Praxis Paper 22. What is distinctive about FBOs? How European FBOs define and operationalise their faith

Faith is no longer the taboo subject it once ways in aid circles. There is increased donor interest in understanding the role of faith in development and enthusiasm for engaging with FBOs. They want to become ‘faith literate’. But in Europe government relations with FBOs are still ambivalent. Tensions still exist about separating the secular from the spiritual.

The faith identity can have profound organisational implications. It can affect how they operate internally – the leadership, relationships, culture, and policies of an organisation. It can alter how they relate externally and with whom – partners, donors or other interested parties.

This paper analyses the changing context of faith in development, identifies distinctive organisational features, and provides a set of conclusions and an analysis of outstanding questions moving forward.