Aims
This scoping study provides an overview of the available literature on cultural and faith-based factors in the provision of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) in Syria and Syrian refugee communities. It is based on a collaborative review of existing academic, policy and practice-focused publications. The study is primarily meant to provide MHPSS professionals and researchers with an insight of existing evidence for the cultural adaptation of MHPSS programmes for Syrians, by identifying key themes, defining gaps and providing recommendations for future work. It therefore is in line with previous calls for the consideration of local cultures when designing, implementing and evaluating MHPSS programmes (IASC, 2007).
Methodology
The scoping study was produced as part of a collaborative process involving the SBF and JLI teams. The process was initiated by the SBF team who contacted JLI about setting up a Syrian research group focusing on MHPSS, with a focus on the adaptability of global MHPSS frameworks to the context in Syria and Syrian refugee communities in the region, in December 2021. A new shared learning hub, jointly led by SBF and JLI was set up in March 2022, in line with JLI’s Fair and Equitable Approach, which is aimed at centering the voices and experiences of local faith actors in development, humanitarian action and peacebuilding and strengthening local capacities and leadership in knowledge production on religions and development, and SBF’s long-standing experience in the area of MHPSS in Syrian communities. Following a research capacity-sharing approach, the SBF team was then trained in research methods to help strengthen their literature review and writing skills, after which the literature review and scoping study were produced in a collaborative process involving the SBF and JLI teams.
Findings and recommendations
As part of the work on this scoping study, the team reviewed over 530 publications and focused its in-depth analysis on just short of 50 articles on the topic of MHPSS in the Syrian context, with a lens towards locating the place of religion and culture therein. From the research, the team pulled out several themes broadly divided into five categories: Syrian cultural views about themselves and the world (p. 9), Syrian explanatory models of mental illness and psychosocial problems (p. 10), responses to MHPSS issues in Syrian communities (p. 12), mental health and psychosocial wellbeing assessment and assessment tools in Syrian communities (p. 17), and recommendations in the literature (p. 19).
Recommendations for future practice-focused research and dissemination, based on the research, include the following:
Support paradigm-building
- Develop a new paradigm that allows for the consideration of culture and faith in MHPSS aimed at Syrians
- Challenge functional and depoliticised approaches to the study of MHPSS, culture and faith in the Syrian context
- Encourage self-criticism approach to the culture by Syrian practitioners and researchers that allows for the definition of harmful cultural practices and the development of more suitable approaches
Invest in Syrian-led research and knowledge production
- Train Syrian practitioners and researchers in how to conduct quality research
- Support Syrian-led research agendas and priorities
- Work with/as Syrian MHPSS practitioners to develop critical stances that allow Syrians to go beyond simple data collection and analysis, encouraging them instead to engage in research design, the development of research agendas and theory-building
- Explore the wider literature that includes the work of scientists working on Islamic psychology, Muslim cultures and Arab histories in the context of (mental) health, spanning over 1000 years
Focus on dissemination between research and practice
- Support the dissemination of research findings by building culturally adapted MHPSS curricula
- Establish a mechanism to allow for evidence on MHPSS and culture in the Syrian context to be collated and disseminated
- Develop suitable forms of dissemination aimed at the wider population
This scoping study explores the programmes and initiatives of local faith actors (which can include formal and informal religious leaders, worship communities, faith networks, and local and national faith-based organisations) in their response to modern slavery and human trafficking in the Global South. It brings together evidence from a review of over 200 pieces of grey and academic literature and 14 interviews with practitioners. It is the most wide-ranging presentation, to date, of on-the-ground work of local faith actors (LFAs) responding to modern slavery and human trafficking in the Global South.
This report highlights many initiatives of LFAs, including those related to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking (often through education and awareness), as well as the wide array of services they provide related to protecting and caring for survivors. The report also explores the ways in which LFAs support prosecution processes, and how some engage in policy-related work with governmental agencies and policy stakeholders.
Click here to read the full report.
See here for more on the Anti-Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery Learning Hub
This literature review is one part of three of the JLI Ending Violence Against Children (EVAC) Hub scoping study. It presents an overview of published and grey literature in regard to the unique contributions of faith actors to eliminating violence against children as well as how faith actors have been involved in perpetuation thereof.
This scoping study offers an initial contribution to exploring existing evidence in two specific areas:
- Firstly, the unique contributions of faith communities both in relation to ending, as well as contributing to, violence against children, to understand their involvement in this sphere.
- Secondly, the role of faith actors in influencing wider child protection systems to prevent and respond to EVAC to understand the potential for their engagement
Suggested citation: Rutledge, K. and Eyber, C. (2019) ‘Scoping Study on Faith actors’ involvement in the prevention, elimination and perpetuation of violence against children.’ Washington DC: Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities Ending Violence Against Children Hub.
View the other JLI EVAC Scoping Reports
This report presents findings from the consultation component – one part of three of the JLI Ending Violence Against Children (EVAC) Hub scoping study. The study examines existing evidence, analyses trends, identifies key gaps and highlights examples of faith actors working to end violence against children. This data is crucial to help policymakers, religious leaders and practitioners inform policies and advocate for programmes and prevention efforts with faith communities to end violence against children. It will help set a future research agenda for the EVAC Hub and support evidence-based work with faith communities to end violence against children.
This scoping study offers an initial contribution to exploring existing evidence in two specific areas:
- Firstly, the unique contributions of faith communities both in relation to ending, as well as contributing to, violence against children, to understand their involvement in this sphere.
- Secondly, the role of faith actors in influencing wider child protection systems to prevent and respond to EVAC to understand the potential for their engagement
Three cross-cutting issues were identified by Hub leaders and were built into the study: child participation, gender and interfaith engagement. This report is based on evidence that all religions contain protective aspects, which offer important contributions to the EVAC task. Religious actors such as leaders, scholars, educators and faith-based organisations can play critical roles in behaviour change, service delivery, referrals and advocacy, by offering a unique entry point.
Suggested Citation: Palm, S. (2019) ‘Scoping Study on Faith actors’ involvement in the prevention, elimination and perpetuation of violence against children.’ Expert Consultation Report. Washington DC: Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities Ending Violence Against Children Hub.
View the other JLI EVAC Scoping Reports
This report presents findings from the case study submission process – one part of three of the JLI Ending Violence Against Children (EVAC) Hub scoping study. They offer evidence to support the claim that religions offer an important contribution to EVAC. The six case studies are from diverse regions and faiths includes a short concluding summary.
Case study 1 – Peace, Love, and Tolerance: Basic Messages from Islam and Christianity to Protect Children from Violence and Harmful Practices, Egypt
Case Study 2 – Learning to Live Together, El Salvador
Case Study 3 – Empowering Children as Peacebuilders, Central African Republic
Case Study 4 – Integrated Approach to Gender-Based Violence and Child Protection, Mali, Niger and Pakistan
Case Study 5 – The Butterfly Project: Listening to victims, Cambodia
Case Study 6 – Claves Christian Organisation, Uruguay
Suggested citation: Palm, S. and Colombo, F. (eds.) (2019). ‘Scoping Study on Faith actors’ involvement in the prevention, elimination and perpetuation of violence against children. Case Studies.’ Washington DC: Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities: JLI Ending Violence Against Children Hub
View the other JLI EVAC Scoping Reports
“Faith-based Interventions in Peace, Conflict and Violence: A Scoping Study” was launched at the World Humanitarian Summit on May 23, 2016 at the JLIF&LC & Soka Gakkai International Side Event “Evidence on Religious Groups’ Contributions to Humanitarian Response”. For more information about the launch, please visit: www.jliflc.com/whs
An Evidence Brief for the WHS, based on the Scoping Study and linked to WHS Core Commitment 1 “Global leadership to prevent and end conflict”, is available here.
“Faith-based Interventions in Peace, Conflict and Violence: A Scoping Study” was authored by Chris Shannahan and Laura Payne of Coventry University, in close collaboration with the JLI Peace & Conflict Hub Members and Co-Chairs: Sarah Pickwick (World Vision), Alpaslan Ozerdem (Coventry University) and Lucy Salek (Islamic Relief).
For other resources on faith, peace and conflict see here
This scoping study was completed by Elisabet Le Roux, Stellenbosch University, on behalf of the Joint Learning Initiative on Faith & Local Communities Gender-based Violence Hub. DFID provided funding for the report.
The associated Policy Brief is located here
Immunization has often been viewed as the leading light of public health intervention, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) notes that the two public health interventions that have had the greatest impact on the world’s child health are clean water and vaccines. If immunization is one of the leading stars of public health, then religion is the one of the frustrating complexities. However, the literature and evidence on religion and immunization is highly limited, with little coherence and major evidence gaps.
We report on a broad scoping review here which set out to map and understand the available literature on ‘religion and immunization’ – in search of relevant information on how immunization impacts with religion (or ‘faith’), religious institutions and communities. The basic intention is to make note of where evidence and information can be found, and what key areas for further research, engagement and partnership can be drawn from the existing literature.
This review forms part of the Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities (JLI) which aims to develop and communicate robust, practical evidence on the under‐documented role of local faith communities (LFCs) for community systems strengthening. JLI brings together practitioners, academics, faith leaders, local community members and other stakeholders in a joint‐learning approach organized around ‘learning hubs’, each of which has a particular exploratory focus.
This review draws together diverse materials (after assessment for quality and relevance) – and has a particular focus on LMIC settings, although given the paucity of materials, and the way issues relating to immunization cross over migrant communities, this is not a clear division (that is, information from higher income settings is included where considered highly relevant).
See here for annotated bibliography
Read about the JLI Immunization Hub
With this scoping study, JLI is seeking to understand the role of LFCs in strengthening resilience, and to address three challenges to full engagement with LFCs: a lack of evidence regarding the impact of LFCs on individual and community resilience; a lack of trust, knowledge and capacity for such engagement; and the need for clear, implementable actions to improve partnership and the effectiveness of humanitarian response.
This scoping document investigates the evidence for LFC contribution to resilience under the
guidance of the JLI Resilience Learning Hub, membership of which is made up of 20
practitioners, academics and policymakers expert in humanitarian services and faith
communities.
