Introduction to the FBO Forum
The FBO Forum is a mechanism for dialogue among faith-based humanitarian, development and peace organizations (FBOs) to strengthen multi-religious approaches to cooperation.

Launched in 2007, it grew from meetings with FBO leaders whose organizations are working closely with religious communities and structures on both local and national levels. These organizations have different entry points for working across religious lines. In some cases, agencies are working with local, inter-religious bodies or have organized inter-religious mechanisms. In other cases, they are searching for relevant and effective local partnerships that can promote multi-religious approaches.

FBO leaders representing Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish Muslim, Quaker, Sikh, and inter-religious organizations met in London in November 2007 to determine whether there was a need for a forum for information sharing. They recognized potential benefits of creating a forum for sharing strategies for multi-religious approaches and building relationship that can be harnessed in times of crisis and agreed to join the FBO Forum.

The FBO Forum will meet on an annual basis; it could meet more frequently, if the group deems it useful. The Forum is open to all faith-based organizations engaged in humanitarian, development and peace work. Religions for Peace was asked to continue to serve as the convener.


Purpose of the FBO Forum
While the overall purpose and goals of the FBO Forum have not been formalized, the constituent members agreed that it should serve as a platform for information sharing and should not seek an operational component. The main activities could potentially include:
1. Build trust and strengthen relationships through communication and information sharing.
2. Create a learning forum to share best practices of multi-religious collaborations to contribute to continuous improvement in the areas of humanitarian aid, community development and peace building.
3. Facilitate joint advocacy at the local, national, regional or global level to change public opinion and influence government policies; on a regional and global basis to influence international and United Nations initiatives; conduct joint research to develop advocacy positions.
4. Promote joint research that advances multi-religious cooperation including the development of principles, codes of conduct and cases studies.

The FBO Forum will meet annually to discuss the potential benefits and challenges of multi-religious collaboration in four areas: emergency relief in natural disasters; long-term development; complex emergencies; and advocacy.

A key recommendation of the London Forum was to use of the case-study method to illustrate the potential benefits and challenges of multi-religious approaches. Moving forward, the FBO Forum will review on-the-ground projects through case studies that are geographically or thematically focused. This will be followed by a dynamic dialogue on the value of and challenges to implementing projects and advocacy campaigns with a multi-religious focus.


2008 Advisory Committee
A small advisory group of FBO representatives will serve on an annual basis to develop the shape and focus of the agenda. Those invited to serve on the 2008 Committee are:

Mr. Antti Pentikäinen, Director, FinnChurch Aid (confirmed)
Ms. Leslie-Anne Knight, Secretary General, CARITAS Internationalis (confirmed)
Mr. Ahmad El Bendary, Acting Executive Director, Islamic Relief USA (confirmed)


2008 Annual Meeting
The next meeting of the FBO Forum will be held over a two-day period in October 2008. Religions for Peace is currently seeking input from the Advisory Committee on the shape and focus of the agenda.

The London Forum participants recommended that the meeting be co-hosted by constituent members on a rotational basis. They also agreed, in principle, to share the costs related to the meeting, including potential support for participants who require subsidies and, when necessary, contribute ‘seed’ money to initiate agreed upon actions. As a co-host, Religions for Peace will manage the invitation process, work with the Advisory Committee to develop the agenda and accompanying materials and prepare the final report. Attendees are asked to cover their own airfare and hotel.

The event will be hosted by Humanity First in Frankfurt, Germany.

Files to Download	File Size
2008 FBO FORUM - List of Invited Organizations.doc	31 KB
Report - FBO Forum on Multi-religious Cooperation - London, Nov 2007.pdf	283.52 KB