Joint Learning Initiative

The Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities is aninternational collaboration on evidence for faith groups’ role andcontribution to achieving humanitarian and development goals.

Founded in 2012, the leadership of the Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities (JLI) came together with a single shared conviction: there is an urgent need to build our collective understanding of the potential of local faith communities.

The JLI serves as an open-source, non-partisan knowledge-sharing platform for all sectors. Working through learning hubs, the JLI utilises publications and meetings to engage partners, and supports faith groups to use their knowledge, skills and assets to realise a world without poverty. The JLI is divided into four Learning Hubs:

• Anti-Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery

• Ending Violence Against Children

• Gender-Based Violence

• Refugees and Forced Migration

The Learning Hubs are collaborative learning platforms in which practitioners, policy makers, academics and other experts from a variety of sectors and disciplines can share best practice, learn from one another and work together to engage key

stakeholders in faith communities. Leading experts from different sectors co-chair each Learning Hub which further embeds the collaborative process.

Anti-Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery Hub

The Salvation Army International Development UK is a member and co-chair of the Anti-Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery (AHT-MS) Hub. This is a horizontal evidence-based learning community that links academics, policy makers and governments with local faith communities in order to combat human trafficking and modern slavery.

We believe that local faith communities can make a huge difference in tackling trafficking by virtue of their faith. However, there is currently nothing in the academic or political space that verifies this. Research carried out by the JLI aims to establish clear evidence-based links which will serve to enable faith communities to do vital work with survivors, both locally and nationally.

Members of the AHT-MS Hub can connect with colleagues around the world to share resources, create and strengthen connections and bring together their expertise on how faith communities can most effectively engage in the fight to end human trafficking and modern slavery.

The JLI recognises the inherent value of a collaborative response to a multi-faceted, global issue such as human trafficking. Therefore, members are encouraged to gather knowledge and support one another in a joint effort to inform and improve policy and practice between faith groups, humanitarian and development communities.

Scoping study

The JLI is currently working on an AHT-MS Hub scoping study which aims to establish, from existing published sources as well as interviews with representatives from NGOs and academics from the sector, the impact that local faith communities have in responding to the issue of human trafficking and modern slavery.

Knowledge and understanding around the issue of human trafficking varies around the world. Whilst some communities may be aware of human trafficking and modern slavery but not know the scale of issue and the extent of its impact, others are unaware that trafficking and slavery exist at all. In some instances, communities may not recognise certain situations as trafficking but find other explanations for certain issues – for example, runaway children.

The work of faith communities in responding to the injustice of human trafficking largely goes unrecognised with few people understanding the involvement that such communities have in trying to address the issue.

A key challenge some communities face is a lack of trust in faith-based organisations, with some believing they do little to prevent trafficking or even actively support it. An important aim of the scoping study, therefore, is to dispel such myths by highlighting the anti-human trafficking work being carried out by faith groups. The scoping study will explore the role that groups from a variety of faith traditions play, such as Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism and Hinduism. The JLI is committed to enabling this diverse group to work together to respond to the global issue of trafficking.

As the scoping study comes to an end, the JLI AHT-MS Hub will disseminate the findings and seek to implement relevant changes to policies as a result.

The anti-trafficking sector is currently at a critical time in which governments around the world have been called to action and are redrafting and revising their trafficking and modern slavery legislation. The JLI has an opportunity, with its scoping study, to create academic literature with which local faith communities can approach their governments and request their inclusion in advisory processes as well as service delivery.

Furthermore, a growing understanding of the unique role and impact that faith communities can have in responding to issues of injustice will not only inspire others to act and join the movement, but will also give us the conviction to continue using the strengths of our faith to do good in this world.

As we have written previously in Develop, The Salvation Army International Development UK firmly believes that the global issue of human trafficking requires an integrated, networked response. This means working alongside our partners within The Salvation Army globally as well as with other faith organisations, NGOs, and partners from a variety of sectors.

For more information about the JLI and to join as a member, please visit: jliflc.com

By Geertje Schorer