MAY 2021 - More than 170 multi-faith religious leaders, individuals of diverse religious/faith-based organizations and institutions, faith-based scholars/theologians, and scientists/technical experts from Anglophone and Francophone Africa converged in March for a Faith & Science in Conversation Conference, to discuss views, roles and responsibilities of religious leaders in the context of the COVID-19 response.

The virtual interfaith consultation was convened by ACRL and AACC, with technical and financial support from UNICEF ESARO and WCARO, with a focus on the need to invest in reciprocal religious and scientific literacy, understanding and concurrence of both faith actors and scientists for more systematic, informed and structural co-creation of approaches, aimed at enhancing engagement of religious leaders in the COVID-19 response, including promoting the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines.

African-based theologians from the University of Kwa Zulu Natal (South Africa) and Umma University (Kenya) alongside experts from UNICEF, WHO AFRO, the Africa Christian Health Association Platform (ACHAP), the Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network (EPN) and other partners brainstormed on core technical aspects of COVID-19 and the related theological context from scriptural reflections, teachings and texts needed to strengthen the response.

The climax of the conference was a statement of commitment signed by all parties, pledging to communicate factually, advocate for equitable access to vaccines, support governments’ plans to vaccinate all priority groups people and to continue promoting acts of compassion that help mitigate the humanitarian impact of COVID-19 on communities.

The two-day conference was attended by a total of 174 religious leaders and other stakeholders.

In collaborating with UNICEF, ACRL will continue to engage in increased regional and country-level collaboration around the COVID-19 response, and is supporting the compilation and dissemination of Public Service Announcements, pastoral letters of support and videos of religious leaders to promote vaccination.