of the Hidden Peacebuilders Network, the meeting was a valuable opportunity for the Peacemakers Network to engage with a diverse group of peacebuilders, share our experiences, and collaborative work towards more effective and inclusive peacebuilding practices that understand the role faith actors can play in building peace and resilience.

Day 1: Presentations and Knowledge Sharing

The first day commenced with a warm welcome and introductions, setting the tone for a series of insightful presentations. Highlights included:

• Knowledge Frontiers: An overview of peacebuilding efforts in Sri Lanka, the Philippins, and Burundi, showcasing the valuable contributions of local faith actors.
• Team Presentations: Members from various organizations shared their research and projects, highlighting the tangible and intangible impacts of their work.
• Brazilian Local Faith Actors: The afternoon sessions were dedicated to Brazilian faith actors presenting their projects, offering a glimpse into local grassroots initiatives.

Day 2: Field Visits to Local Faith Projects

One the second day, participants divided into two groups to visit local faith projects in Rio’s perioheries:

• Group A: Visited Casa Semente, an association led by an Evengelical Christian Pastor, focused on the development of vulnerable children and adolescents.
• Group B: Visited Fe no Futuro, a community center connected to an Afro-Brazilian religion, providing essential support to families through basic necessities distribution, skills training, and more.

These visits inspired afternoon feedback sessions where insights and experiences were shared, fostering plans for future collaborations.

Day 3: Grant Application Workshop

The final day concentrated on developing a grant application for global study on the role of religion in fostering hope, aspiration, and radicalization among youth. Key activities included:

• Reflections and Expectations: Participants shared their reflections and expectations for the project.
• Project Introduction and Literature Reviews: Presentations covered country-specific literature reviews from Burundi, the Philippines, Brazil, Sri Lanka, the UK, and a global perspective.
• Workshop Session: A collaborative workshop on the grant application process, moderated discussions, and planning for next steps.

Throughout the meeting, the Peacemakers Network contributed insights from our work, emphasizing the importance of integrating faith actors into broader peacebuilding strategies to prevent violence and contribute to sustainable peace.

Our research resources, inclyding a research report on conflicts surrounding natural resource management in Mozambique, an associated training guide on prevention of conflicts linked to natural resources, and a Toolkit for Peace Practitioners, were shared with participants. The meeting in Rio served to exchange knowledge and experiences and explored new opportunities for collaboration.

Photo: Participants visiting a project run by a local faith leader on the outskirts of Rio. 2024.