Strategic Impact Article
Programme at a Glance
At a Glance
- 5 members completed the pilot Partnership Survey Initiative, producing tailored reports + a benchmark study
- 3 Faith, Climate & Environment webinars (2025) → 128 participants, including 46 local partners
- Hugo Slim webinar (2025) on Humanitarianism 2.0 → 80+ participants across the network and beyond
- 10+ Secretariat-authored reflections published since 2023 (State of the Union, Narratives in Advocacy, Civil Space, Climate, Humanitarian Day, Peacebuilding)
- Values Toolkit distributed to 20+ member organisations to articulate Christian distinctiveness
- Regular joint engagements with PaRD and the Brussels FBO Group
Strategy Intent
Faith in Action was launched as a new stream in the 2022+ strategy to explore, sharpen, and communicate the role of Christian identity in our work. The intent was to demonstrate—not just assume—the added value of faith-based organisations (FBOs) in humanitarian, development, and advocacy settings.
Members were clear: they wanted to move beyond anecdote to evidence. This meant building tools to measure faith impact, creating shared learning spaces, and raising the visibility of a Christian perspective in European and global debates.
At the same time, wider challenges—climate breakdown, shrinking civic space, and debates around localisation—underlined the need for faith-informed, values-driven contributions.
What Happened
The first phase of Faith in Action was about laying foundations. What began as a small task group soon evolved into a dedicated programme, with members working together to develop a shared Theory of Change. Early discussions centred on how faith impact could be measured, balancing the technical rigour of indicators with the lived reality of faith-inspired practice. These conversations gave the programme its distinctive shape: evidence-driven yet theologically rooted.
By 2024, momentum had shifted from ideas to practice. The Partnership Survey pilot was rolled out to five members, providing structured feedback from their local partners. The results proved eye-opening. For some, it confirmed strong relationships and mutual respect. For others, it offered candid insights into areas where dynamics needed rebalancing. Across the board, it demonstrated that theological values could sit side by side with accountability frameworks, creating a space for honesty and growth.
In 2025, Faith in Action came into its own on the public stage. The Hugo Slim webinar on Humanitarianism 2.0 drew more than 80 participants from across the network and beyond. It was not just a book launch, but a chance to ask hard questions about humanitarian ethics in a space where faith could be openly discussed. Many participants reflected that such conversations rarely happen in secular policy forums, underscoring the value of EU-CORD as a convenor.
At the same time, the Secretariat expanded its role as a thought leader. A steady stream of reflections appeared on the EU-CORD website and LinkedIn, tackling issues from the EU State of the Union to the narratives shaping advocacy, the Living Planet Monitor, civil society space, humanitarian day meditations, and stories of women and youth driving grassroots peacebuilding. These pieces broadened the reach of Faith in Action, showing how a Christian lens could cut across politics, climate, and social change.
Climate justice emerged as a particularly strong theme. Through the Faith, Climate & Environment webinar series and contributions to PaRD and WCC events, members such as Dorcas and Strømme showcased how their grassroots practice connected to global policy debates. Here too, theology and technical expertise met—framing climate not only as an environmental issue but as a matter of justice and faith.
To support this work, the Values Toolkit was developed and distributed to over 20 member organisations. It gave members sharper language for explaining their Christian distinctiveness to donors and partners, and was tested in both advocacy and programme settings. Alongside this, EU-CORD maintained an active voice in networks such as PaRD and the Brussels FBO Group, co-sponsoring events and contributing to joint statements. These engagements ensured members’ perspectives were heard in spaces they could not easily access alone.
Why It Matters
Faith in Action has brought real gains for members and their partners. By shifting from “faith as assumption” to “faith as evidence,” members were able to demonstrate their distinctiveness to donors and policymakers with more confidence. The Partnership Surveys, in particular, provided a structured way for partners to speak back into relationships, helping to rebalance dynamics and build trust.
The programme also opened doors to influence. Collective engagement in Brussels, PaRD, and WCC meant that members could contribute to debates on climate justice, civil society space, and humanitarian principles in ways they could not have achieved alone. Thought leadership—both through high-profile webinars and Secretariat-authored reflections—deepened shared understanding and gave the network a stronger voice in policy conversations.
The Values Toolkit proved to be a practical resource, equipping members with sharper language and framing for advocacy. It has helped to bring theological distinctiveness into spaces where professional credibility and technical rigour are often the dominant expectations. Internally, all this work clarified and affirmed EU-CORD’s Christian identity—an issue members had long flagged as vital but underdeveloped.
Reflecting Forward (CEO Perspectives)
In 2025, CEOs affirmed that Faith in Action had struck a valuable balance between evidence and inspiration. Toolkits offered something tangible, while webinars and reflections created space for theological engagement and fresh ideas. Together, these strands have positioned the network as a credible and thoughtful voice in European and global conversations.
Leaders also recognised challenges. Measuring the impact of faith remains complex, and participation levels varied across the membership. Limited Secretariat capacity constrained follow-up, especially in embedding tools like the Values Toolkit more fully. The current focus leaned heavily on climate and humanitarian work, leaving peacebuilding and disability inclusion less explored. Donor expectations around EU values were also flagged as an area where members need greater confidence and shared tools.
Looking ahead, CEOs emphasised three priorities: deepen member-led formats such as learning circles and action groups where national partners co-lead; invest in stronger evidence frameworks to track faith impact; and integrate the faith dimension more deliberately across advocacy, funding, and partnerships. Above all, they see an opportunity for EU-CORD to claim its place as a recognised thought leader in the public square, making the case that faith is central to tackling today’s global challenges.
