Inspired by Faith: A Background Report "Mapping" Social Economic Development Work in the Muslim World

January 1, 2008

"Inspired by Faith: A Background Report "Mapping" Social Economic Development Work in the Muslim World" focuses on how emerging institutions in the Muslim world, especially those with explicit faith links, are approaching issues of social and economic development. It seeks to explore relationships among public, private, and religiously inspired actors; financing issues, including the new landscape post-September 11, 2001; and approaches to leading issues such as children, education, health, and gender. The report reviews the religious and legal backdrop for social welfare organizations, primarily based on analysis of the academic and policy literature that focuses explicitly on this group of organizations and their development work. Given the wide diversity of sectoral and country situations, the report outlines a set of “portraits” of key sectors and of a limited group of illustrative countries. Finally, the paper sketches policy issues under discussion.

The report is largely a "desk study" drawing on a wide range of academic and policy sources as well as information available from the organizations themselves. Its objective is not to survey either the data about or detailed work of faith-based organizations. In contrast, this report is an effort to take stock and delineate policy issues and agendas. The central foci are issues of poverty, welfare, human development, and equity, more than any specific category of organization. From there, the paper extends to an effort to "map" the terrain of organizations and issues, with specific reference to their links to faith and Muslim identity. The report focuses particular attention on the emerging and evolving role of several global Muslim-inspired institutions, widely different in themselves, notably Islamic Relief, the Aga Khan Network, and the Islamic Development Bank.

Table of Contents
Introduction: The Task
Framework: Understanding Organizations
Sector Focus
Country Stories
Partnerships and Relationships: the Broader Development Community
Emerging Issues

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