Dialogue in Pursuit of Development - Are you looking for one of ...

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great importance of an ongoing dialogue between all stakeholders in the
development process and — most importantly — involving those directly
affected by development policies, the poor themselves, who are the experts
on poverty. Without a dialogue with people and without engaging those
affected in the design and implementation of economic reforms, these will
never reach the goals of long-term sustainable development.
One of the most important outcomes of this dialogue was that a contact
was established between an African church and the World Bank. ELCT got
direct access to this institution that has been followed up during the regular
visits made by the Bank to Tanzania. Earlier attempts to come in contact
with even the World Bank resident mission in Dar es Salaam had failed. But
even more important is perhaps the fact that ELCT through this consultation
was suddenly seen as an important development actor by its own government.
That had not been possible before. A contact was established.
Among the issues discussed people’s participation was central and the
consultation concluded that development is a process that begins with respecting
people’s knowledge systems, involves them in a dialogue for reform
and empowers the people themselves to design their own structural
change.
This example shows how important it is to create meeting places, forums
for dialogue, where partners can get the opportunity to speak to those they
need to speak to but usually do not reach. I think dialogue as part of advocacy
in this sense is underutilized and that donor agencies together with
their partners should develop it as a means of highlighting important issues
by involving those concerned. Hence we need much more jointly planned
advocacy work with our southern partners.
Development dialogue between religions
Among churches and other faith communities the concept of dialogue is
used to describe inter-faith discussions and relationships. Unfortunately the
role of religions has very seldom been discussed in relation to development
and poverty eradication in spite of the fact that it has to do with culture,
values, spirituality and our relationship with each other and with the earth.
But since 1998 a World Faiths Development Dialogue (WFDD) has been
going on between people of the worlds’ major religions and the World
Bank (focused on poverty reduction and development). WFDD is co-chaired
by the President of the World Bank and the Archbishop of Canterbury. Two
worlds, which hitherto have viewed each other only from a distance have
come together and had the opportunity to talk to each other. A dialogue has
started.
Religious organisations have always worked to counteract poverty. They
have provided services such as health care and education, supported income
generating activities by farmers, fisherfolk and slum dwellers. Thus they have