Churches supporting the achievement of SDGs
Waking the Giant - a new initiative
Churches are perfectly positioned to help realize the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In communities across the globe, churches have for years strived to attain justice, peace and development that is dignified and responds to human need.
Starting with LWF member churches in Liberia, Tanzania, Colombia and the United States, the LWF is launching an initiative to build the capacity of churches to help them realize the SDGs in their communities. Waking the Giant will bring together churches and ecumenical partners with state and UN actors, seeking new partnerships to promote sustainable development. The giant is the latent potential in churches to become major development actors.
“With their vocation to serve, churches have for centuries engaged in promoting dignity and justice, particularly among those oppressed, forgotten or pushed to the margins,” LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Martin Junge says.
“The SDGs are a great opportunity to continue expressing this vocation, but now adding the churches’ work and contribution to a larger, concerted effort not to leave anyone behind.”
The public and media are invited to attend the launch on
10 October 2018
Ecumenical Center (Visser‘t Hooft Hall), Route de Ferney 150, 1211 Geneva
17:00 – 18:30, followed by a reception
Speakers
Rev. Dr Martin Junge, General Secretary, LWF
Nadia Isler, Director SDG Lab, UNOG
Panel discussion on the role which churches play in reaching the SDGs and the potential of partnerships between faith-based actors, governments and the UN in achieving the Agenda 2030
Mikka McCracken, Director, World Hunger Planning and Engagement, ELCA
Rev Dr Paul Wolokollie Tate, Ambassador, Permanent Mission to the UNOG, Liberia
Rev Christopher Wleh Toe I, General Secretary, Liberia Council of Churches
Alfonso Barragues, Deputy Director, UNFPA Geneva Office
The official launch is part of a three-day workshop (not public) which brings together National Coordinators from the current four target countries (Liberia, Tanzania, Colombia, United States), representatives of participating churches, and funding partners.
