Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Place of Faith in Humanitarian Engagement with Displaced Communities

  • Chapter
Faith, Secularism, and Humanitarian Engagement: Finding the Place of Religion in the Support of Displaced Communities

Part of the book series: Religion and Global Migrations ((RGM))

  • 137 Accesses

Abstract

The secular framing of humanitarianism privatizes, marginalizes and instrumentalizes religion. Mental health and psychosocial support is a key programming area with displaced communities. Faith-based organizations have been active in supporting such interventions, but there is little evidence of religious perspectives being meaningfully incorporated in programming. This is despite mounting acceptance of the relevance of religious resources, beliefs and practices for community recovery. Analysis of the work of local faith groups working with Syrian refugees in Jordan similarly indicates how a secular script obscures and constrains the contribution from religious sources. The language used in documents exploring key areas of humanitarian strategy—humanitarian reform and disaster risk reduction—also demonstrates the uncritical presumption of a secular perspective which obstructs engagement with faith.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Notes

  1. See AGER, A. (1999) Psychology and Humanitarian Assistance. In: HARTLEY, J. AND BRANTHWAITE, A. (eds.). The Applied Psychologist ( 2nd edition ). Milton Keynes: Oxford University Press; PSYCHOSOCIAL WORKING

    Google Scholar 

  2. GROUP (2002) Psychosocial Intervention in Complex Emergencies: A Conceptual Framework. Psychosocial Working Group Working Paper. Edinburgh: QMU, Edinburgh. Available at: http://www.eldis.org/vfile/upload/1/document/1310/PWG_Conceptual_Framework2.pdf [Accessed: 30 March 2015].

    Google Scholar 

  3. HARRELL-BOND, B. (2004) Imposing Aid. Oxford: Open University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  4. IASC (2007) Inter-Agency Standing Committee Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings. Geneva: IASC.

    Google Scholar 

  5. SPHERE PROJECT (2013) Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response. Available at: www.sphereproject.org/.

    Google Scholar 

  6. IASC (2012) IASC MHPSS Reference Group Global Meeting Report, 2012. Available at: http://mhpss.net/?get=175/1353509004-MINUTESIASCMHPSS RGGlobalMeeting2012.pdf [Accessed: 30 March 2015].

    Google Scholar 

  7. ISLAMIC RELIEF WORLDWIDE (2013) Syria: Two years, too Long. Key Recommendations for Easing Suffering of the Syrian People. Birmingham, UK: IRW.

    Google Scholar 

  8. PSYCHOSOCIAL WORKING GROUP (2002) Psychosocial Intervention in Complex Emergencies: A Conceptual Framework. Psychosocial Working Group Working Paper. Edinburgh: QMU. Available at: http://www.eldis.org/vfile/upload/1/document/1310/PWG_Conceptual_Framework2.pdf [Accessed: 30 March 2015].

    Google Scholar 

  9. BOOTHBY, N., STRANG, A. AND WESSELLS, M. (eds.) (2006) A World Turned Upside Down: Social Ecological Approaches to Children in War Zones. CT: Kumarian Press.

    Google Scholar 

  10. WOOLCOCK, M. (2004) Getting the Social Relations Right: Towards an Integrated Theology and Theory of Development. In: HESLAM, P. (ed.). Globalization and the Good. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

    Google Scholar 

  11. JOINT LEARNING INITIATIVE (JLI) (2013) Local Faith Communities and the Promotion of Resilience in Humanitarian Situations: A Scoping Study. RSC Working Paper 90. Oxford: Refugee Studies Centre and Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities. Available from: http://www.rsc.ox.ac.uk/completed-projects/faith-based-humanitarianism [Accessed: 30 March 2015].

    Google Scholar 

  12. AGER, A. AND (2011) Faith and the Discourse of Secular Humanitarianism. Journal of Refugee Studies, 24 (3), pp. 456–472.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. For a fuller account of this analysis, see AGER, J., ABEBE, B. AND AGER, A. (2014) Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Humanitarian Emergencies in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities for Engaging with the Faith Sector. Review of Faith and International Affairs, 12 (1), pp. 72–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. FIRELIGHT FOUNDATION (2006) From Faith to Action: Strengthening Family and Community-Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Sub-Saharan Africa. Available: http://www.crin.org/docs/Faith-to-Action-InitiativePublication.pdf [Accessed: 18 April 2015].

    Google Scholar 

  15. DENEULIN, S. AND BANO, M. (2009) Religion in Development: Re-writing the Secular Script. London: Zed Books.

    Google Scholar 

  16. WALKER, P. ET AL. (2013) The Role of Spirituality in Humanitarian Crisis Survival and Recovery In: M. BARNETT AND J. GROSS STEIN (eds.). Sacred Aid. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  17. See JLI (2013) Local Faith Communities; AGER, J., FIDDIAN-QASMIYEH, E. AND AGER, A. Local Faith Communities and the Promotion of Resilience in Contexts of Humanitarian Crisis. Journal of Refugee Studies [Online] March 2015. Available from: http://jrs.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2015/03/11/jrs.fev001.full [Accessed: 30 March 2015].

    Google Scholar 

  18. JLI (2013) Local Faith Communities, p. 36.

    Google Scholar 

  19. JLI (2013) Local Faith Communities, p. 37.

    Google Scholar 

  20. SCHAFER, A. (2010) Spirituality and Mental Health in Humanitarian Contexts: An Exploration of World Vision’s Haiti Earthquake Response. Intervention, 8 (2), pp. 121–130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. ONYANGO, J., PARATHARAPHIL, M., VAN DEN BERG, S., REIFFERS, R., SNIDER, L. AND ERIKSSON, C. (2011) Spirituality and Psychosocial Intervention in Emergencies: Four Commentaries and a Response. Intervention, 11 (9), pp. 61–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. See AGER, A., STRANG, A. AND ABEBE, B. (2005) Conceptualising Community Development in War-Affected Populations: Illustrations from Tigray. Community Development Journal, 40 (2), pp. 158–168;

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. AGER, J., ABEBE, B. AND AGER, A. (2014) Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Humanitarian Emergencies in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities for Engaging with the Faith Sector. Review of Faith and International Affairs, 12 (1), pp. 72–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. MCINTYRE, A. (1981) After Virtue. London: Duckworth.

    Google Scholar 

  25. TAYLOR, C. (2007) A Secular Age. Boston: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  26. HOLTON, M. J. (2010) ‘Our Hope Comes from God’: Faith Narratives and Resilience in Southern Sudan. Journal of Pastoral Theology, 20, p. 82.

    Google Scholar 

  27. EL NAKIB, S. AND AGER, A. (2015) Local Faith Community and Related Civil Society Engagement with Humanitarian Response with Syrian Refugees in Irbid, Jordan. Report to the Henry Luce Foundation. New York: Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University.

    Google Scholar 

  28. EL NAKIB, S. AND AGER, A. (2015) Local Faith Community and Related Civil Society Engagement, p. 21.

    Google Scholar 

  29. EL NAKIB, S. AND AGER, A. (2014) Irbid Field Notes. The Place of Faith in Humanitarian Engagement 53

    Google Scholar 

  30. ACTIONAID, C., CHRISTIAN, A. AND OXFAM, T. (2013) Missed Opportunities. UK: ActionAid, Cafod, Christian Aid, Oxfam, Tearfund;

    Google Scholar 

  31. ACTIONAID, C., CHRISTIAN, A. AND OXFAM, T. (2014) Missed Again. UK: ActionAid, Cafod, Christian Aid, Oxfam, Tearfund.

    Google Scholar 

  32. WORLD HUMANITARIAN SUMMIT (2014) World Humanitarian Summit General Briefing. Available at: worldhumanitariansummit.org [Accessed: 25 March 2015].

    Google Scholar 

  33. WORLD HUMANITARIAN SUMMIT (2014) Brief Overview of the Four World Humanitarian Summit Themes 2 May 2014. Available from: http://www.worldhumanitariansummit.org/sitemap#themcon [Accessed: 30 March 2015].

    Google Scholar 

  34. WORLD HUMANITARIAN SUMMIT (2014) Thematic Scoping Paper: Humanitarian Effectiveness. Available from: http://www.worldhumanitariansummit.org/whs_resources [Accessed: 30 March 2015].

    Google Scholar 

  35. WORLD HUMANITARIAN SUMMIT (2014) WHS Preliminary Online Global Consultation—Week 1 Summary. http://www.worldhumanitariansummit.org/node/439026 [Accessed: 30 March 2015].

    Google Scholar 

  36. WORLD HUMANITARIAN SUMMIT (2014) WHS Online Consultation Summary Report Preliminary Global Discussions, May–July 2014. Available from: www.worldhumanitariansummit.org.

    Google Scholar 

  37. CHRISTIAN, A. (2014) Making the WHS Worth the Climb. Available from: http://www.worldhumanitariansummit.org/node/471236 [Accessed: 30 March 2015].

    Google Scholar 

  38. ACT ALLIANCE (2015) The World Humanitarian Summit: Putting People at the Centre. Available from: http://www.actalliance.org/resources/publications/J3734-ACT%20Alliance%20position%20paper%20 for%20 World%20 Humanitarian%20Summit_AW.pdf/view [Accessed: 30 March 2015].

    Google Scholar 

  39. IFRC (2014) World Disasters Report 2014: Focus on Culture and Risk. Geneva: IFRC, p. 37. Available at: http://www.ifrc.org/world-disasters-report-2014 [Accessed: 30 March 2015].

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Global Health and Development, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, UK

    Alastair Ager (Director, Professor of Population and Family Health)

  2. Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, USA

    Alastair Ager (Director, Professor of Population and Family Health)

  3. San Diego Organizing Project, USA

    Joey Ager (Community Organizer)

Authors
  1. Alastair Ager
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Joey Ager
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Copyright information

© 2015 Alastair Ager and Joey Ager

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Ager, A., Ager, J. (2015). The Place of Faith in Humanitarian Engagement with Displaced Communities. In: Faith, Secularism, and Humanitarian Engagement: Finding the Place of Religion in the Support of Displaced Communities. Religion and Global Migrations. Palgrave Pivot, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137472144_2

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation