Abstract
Faith-based organizations (FBOs) have long played a role in international development, and are increasingly involved in environmental
sustainability initiatives. Despite these contributions they have, until recently, been largely ignored in scholarship and
by secular agencies. This article adds to the growing recognition of FBOs, exploring the identity and function of FBOs doing
environmental and development work in Kenya through document review, qualitative questionnaires and participant observation.
A diverse group of FBOs with varied identities and engaged in a broad range of activities revealed several strengths and challenges
of faith-based environmental and development work. Of particular note is the key role churches and faith-based agencies can
play in effecting sustainable and holistic change in Global South countries, due to their rootedness in the community, the
social capital they help to produce, and the respect they receive from the people.
sustainability initiatives. Despite these contributions they have, until recently, been largely ignored in scholarship and
by secular agencies. This article adds to the growing recognition of FBOs, exploring the identity and function of FBOs doing
environmental and development work in Kenya through document review, qualitative questionnaires and participant observation.
A diverse group of FBOs with varied identities and engaged in a broad range of activities revealed several strengths and challenges
of faith-based environmental and development work. Of particular note is the key role churches and faith-based agencies can
play in effecting sustainable and holistic change in Global South countries, due to their rootedness in the community, the
social capital they help to produce, and the respect they receive from the people.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-34
- DOI 10.1007/s11266-011-9245-x
- Authors
- Joanne M. Moyer, Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba, Sinnott Building, 70 Dysart Rd, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
- A. John Sinclair, Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba, Sinnott Building, 70 Dysart Rd, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
- Harry Spaling, Geography and Environmental Studies, The King’s University College, 9125-50 St., Edmonton, AB T6B 2H3, Canada
- Journal Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations
- Online ISSN 1573-7888
- Print ISSN 0957-8765