Religious Networks, their Impact on SDGS (SDG17), and the Challenges for the International Legal Order

Abstract

There is an urgent need to better recognize and integrate the significant involvement of faith-based actors in development initiatives through effective policy-driven responses. These responses require novel and inventive engagement strategies, and the development of a coordinated effort. Faith-based networks should be steered toward a more systemic and comprehensive commitment to sustainable development, in the context of the Group of 20 (G20) priorities. This will make this engagement more relevant to G20 processes and translate across and convey more effectively the G20 governments’ commitments. It will also gather greater support for their implementation and address the present challenges in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is particularly relevant to the pursuit of innovative responses to the challenges of the pandemic and the need for wider grassroots networks to support policy implementation. This is both a challenge and an opportunity for the G20 process to benefit from and develop an evidence-based understanding of the impact of religion on policy further and interact more effectively with emerging faith-based policy-oriented networks. It also provides new ways to engage with both the challenges and opportunities presented by the emerging geopolitical roles of religious actors.