About us

WHO convenes the Faith Network with the goals to increase access to accurate and relevant information and build a community of collaborative sharing on topics related to health emergency preparedness and response and the intersection between faith and public health.

The network, comprising different faith partners representing a diversity of faiths including service providers, faith leaders, FBOs, and academic institutions, engage in a forum to align on shared objectives, share information, access technical briefings and co-develop tools and products, such as the World Health Organization strategy for engaging religious leaders, faith-based organizations and faith communities in health emergencies.

The COVID-19 pandemic has reiterated the critical need for all people and organizations to have timely access to accurate information to make decisions to protect their health and the health of their communities. Furthermore, the pandemic has demonstrated that in times of crisis people trust leaders within their communities for health guidance.

The faith community at all levels, has played a key role in health emergency preparedness and response, and in many places, in ongoing health service delivery. WHO recognizes this integral role and is working together with the faith community to support national governments to achieve joint health goals.

To help shape future work, the WHO Information Network for Epidemics (EPI-WIN) team launched three communities of practice (COPs) in late 2020 to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange with faith partners.  Several milestones have been achieved since 2020, including:

• WHO Director-General Dr Tedros engaged in a high-level dialogue with religious leaders hosted by Religions for Peace in early 2021; 
• interim guidance and recommendations for religious leaders and faith-based communities in the context of COVID-19; 
• the WHO-RfP-UNICEF joint webinar series in spring 2021 on faith partners’ COVID-19 communications and advocacy for vaccine equity, access and uptake; 
• the publication of the World Health Organization strategy for engaging religious leaders, faith-based organizations and faith communities in health emergencies in 2021 co-developed with the COP;
• late 2021, global conference co-hosted by WHO and RfP: Strengthening national responses to health emergencies: WHO, Religious Leaders, Faith-based Organizations, Faith Communities and National Governments;
• early 2022, the WHO Faith Network was formalized; and
• in June 2022, WHO and Religions for Peace sign an MOU to further collaboration.

ACT Alliance

All Africa Conference of Churches

ACHAP African Christian Health Associations Platform

ADRA INTERNATIONAL (Adventist Development and Relief Agency)

Ahimsa Fund

Alliance Development Trust

American Jewish World Service

Anglican Alliance

Anglican Health and Community Network (AHCN)

Anglican Communion / Anglican Consultative Council

Church of England

Associazione Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII (APG23)

Bahai International Community

Catholic Health Association of the United States

Caritas Internationalis

Catholic Relief Services

Christian Connections for International Health

Church of Sweden

Corus International

Dharma Alliance - Dharma Alliance

Soka Gakkai Buddhist Order

Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network (EPN)

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Jerusalem Impact Vaccination Initiative

Georgetown University

Global Interfaith Wash Alliance

Global One

Harvard University

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

International Catholic Migration Commission

International Care Ministries Philippines

INERELA+

Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum

Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA)

Islamic Relief Worldwide

Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) (Israel)

Joint Learning Initiative on Faith & Local Communities

Canadian Mental Health Association

Loma Linda University

Leeds University

Lutheran World Federation

Mosaica

Mothers Union

MPKU PP Muhammadiyah

Faiths4Vaccines

Cape Development and Dialogue Centre Trust (CDDC) Trust

Ojus Medical Institute (OMI)

Religions for Peace

Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement (Sri Lanka)

SIL International

St. John’s University of Tanzania

Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital (GPHealth)

Theologische Fakultät Universität Zürich

Ukrainian Council of Religious and Faith-based Organizations

University of Munster

University of Waterloo

World Council of Churches

World Evangelical Alliance

World Radio Communications

World Relief

World Vision International

Zimbabwe Association of Church Related Hospitals (ZACH)