A Review of the Literature
This report provides an overview of the key themes and existing knowledge on the topics of the Triple Nexus, localization, and local faith actors. The intersection of these topics is particularly important to contemporary aid work because of global commitments to shift power and financing from external to national and local actors, and to commit to a new way of working that overcomes humanitarian and development silos. This is essential to streamline operations across humanitarian, development, and peace work.
This report situates the role of faith-based actors within these global policy and programmatic discussions. The specific role of faith-based actors has been little discussed within these debates. More specifically, the role of local and national faith-based actors has received almost no attention.
Although the figure can be debated and changes constantly, it is commonly cited that approximately eighty percent of people in the world hold religious beliefs and follow some form of religious practice in their everyday lives. People do not lose their cultural and religious groundings in periods of crisis. Many local and national organizations in countries affected by crises are also affiliated with religious institutions. Religious institutions are one of the structures in society that have existing capital, such as networks, an infrastructure, and trust and authority in communities. Local and national faith-based actors (or local faith actors, LFAs) are, therefore, key players in localizing and harmonizing aid.
This report is based on a review of the literature following systematic searches and an analysis of ninety three resources from academic and gray literature. It is the first report of two, with the second focusing on results from primary research with DanChurchAid (DCA) and LFAs in South Sudan. The report covers four inter-linked sections and offers five main conclusions.
Suggestion citation: F. de Wolf and O. Wilkinson. (2019) The Triple Nexus, Localization, and Local Faith Actors: The intersections between faith, humanitarian response, development, and peace. Washington DC; Copenhagen: Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities; DanChurchAid