Challenges of Change: Faith, Gender, and Development

May 1, 2008

Challenges of Change: Faith, Gender, and Development is one of a series of reports mapping critical development issues, supported by the Luce/SFS Program on Religion and International Affairs. This report addresses the relationship between faith, gender, and development in the world's poorer societies. It explores social changes that accompany development, taking religion as a lens, and focusing on how women observe, understand, and influence these transformative processes. This report explores relationships among religion, gender, and the international development agenda, asking first what we know and what we do not, and second what seem to be the emerging issues and debates. More specifically, the report examines progress and examples of best practices, where religion appears to be a positive force advancing women's rights and welfare. It also explores tensions, difficulties, and gaps in knowledge and understanding. The goal is to illuminate the major issues and provide a framework for understanding them, so that the joint issues of religion, gender, and development receive greater attention and engender a more purposeful dialogue.

This report is a desk review that draws on available literature and preliminary consultations with a range of leaders in the field, some of whose voices are reflected in the report. It also draws on the authors' knowledge and experience, especially their work on development issues and development-faith connections. Inputs from several leading thinkers and practitioners are presented in a series of boxes, alongside short "case studies" that encapsulate relevant experiences. The report is addressed to a broad audience of scholars,activists, and what are often referred to as "people of faith." It was first presented in draft form at the Women, Faith, and Development Summit to End Global Poverty at the Washington National Cathedral on April 13-14, 2008. Through this link to the April Breakthrough Summit, the report helped to generate ideas and reactions by framing issues and identifying additional areas for investigation to further dialogue and analysis.

Table of Contents
Overview
About this project
Abbreviations and Glossary
Acknowledgments and About the Authors
Introduction
Part I: Gender and Development: A Fast Evolving Field
Part II: Women and Faith: Complex Intersections
Part III: Globalization, Development and Faith: Coming into Focus
Part IV: Women, Faith, and Development: Paths Forward?
      Calls to Action
      Agendas Ahead, Calling for Reflection, Action, and Dialogue
      Concluding Remarks

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