Reproducing spaces of embeddedness through Islamic NGOs in Sub-Saharan Africa: reflections on the post-2015 development agenda

Abstract

This paper explores the nexus of religion, space, and development. It sheds light on the role of faith-based organizations (FBOs) as partners in sustainable development and key actors for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Applying and building on the theoretical framework of Polanyi’s The Great Transformation indicates that FBOs with value-laden agendas have formed new state spaces during the age of globalization, where state capacities are transferred to non-state actors at other levels. The case study of Qatari organizations in SSA demonstrates how their uptake of state capacities can lead to development efforts that are driven by faith apart from politics and economics, which help balance market liberalism and social protectionism to create the conditions for sustainable development. Among other things, FBOs offer alternative financing options and new opportunities for financial inclusion that are relevant to the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda.

Keywords:

• faith based NGOs
• Qatar
• development
• embeddedness
• state spaces

Notes

1. There are cases, such as Jawad’s (2009) study of social policy in Lebanon alongside the social interventions of Lebanese Muslim and Christian welfare organizations in the country, that demonstrate how FBOs contribute to poverty reduction by connecting with government policy through ‘palliative in-kind services.’.

2. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO) 2011 Global Monitoring Report recognized conflict as a major impediment to achievement of Education for All goals, especially in SSA (UNESCO, 2011).

3. Qatar Charity is a well-established NGO which not only acts as a donor but also as an implementing agent through its field offices across seven SSA countries, namely Burkina Faso, Comoros Islands, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Somalia, and Sudan. Besides its field offices, it also works through strategic partnerships in other African countries, namely Kenya, Tunisia, Benin, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Libya, Morocco, Senegal, and Togo. Some of its partners include private foundations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Fundación Kanouté.

4. The 12-km² area is divided into four camps and these are split further into zones, to facilitate the supply of services. Within the camp, there are 11 early childhood development centers, 19 primary schools, four secondary schools, and one vocational training center. Medical support is provided through a single hospital and five satellite medical clinics that respond to emergencies (Kakuma, 2014).

5. Clarke (2014) provides an exceptional general overview of international Islamic aid flows for poverty alleviation.

6. Juul Peterson (2015) elaborates on areas of contention between Islamic FBOs and rights-based approaches and various strategies to address them.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Qatar Foundation [grant number NPRP 6-1272-5-160]. Evren Tok is Co Lead Project Investigator and Ben O'Bright is Research Associate for the Qatar National Research Fund's (QNRF) National Priority Research Program (NPRP), Grant # NPRP 6-1272-5-160. Authors acknowledge the support of QNRF for making the field work of this research possible.