Introductions & Background on Faith-Based Partnerships at USAID
This report is submitted pursuant to Section 7019(e) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024 (Div. F, P.L. 118-47) and House Report 118-146, which states:
“The Committee recognizes the important role that FBOs play in the delivery of foreign assistance and expects USAID to ensure compliance with existing Federal laws protecting the rights of FBOs, including rights related to employment practices, from discrimination in competing for and administering projects funded with United States foreign assistance. Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of USAID shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees on such efforts at USAID.”
USAID has a long history of partnering with and alongside faith-based and community organizations advancing sustainable development and humanitarian outcomes. USAID recognizes that religious actors in many countries where the Agency operates are key parts of the backbone of local communities and have a presence that predates USAID and development professionals. This presence yields trust, access, and influence in ways that governments often cannot, making local faith-based organizations critical partners in development. While faith-based organizations are valued partners and eligible to apply for government awards on an equal footing with secular organizations, USAID does not track awards based on religious affiliation, or lack thereof, in our internal systems.
Recognizing the invaluable contributions of faith-based organizations and religious communities, USAID has housed a dedicated office for faith and community engagement since 2002 when the George W. Bush Administration established USAID’s Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (“Center”). Reestablished by every administration since its inception, USAID’s Center has an over 22 year bipartisan history working to build bridges between the Agency and faith-based organizations and religious communities.
USAID’s Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (FBNP) draws its mandate from executive orders from presidents of both political parties, including Executive Order 13279 and Executive Order 14015. These executive orders reaffirm the U.S. government’s longstanding and bipartisan commitment to partnering with faith-based and community organizations to advance shared diplomatic, development, and humanitarian goals worldwide.
