Faith Works Africa: Partnerships for Peace and Prosperity High Level Forum of Religious Leaders and Communities

Abuja, Nigeria

17-21 October 2016

A Report

1

Faith Works Africa: Partnerships for Peace and Prosperity High Level Forum of Religious Leaders and Communities

Background

Faith Works Africa: Partnerships for Peace and Prosperity, held in Abuja, Nigeria, from 17-21 October brought together almost 300 African religious leaders, governments and civil society from 40 countries to build peace, accelerate development and advance human dignity across the continent. This event addressed the necessity of inter-religious and non-traditional community partnerships to build communities that are able to work together to adapt to and recover from shocks and stresses, and the critical role that Women of Faith play in creating resiliency. Faith Works Africa was co-organized by U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), GHR Foundation, and Religions for Peace (RfP), including its affiliated African Council of Religious Leaders (ACRL-RfP) and women of faith and youth networks, and was co-hosted by His Eminence Amīr al-Mu'minīn Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar IV, Sultan of Sukoto and His Eminence, John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja. Collaboration among Africa’s faith communities, in partnership with international donors and civil society, has unmatched potential to confront threats to peace, stability and development. Across the continent, inter-religious communities are already addressing pan-African challenges such as good governance, religious extremism that incites violence, instability, and vulnerability to humanitarian disasters and climatic shocks. Growing evidence demonstrates that inter-religious action is an effective means to foster peace, stability and development. Religious leaders, institutions and networks are uniquely equipped to build resilient communities from the ground up. Their capacity to reach people from across all corners of the continent enables them to mobilize their resources and assets to build resiliency that reduces chronic vulnerability and facilitates inclusive growth. Faith Works Africa offers new ways for African religious communities to partner with governments, donors and civil society. Governments working together with faith-based organizations and religious communities increase the impact of the work that they are already doing. It is expected that the actionable recommendations produced at this event will create avenues of cooperation with their governments, donors, and foster partnerships within and among communities to strengthen resilience. During the Faith Works Africa, several related meetings were held, including the Marrakesh Declaration Presentation and Implementation Process sponsored by the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, RfP and the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers; the ACRL-RfP Third General Assembly that included the African women of Faith Network Pre-Assembly and African Interfaith Youth Network Pre-Assembly; RfP Panel Discussion on Violent Religious Extremism and the RfP International Exectuive Committee Meeting. The International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD) also had their annual meeting on the sideline of Faith Works Africa. Forum Format

A combination of plenaries and breakout group sessions, with opportunities for plenty of Q&A, were held to ensure and encourage active participation of all.

2

Thematic Areas

Under the overarching theme of resilience and religion, the Forum focused on the four following areas: Conflict Prevention and Mitigation, including Countering Violent Religious Extremism Good Governance and Combatting Corruption Food Security Extreme Poverty and Health

Launch Ceremony Faith Works Africa was launched on 18 October at a high-level Welcoming Dinner for over 300 people at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja. The key note remarks was given by the Nigerian Vice President, Prof. Oluyemi Oluleke Osinbajo, who represented H.E. Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Vice President Osinbajo remarked that religion should build unity, foster togetherness and work to ensure progress of society. He urged religious leaders to denounce people who preach hatred and divisiveness. He stressed, “It is crucial that we de-legitimatize all apostles of hatred and bad creed’’. The Vice President noted that rather than be a source of strife, religion should be a means of bringing people together and promoting societal development and positive values. Vice President Osinbanjo vowed that the Nigerian government would do everything possible to protect all of its citizens, irrespective of creed, tribe and religion. Also, addressing the gathering were H.E. Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III, CFR, The Sultan of Sokoto, Nigeria; H.E. John Cardinal Onaiyekan, CON, Archbishop of Abuja, Nigeria; Mr. David J. Young, Chargé d' Affaires ad interim, U.S. Embassy, Nigeria; Mr. J. Andreas Hipple, Senior Program Advisor, GHR Foundation; Dr. William F. Vendley, Secretary General, Religions for Peace; Dr. Francis Kuria Kagema, Secretary General, African Council of Religious Leaders-RfP, Kenya and eminent religious leaders of Africa, including women and youth. Discussions Overview

Based on experts’ presentations, discussions were held during a series of break-out sessions on the challenges and promising approaches to the four focus areas as well as to generate ideas for new partnerships and initiatives. In addition, the following issue-based caucuses were held to generate further inputs that are cross-cutting to the four focus areas - Child Protection and Well-being Women’s Empowerment Small Arms and Light Weapons Humanitarian Assistance

Within the larger plenary sessions, deliberations on religion and resilience as well as measuring success, including identifying indicators and ensuring public accountability, helped to guide break-out group discussions on success as it relates to resilience and in identifying actions and measures of their success. The Forum ended with the participants sharing quick reflections and personal commitment to action.

3

Conflict Prevention, Mitigation and Countering Violent Extremism The breakout group identified a number of areas for conflict prevention, which included: reinforcing the family unity; increasing the capacity of religious leaders and strengthening religious institutional structures; promoting engagement between the state and religious institutions; and ending intolerance through enhanced intercultural and interreligious engagements. In addition to items mentioned above, the breakout group noted that in order to successfully counter violent extremism (CVE), there is a need to address the gap between the young and old, educate people on life skills and sensitize people on the consequences of violence, particularly violence caused by extremism. The breakout group identified priority actions to prevent and mitigate conflict and CVE. These include the development of a platform to engage governments on peacebuilding with civil society, religious leaders, women, youth and children. There should also be engagement between the religious leaders and governments on education and awareness raising. To CVE, the group recommended that extremists’ recruiting strategies should be investigated and measures should be put into place that will counter these. Good Governance and Combatting Corruption The breakout group identified two key dimensions to promote good governance and combat corruption: strengthening the legal system and institutional structures and institutionalizing anti-corruption curricula in the education system that includes a curriculum on morals and ethics. The participants created an 11-point action plan, subdivided by the two categories mentioned above: Education Introduce civic and moral education to promote respect of public goods and hard work from

elementary through university level. Implement a faith-based school curriculum with scientific and religious resources, including

social science facts about corruption and ethics-based education. Ensure that anti-corruption topics are an integral part of the curriculum and are on par with

core topics such as math and science. Include religious leaders in the anticorruption curriculum in all schools from age 3-11 and

actively engage them in programming. Implement a Train the Trainer Program that hires experts to work in schools to promote the

curriculum and trains teachers and religious leaders to implement anticorruption education. Institutional Reform Create a government budget tracking mechanism or institution that will hold accountable

government use of funds and regularly make public the findings of this mechanism. Cap budgetary over-expenditures by the executive as part of constitutional changes and

review. Include at least 35% of women in government positions and as religious leaders within the

inter-religious councils.

4

Include at least 15 % of youth in all decision-making bodies of the religious council to ensure that their voices are heard at the decision-making level.

Implement anticorruption awards and highlight models of integrity and anticorruption that can motivate other bodies, inclusive of both religious and political leaders.

Develop an anti-corruption standard within religious institutions that includes an internal “sanitization program” to remove corruption from within the council. Faith-based institutions should shore up their own bodies and impose sanctions on proven cases of corruption within their own churches, mosques, etc. to serve as a model for other entities.

Food Security For working purposes, this breakout group defined food security as having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of nutritious and affordable food. The group identified challenges of ensuring food security; many of which are due to economic priorities, climate change, and a lack of interest in agriculture by the youth. To increase food security, the group recommended that religious leaders advocate to governments to prioritize agricultural and food production. Religious leaders can also influence behavior and actions by changing attitudes about consumerism to decrease the desire for imports and produce nutritious indigenous crops. Religious leaders can also advocate to their populations to prioritize the production of food crops, striking a balance between economic crops and nutritional food crops. Youth were also seen as a key component of improving food security. Education systems need to include an agriculture component, particularly at the primary school level to raise the interest of young people to agriculture in both formal institutions as well as within informal education systems and seminaries. In order to make agriculture more appealing help and attract youth to the profession, it was recommended that technology in agriculture be included. Extreme Poverty and Health Participants in the breakout group stressed the linkages between extreme poverty and health and noted that a holistic approach that deals with both the spiritual and physical health is required to effectively deal with extreme poverty. One of the approach is to bring about a change in mentality; to recognize that extreme poverty is a violation of human rights and it is not a terrestrial condition before heaven. The group identified the need for religious leaders to be more involved in development initiatives, including carrying out needs assessments and feasibility studies. Governments also should provide direct grants to religious communities as religious communities are more familiar with the needs of their followers than development agencies and can ensure that new development initiatives are targeted and directly tackle the needs in the most effective and efficient way. Women’s empowerment and their engagement is also essential to ending extreme poverty. Empowering women economically provides stability for the entire family and can ensure that children receive proper nutrition and education to promote health.

5

Plenary

Resilience and Relig ion The Resilience and Religion plenary session provided both a working definition of resiliency from USAID as well as practical development actions and theological teachings for religious groups to improve resiliency. USAID defines resilience as “the ability of people, households, communities, countries, and systems to mitigate, adapt to, and recover from shocks and stresses in a manner that reduces chronic vulnerability and facilitates inclusive growth”. The plenary session included several examples of how to improve resiliency through the experiences of Interreligious Council of Kenya (IRCK). IRCK has improved resiliency in Kenya, by organizing its communities for social transformation. This includes improving relationships between religious leaders and security forces as well as having a voice in advocating for good governance. Examples were provided of women-led projects on countering violent religious extremism that focused on cooperation with schools and security forces; empowerment of women to own property and have economic resources with a special focus on using legal instruments to build resilience; using local and religious knowledge to train women to farm “God’s way” to ensure food security in the face of climate change; and promoting women’s health, specifically through family planning and child spacing to ensure that women have the opportunity to recover between children so that they can work for their family. It is the responsibility of religious leaders to use their theological teachings to bolster resiliency by imparting the values of harmonious society and collaboration so that diverse communities can work together on common issues. A harmonious society that works together is more resilient to internal and external threats. Religions leaders should impart these values to protect the human dignity which also include the ideals of health, women’s empowerment and education. The engagement of religious leaders is crucial to ensuring that government structures and services are in place and that religious leaders are at the peacebuilding table as well as engaged in building local economic recovery. There are five critical elements necessary for resilience: inclusive politics; rule of law; access to justice; rebuilding livelihoods; and service delivery (health, education, etc.). Religious leaders are essential to ensuring that there is transparency, accountability and empowerment of the people in each of those elements. To do this, religious leaders must be part of the policy process and have the skills and tools needed so that they can effectively advocate for the people, ensure accountability and empowerment of their constituencies. Measuring Success This session aimed to identify how to measure the successes of engagements, whether they be small-scaled community initiatives or large, multi-donor projects. The purpose of this session was to provide the break-out groups with the background on how to develop actions that can be evaluated to measure success as well as include best practices and lessons learned in measuring successes. In order to properly measure success, several actions need to be done prior to implementation, including: identification of beneficiaries; definition of the issue; framework for beneficiary satisfaction; development of milestones; and a baseline of the current situation. The implementer must collect and properly manage data obtained during the initiative so that it may be shown as concrete evidence of the initiative’s outputs and outcomes. Questions to evaluate the success of an action include: questions

6

about the level collaboration; empowerment of the voiceless and beneficiaries to speak for themselves and take future actions; and assessment of policies resulting from advocacy work. Side Events

RfP Panel on Countering Violent Relig ious Extremism Violent Religious Extremism (VRE) is a rejection of pluralism, it demonizes the “other” and rejects the right to freedom of religion and multi-religious communities to exist together, side by side. In analyzing VRE, it is necessary to look at how state and non-state actors have played a role in perpetrating acts against the “other” and creating conditions ripe for extremists. Instead of simply denouncing extremists’ rhetoric as “crazy”, it is necessary to understand how it was shaped; to recognize the political reality that created this situation and the issues that are being used for recruitment. It is important to learn from other situations from around the world, to look at the full spectrum of factors involved in creating and successfully countering VRE. It is critical to examine how extremism can be countered at the family level; engaging the family as the social safety net to look for warning signs. The family unit must be strong and capable of supporting those that are vulnerable to extremism; helping them to find a sense of purpose within their family and community, instead of seeking it within an extremist group. The weakening of the family has increased the reliance on the school system to monitor children and teach them the values and ethics that they are supposed to learn at home. This reliance on the schools system instead of the family unit has left youth vulnerable to extremism. In addition, it is necessary to explore the exposure to violence and the new normalcy of violence as an attractive course of action presented in our cultural products (entertainment - television, movies, and video games). This level of violence has desensitized youth to the value of human life, and particularly the pain and suffering of those that are different than “us”. The level of violence shown in these cultural products demonstrate to youth that it is acceptable to do physical harm to those who do not think, look or act like “us”. Religious leaders must carry the messages of pluralism to their followers. Africa is a youthful continent and the youth use social media, yet the majority of religious leaders do not. Religious leaders must learn how to communicate with their followers to promote the true teachings of their religion and the values that promote pluralism through social media to counter the daily barrage of messages, images and videos produced by extremist recruiters online. In order to be successful in countering violent religious extremism, the family unit must be strengthened and religious leaders must connect with youth in the medium that they use. PaRD Meeting At PaRD’s first annual meeting, government and intergovernmental entities came together with faith-based civil society organizations to take the next steps in solidifying the International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD). PaRD members gathered to identify common areas of interest and engagement. By consensus, the attending members officially approved 14 new partners to join PaRD. Members and partners of PaRD share a proven commitment to human rights standards, a dedication to equality for all. They share their institutional and experiential knowledge with PaRD and jointly work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda. In Abuja, members and partners agreed to work closely together in areas of common interest such as Peace, Security and Religion, Gender Equality and Empowerment, and Health and Sexual and

7

Reproductive Rights, as well as the cross-cutting issue of supporting universal human rights and human dignity. These collaborative opportunities will be pursued through capacity building, policy advice and advocacy, as well as enhanced knowledge management. It was established that within PaRD, specific working groups between members and partners will be formed to jointly work on these issues. These cooperative efforts will provide an opportunity to exemplify PaRD ideals in practice, where mutual support of members and partners is driven by a pragmatic vision of cooperation generating the greatest impact. For more information please see their website. ACRL-RfP General Assembly The purpose of the ACRL Assembly was to review actions taken on issues brought up at the previous Assembly, elect ACRL officials, review the financial report and approve the financial process, and identify priority areas of focus. The ACRL Assembly re-elected H.E. Cardinal John Onayeikan, Archbishop of Abuja and H.E. Sheikh Shaban Mubaje, Grand Mufti of Uganda as Co-Chairs. Rev. Can. Grace Kaiso, Secretary General, Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA) was elected as the Treasurer. The Executive Committee that was elected conists of the two Co-Chair, the Treasurer and the following members – Ms. Seydoon Nisa Sayed, South African Women of Faith Network; Ms. Ms. Agathe Mossane Sagne, African Interfaith Youth Network; Mr. Nitin Malde, Inter-religious Council of Kenya; Dr. Francis Kuria, Secretary General, ACRL-RfP and Dr. William Vendley, Secretary General, RfP. At the conclusion of the Assembly, participants agreed on the following 16 Resolutions:

1. Engage in public policy on climate change at the national and international levels for the benefit of small scale farmers who produce food for much of Africa

2. Monitor the implementation by national government on the resolutions of the African Union on agriculture and food security

3. Respond to the gender and generational inequalities that are inhibiting productivity in agriculture

4. Deal with structural issues which underlie poverty situation

5. Engage in government policies for building public institutions that are responsive to the needs and aspirations of the poor for shared prosperity

6. Respond to theological issues that undermine the capacity and ability of faith communities to respond effectively to poverty

7. Use faith structures and networks to build resilience and thriving communities

8. Strengthen the health programs of National Interreligious Councils (NIRCs) and member organizations

9. Advocate and work for formulation and implementation of policies that will lead to quality jobs for young people

10. Engage governments to implement policies and put protocols in place that are made to improve investment in health sector and access to quality health care for all

11. Tackle the root causes of conflict and violence

12. Formulate policy for transparent and accountable exploitation and utilization of natural resources for the common good

8

13. Strengthen interfaith structures and processes in building cohesive and resilient communities that are able to prevent and transform conflicts

14. Promote multi-stakeholder national dialogue processes that will help to deal with the winner/loser realities that is impacting the emerging democracies in Africa.

15. Strengthen inter-faith and interreligious and intercultural dialogues at all levels

16. Participate in strengthening early warning signals at the local, national and regional levels

African Women of Faith Network Resolutions

The African Women of Faith Network (AWFN) is a network of Religions for Peace Africa (ACRL-RfP) established to create linkages with women of faith in Africa to ensure that they are actively engaged in transforming conflict and building peace, and are positioned to access resources required for advancing sustainable development. Guided by the philosophy of equality and dignity of each person ingrained in spirituality and African values, during this Assembly the AWFN recommitted to:

1. Elimination of extreme poverty

2. Eradication of violence against vulnerable men, women, girls, boys

3. Transforming conflict and preaching for peace

4. Working with faith communities to deal with current health challenges such as HIV/AIDS, Ebola, Malaria, etc.

5. Advocating for protection of the earth and addressing climate change African Interfaith Youth Network Priority Actions

The African Youth Interfaith Network (AIYN) is a network of ACRL-RfP that was established to create linkages amongst youth of faith and empower them to take action on critical issues across the continent. The AIYN convened separately during the assembly to identify its own critical actions and concerns to undertake. These actions include:

1. Countering Violent Extremism

2. Promoting peace and small arms disarmament

3. Increasing youth participation in the interreligious council and in public life

4. Building youth capacity to champion youth involvement and engagement in peace advocacy

5. Engaging on climate change and environmental issues

6. Building religious tolerance and mutual respect

7. Promoting good governance and social cohesion

8. Combatting alcoholism and drug abuse

9. Providing mentorship to youth and promoting family values The AIYN included these issues in their Youth Statement which was provided to the General Assembly to assist in ACRL-RfP Strategic Planning.

9

Marrakesh Declaration Presentation and Implementation Process Advancing religious freedom has been highlighted as a key task for peaceful societies. In January 2016, the Marrakesh Declaration (MD) was issued to provide support and spark renewed conversation and action on the protection of religious minorities. To discuss the implementation of the MD, the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers organized a roundtable discussion in conjunction with the Abuja Forum. The roundtable attracted 80 prominent religious actors from across Africa to deliberate on strategy to implement Marrakesh in their own context. The two sessions discussed the purpose and contents of the declaration, with an eye towards how it can be used as a tool in their communities. Based on these survey results and the conversations had over the course of two plus days with approximately 80 individuals the following three actions are recommended:

1. Translation of the MD into local languages

2. Outreach of the MD through engagement of local grassroots community as well as faith-based organizations, using locally accepted methodologies and approaches. In this process, build community ownership for sustained impact.

3. Advocacy of stakeholder organizations and institutions at national, regional, and global level for inclusion of the MD in their peacebuilding programs, policies, and IEC (information, education, and communication) materials.

Individuals and organizations present at the sessions have already begun drafting their own implementation ideas, sharing them with the Network. These ideas include education at the national level, local roundtables, and dissemination of the MD through Imams and mosques. See Annexes for detailed program We express our deep appreciation and gratitude to the Local Host Committee – H.M. Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar III Aduwu Reuben

H.E John Cardinal Onaiyekan Bar. Mrs. J. Maimagani

H.E. Alhaji Ibrahim Jega Dr. Emmanuel Umoh

Sir Peter Aliu Fr John Sixtus Okonkwo

Sir Lucky Omoluwa Yammamman Muh’d

Fr Cornelius Omonokhua Muhammad Kudu Abubakar

Fr Rowland Nwakpuda Hajiya Maryam Dada Ibrahim

Aminu Sadiq A Sr. Evelyn Muonanu, DDL

Sister Agatha O Chikelue Fr. Patrick Alumuku

Muhammad Kabir A. Ustaz Abubakr Saddeeq

Mrs. Ekene V. Ofodile

Also, a special mention of FinnChurch Aid and the Network for Relig ious and Traditional Peacemakers for their support.

17 Oct Monday

18 Oct Tuesday

19 Oct Wednesday

20 Oct Thursday

21 Oct Friday

9:00 9:00-13:30 PaRD Annual Meeting: Morning Session

Ogun/Nassarawa, Floor 2

9:00–12:00ACRL-RfP Assembly

Congress Main Hall

9:00–13:00Faith Works Africa: Partnerships for Peace and Prosperity

Organized by ACRL-RfP, USAID, GHR and RfP

Congress Main Hall

9:00–13:00Faith Works Africa: Partnerships for Peace and Prosperity

Organized by ACRL-RfP, USAID, GHR and RfP

Borno/Rivers, Floor 2

9:00–13:00Marrakesh Declaration Implementation Process

Sponsored by Forum, RfP and the Network

Benue/Plateau, Floor 1

9:30–12:30 PaRD Annual Meeting

Lagos, Floor 1

10:00

11:00

12:00 12:00–14:00PaRD Annual Meeting

13:00 13:00–14:00LunchBukka Restaurant, Lobby

13:00–14:00LunchCongress Mezzenine

13:00–14:00LunchCongress Mezzenine

13:00–13:45LunchOriental Restaurant, Floor 1

13:00–14:00LunchBukka Restaurant, Lobby

13:30–15:00 PaRD Meeting

Ogun/Nassarawa, Floor 2

13:45–15:00ACRL-RfP Assembly14:00 14:00–16:30

RfP Panel on Confronting Violent Religious Extremism

Congress Main Hall

14:00–17:00Faith Works Africa: Partnerships for Peace and Prosperity

Organized by ACRL-RfP, USAID, GHR and RfP

Congress Main Hall

15:00 15:00–17:00PaRD Annual Meeting: Afternoon Session

Ogun/Nassarawa, Floor 2

15:00–17:00 ACRL Women of Faith Network

Ogun, Floor 1

15:00–17:00ACRL Interfaith Youth Network

Nassarawa, Floor 2

15:00–17:30 RfP International EC and Trustee Joint Session

Nassarawa, Floor 2

16:00

17:00 17:00-18:30Faith Works Africa: Issue-based Caucuses

Niger / Enugu / Benue / Plateau / Edo / Delta

18:00 18:00–20:00 Marrakesh Declaration Presentation

Sponsored by Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, RfP and the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers

Nassarawa, Floor 2

19:00 19:00–21:00DinnerLagos/Osun, Floor 1

19:00–21:00Welcoming DinnerCongress Main Hall

19:00–21:00DinnerCongress Main Hall

20:00 20:00–21:00DinnerCongress Main Hall

FAITH WORKS AFRICA: PARTNERSHIPS FOR PEACE AND PROSPERITY AND RELATED MEETINGS

ACRL: African Council of Religious Leaders-RfP | GHR: GHR Foundation | PaRD: International Partnership on Religion and Development | RfP: Religions for Peace | USAID: United States Agency for International Development

Abuja, Nigeria | 17–21 October 2016

Faith Works Africa: Partnerships for Peace and Prosperity

Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria

October 18, 2016

Welcoming Dinner

TUESDAY, October 18, 2016

7:00 pm - 7:04 pm

Master of Ceremony: Sister Agatha Chikelue, Coordinator, Abuja Women of Faith Network and Mr Muhammad Kudu Abubakar, Broadcaster, Nigerian Television Authority

National Anthem

Opening Prayer

o Ustaz Abubakr Siddeeq, Muslim Information Centre and Member of the Local Organizing Committee

7:04 pm - 7:12 pm

Welcoming Remarks

o H.E. Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III, CFR, The Sultan of Sokoto, Nigeria

o H.E. John Cardinal Onaiyekan, CON, Archbishop of Abuja, Nigeria

7:12 pm - 7:24 pm

Remarks

o Mr. David J. Young, Chargé d' Affaires ad interim, U.S. Embassy, Nigeria

o Rev. Dr. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, President, Christian Association of Nigeria

o Ms. Tegulwa Nageeba Hassan, Chairperson, Women of Faith Network, Uganda

7:24 pm - 7:34 pm Coral Interlude

7:34 pm - 7:46 pm

Remarks

o Rev. Canon Grace Kaiso, Secretary General, Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa

o Ms. Merylene Chithara, Representative, Youth Interfaith Network, South Africa

o Mr. J. Andreas Hipple, Senior Program Advisor, GHR Foundation

7:46 pm - 7:51 pm Interfaith Drama

7:51 pm - 7:59 pm

Remarks

o Dr. William F. Vendley, Secretary General, Religions for Peace

o Alhaji Muhammad Musa Bello, Honorable Minister, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja

Key Note Remarks

o H.E. Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, President, Federal Republic of Nigeria

8:14 pm - 8:18 pm

Vote of Thanks

o H.E. Alhaji Ibrahim Jega, Executive Secretary, National Mosque Management Board and Secretary, Local Organizing Committee

o Dr. Francis Kuria Kagema, Secretary General, African Council of Religious Leaders-RfP, Kenya

8:18 pm - 8:20 pm

Closing Prayers

o Archbishop Daniel Okoh, President, Organization of African Instituted Churches

National Anthem

8:20 pm - 9:00 pm DINNER

Faith Works Africa: Partnerships for Peace and Prosperity

Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria

October 19-20, 2016

WEDNESDAY, October 19, 2016

9:00 am - 9:30 am

Master of Ceremony: Ms. Shubey Nantege, Generation Change Fellow, USIP & Social Entrepreneur, Uganda

Setting the Stage: How Religious Actors Build Community Resilience

o Serigne Mansour Sy, Deputy Speaker, Co-President of Religions for Peace and President, Federation des Associations Islamique de Senegal, Senegal

o Bishop Sunday N. Onuoha, Executive Director, Nigerian Inter-Faith Action Association; Bishop, Methodist Church Nigeria

o Mme. Cissé Hadja Mariama Sow, President, Muslim Women of Guinea, Guinea

9:30 am – 11:15 am

Resilience and Religion

Session Chair: Madame Mathilde Ntahoturi, Women of Faith, Anglican Church, Burundi

H.E. Sheikh Shaban Mubaje, Grand Mufti, Uganda Muslim Supreme Council

Dr. Francis Kuria Kagema, Secretary General, African Council of Religious Leaders-RfP, Kenya

Mr. J. Mark Brinkmoeller, Director, Center of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, United States Agency for International Development

Sheikh Mohamed Magid, President, International Interfaith Peace Corps

Mr. Sering Falu Njie, Deputy Director of the UN SDG Action Campaign, UNDP, Gambia

o What is Resilience?

o What Impacts Resiliency

o Role of Religious Leaders (Men, Women & Youth) in Building Resilience

o Resilience and the Four Thematic Areas: Defining the Task Ahead

Questions and Answers

11:15 am – 11:45 am Tea/Coffee

11:45 am – 1:00 pm

Breakout Session - Four Expert Presentations and Discussion on Promising Approaches (Four Groups, One for Each of the Thematic Areas)

Conflict Prevention, Mitigation and Countering Violent Extremism

o Sheikh Wachu Balle Chachole, Secretary General, Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Moderator)

o Dr. Ganoune Diop, Director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty, Seventh-day Adventist Church

o Rev. Usman Jesse Fornah, Secretary General, Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone

o Hajia Myriam Dada Ibrahim, Abuja Women of Faith Network

Good Governance and Combatting Corruption

o Mr. Ulrich Nitschke, Head, Sector Program Values, Religion and Development, GIZ and Head, International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD) Secretariat

o Bishop Michael Vorster, Methodist Church of Southern Africa

o Prof. Ishhaq Oloyede, Secretary General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs

o Mr. Robert Mbilizi Kamulando Phiri, Executive Director, Malawi Public Affairs Committee

o Mrs. Homa Mungapen, Manager, Department of External Affairs and Public Information, Baha’i National Spiritual Assembly, Seychelles

Food Security

o Bishop Telesphore Mpundu, Presiding Bishop of the Catholic Church of Zambia (Moderator)

o Mr. Maudarbux Mohammad Bellal, Council of Religions of Mauritius, Mauritius

o Mr. Andreas Hansen, External Relations Officer, Partnership and Advocacy Coordiantion, UN World Food Programme

o Sheikh Abu Bakarr Conteh, President, Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone

o Ms. Abeba Hagdu, Member, Ethiopian Youth Network

Extreme Poverty and Health

o Ms. Saydoon Nisa Sayed, Coordinator, Women of Faith Network, RfP South Africa (Moderator)

o Archbishop Josiah Atkins Idowu-Fearon, Secretary General of the Anglican Communion

o Mr. Brian Juma Omala, Generation Change Fellow, USIP

o Rev. Thomas Godda Muyya, Secretary General, Inter-Religious Council for Peace Tanzania

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Lunch

2:00 pm - 3:15 pm Breakout Sessions: Small Group Discussions – Generating Ideas for New Partnerships and Initiatives (Four Groups, One for Each of the Thematic Areas Led by the Above Moderators)

3:15 pm - 4:00 pm Reporting Back from the Breakout Sessions

4:00 pm - 4:45 pm

Measuring Success

Session Chair: Imam Oumar Diene, Secretary General of the Cadre des Religieux pour la Santé et le Développement; Secretary General, National Association of Imams and Ulemas in Senegal

Mr. Yusuf Ayami, Executive Director, Zambia Interfaith Networking Group

Sister Agatha Chikelue, DMMM, Secretary of the Interreligious Dialogue Office, Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Nigeria

Mr. Joshua Kitakule, Secretary General, Inter-religious Council of Uganda

Ms. Vane Moraa Aminga, Generation Change Fellow, USIP, Kenya

o Success as it Relates to Resilience

o Identifying Indicators and Measuring Success

o Public Accountability

Questions and Answers

4:45 pm - 5:00 pm Tea/Coffee

5:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Issue-based Caucuses – Participants choose which caucus to attend, and are welcome to gather around other priority issues (Resource Persons)

Child Protection and Well-being (Dr. David Ponet, UNICEF)

Women’s Empowerment (Dr. Azza Karam, UNFPA)

Small Arms and Light Weapons (Ms. Linnet Ngayu, Project Officer, ACRL-RfP)

Humanitarian Assistance (Ms. Jean Duff, Joint Learning Initiative on Faith & Local Communities)

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Dinner

THURSDAY, October 20, 2016

9:00 am – 9:10 am Review of Day One and Setting the Stage for Day Two

9:10 am – 9:45 am

Report Back from the Issue-based Caucuses – What will you do?

Facilitator: Ms. Yvonne Bellys Akoth, Generation Change Fellow, USIP & Founder, Impart Change, Kenya

9:45 am – 10:40 am Breakout Sessions: Small Group Identification of Actions and Measures of their Success (Four Groups, One for Each of the Thematic Areas)

10:40 am -10:50 am Tea Break

10:50 am-11:50 am Breakout Sessions: Consolidation of Actions and Development of an Action Plan (Four Groups, One for Each of the Thematic Areas)

11:50 am –12:30 pm Reporting Back: Action Plans for Conflict Prevention, Mitigation and Countering Extremism; Good Governance; Food Security; and Extreme Poverty and Health Facilitator: Mr. Mark Rabudi, ACRL-RfP

12:30 pm – 1:00 pm

Closing Session: The Way Forward

Leaders share quick reflections and one personal commitment to action

Religious Leader (Woman)

Religious Leader (Youth - Woman)

Religious Leader (Man)

Concluding Remarks

Local Hosts

o H.M. Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III, The Sultan of Sokoto, Nigeria

o H.E. John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja, Nigeria

Co-Organizers

o Dr. Francis Kuria Kagema, Secretary General, African Council of Religious Leaders-RfP, Kenya

o Mr. J. Andreas Hipple, Senior Program Advisor, GHR Foundation

o Mr. J. Mark Brinkmoeller, Director, Center of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, United States Agency for International Development

o Dr. William F. Vendley, Secretary General, Religions for Peace

1:00 pm-1:45 pm Lunch

General Assembly of the African Council of Religious Leaders – Religions for Peace

Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria

October 18-20, 2016

TUESDAY, October 18, 2016

7:30 am - 9:30 pm Registration

9:30 am – 11:00 am

Plenary Session 1

Moderator: Dr. Francis Kuria Kagema, Secretary General, ACRL-RfP

Opening Prayers by Religious Leader from Nigeria

Remarks by ACRL – RfP Co Chairs.

o H.E. John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja, Nigeria.

o H.E. Sheikh Shaban Mubaje, Grand Mufti, Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, Uganda

Welcoming Remarks

o H.M. Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto, Nigeria.

Introductory Remarks on Faith Works by

Dr. William F. Vendley, Secretary General, Religions for Peace

Setting the Agenda for the ACRL General Assembly

Dr. Francis Kagema, Secretary General, African Council of Religious Leaders-RfP

11:00am – 11:30am TEA BREAK

11:30 am - 13:00 am

Plenary Session 2: Reports

Report from the 2nd General Assembly

Report of Actions and Programs of ACRL

Brief of the ACRL Strategic Plan 2015-2019

Financial Performance Report

Adoption of Assembly Nomination Committee

Adoption of General Assembly Final Resolutions Drafting Committee.

13:00 pm – 14:00pm Lunch

THURSDAY, October 20, 2016

14:00 pm – 16:00 pm

Plenary Session 3:: Election of New Officials

Report from the Youth Meeting

Report from the Women Meeting

Nomination Panel Report

Adoption of the Assembly Resolution

16:00 pm - 16:30 pm Vote of Thanks

Dr. Francis Kuria Kagema, Secretary general, ACRL-RfP

16:30pm – 17:00 pm Press Conference

African Interfaith Youth Network

Pre-Assembly

Abuja, Nigeria

October 17, 2016

MONDAY, October 17, 2016

2:00 pm – 2:15 pm Registration

2:15 pm - 2:30 pm Prayers and Introduction

2:30 pm - 3:00 pm Overview of Religions for Peace, ACR-RfP and NIRCs

3:00pm – 3:20 pm Selection of nominees to the IYC

3:20 pm – 4:15 pm Youth Agenda 2016-2017

4:15 pm - 4:30 pm Resolutions for presentation to the General Assembly

4.30pm TEA BREAK

African Women of Faith Network

Pre-Assembly

Abuja, Nigeria

October 17, 2016

MONDAY, October 17, 2016

2:00 pm – 2:15 pm Registration

2:15 pm - 2:30 pm Prayers and Introduction

2:30 pm - 3:00 pm Overview of Religions for Peace, ACR-RfP and NIRCs

3:00pm – 3:20 pm Selection of nominees to the AWFN

3:20 pm – 4:15 pm Women of Faith Agenda 2016-2017

4:15 pm - 4:30 pm

Resolutions for presentation to the General Assembly

4.30pm TEA BREAK

Multi-religious Action to Prevent and Counter Violent Religious Extremism

Congress Main Hall, Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria

14:00-16:30 | 18 October 2016

Moderator: Dr. William F. Vendley, Secretary General, Religions for Peace Panelists: H.M. Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar III, The Sultan of Sokoto, Nigeria H.E. John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja, Nigeria Al-Hajj Adan Wachu-Mbs, Secretary General, Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims; Chair, Interreligious Council of Kenya Sheikh Mohamed Magid, President, International Interfaith Peace Corps Hajat Nageeba Hassan Tegulwa, Coordinator, Uganda Women of Faith Network Mr. Philbert Aganyo, Chair, Keniyan Interfaith Youth Network Dr. Azza Karam, Chair, UN Inter-Agency Task Force on FBOs and Senior Advisor on Culture at the United Nations Population Fund Martin Mauthe-Kaeter, Deputy head of policy division at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

777 United Nations Plaza I New York, NY 10017 USA I Tel: 212 687-2163 I Fax: 212 983-0098 I www.rfp.org

International Executive Committee and Trustees’ Meeting

15:00-17:30 | 20 October 2016 | Nassarawa, Floor 02

Abuja, Nigeria

DRAFT AGENDA

Co-Moderators: H.E. John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja and Co-Moderator, Religions for Peace (RfP)-African Council of Religious Leaders Rev. Kosho Niwano, Buddhist, JAPAN, President-Designate, Rissho Kosei-kai and Co-Moderator, RfP International

Moment of Silence: Welcoming and Opening Remarks:

H.E. John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja and Co-Moderator, Religions for Peace (RfP)-African Council of Religious Leaders

Personal Reports of the Members of the Executive Committee

H.E. John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Faith Works Africa Rev. Kosho Niwano, Sunni and Shia Collaboration via Marrakesh Declaration Dr. Vinu Aram and Ms. Paddy Meskin: Women of Faith Network and the Well-being of Children

Chief Rabbi David Rosen: Advancing Interreligious Dialogue H.E. Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, ACRL-RfP

Personal Reports of International Trustees

Mrs. Christina Lee Brown Rev. Norio Sakai Bhai Sahib, Bhai Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia Sir Babatunde Lucky Omoluwa Mr. Ajit Singh Ahuja Ms. Annette Blum Mr. Helio Fred Garcia Mr. Terence Ward

Secretary General’s Report with the Assistance of Regional Secretaries General: Dr. William F. Vendley, Secretary General, RfP International

Financial Update:

Dr. William F. Vendley, Secretary General, RfP International

Affirmation of the Outcome Document from Faith Works Africa: H.E. Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, Grand Mufti of Uganda Closing Remarks:

Rev. Kosho Niwano, Buddhist, JAPAN, President-Designate, Rissho Kosei-kai and Co-Moderator, RfP International

Marrakesh Declaration Presentation

Thursday, 20 October, 6-8pm

6:00 PM Welcoming Remarks and outlining significance of MD in Advancing

Religious Freedom

Dr. William F. Vendley, Secretary General, Religions for Peace

Cardinal Rev. Dr. John Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja

Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar Head of Jama'atu Nasril Islam (Society for the Support of Islam – JNI)

Dr. Mohamed Elsanousi Director, Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers

6:20 PM Path to Marrakesh Declaration, Q&A

Imam Mohamed Hagmagid, President, International Interfaith Peace Corps

6:40 PM Small Group Discussion: How can interreligious communities support the Marrakesh Declaration in various countries?

7:40 PM Recommendations from Small Groups

8:00 PM Dinner

Marrakesh Declaration Implementation Process in Nigeria 21 October, Friday, 9am-12:30pm

9:00 AM Welcome and Introductions

Dr. William F. Vendley, Secretary General, Religions for Peace

Sultan of Sokoto Head of Jama'atu Nasril Islam (Society for the Support of Islam – JNI)

9:10 AM Path to Marrakesh Declaration, Q&A

Dr. Mohamed Elsanousi Director of the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers

9:20 AM Mapping the problem(s) group brainstorm session

10:00 AM Mapping peace work

10:30 AM Tea/Coffee Break

10:45 AM Small Groups: How can Nigerians work towards the advancement of Religious Freedom with the Marrakesh Declaration?

11:30 AM Groups Report Back

12:30 AM Concluding Remarks