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SMC decides on cuts in this year’s development grant
The SMC Board decided on May 30 on how the Swedish government's reduction of this year's budget for foreign development assistance will be handled in the network. The decision concerns SMC's largest grant from Sida, which promotes long-term development efforts through civil society.
Read MoreInternational work for resilience based on local ownership
In May, the UN will hold the GP2022 conference with a focus on reducing the risk of disasters. SMC will participate with a delegation that has experience of both being affected and combating climate change.
Read MoreExploring innovation and superpowers in our network
We were happy to see 170 participants at this year’s digital SMC Network Inspirational Day. Speakers from our global network shared their experiences of how innovation, networking and green transition make us “Stronger Together”.
Read MoreThe point of innovation is making things better
Alan AtKisson is inspired by faith-based organisations' experience in innovation - it spans over thousands of years! On February 7th he joins our Network Inspirational Day to tell us more.
Read MoreSida’s decision: One billion SEK 2022-2026
Sida believes that SMC and its network are a good partner in Swedish development assistance, but that the pace of change in certain processes must increase.
Read MoreI want to see more happen between climate crisis and religion
At the time of writing, it is still unclear how we will remember Cop26 in Glasgow. The meeting is in full swing as I write this. What we do know is that we will have heard a lot of big words.
Read MoreMoney, colonialism and trusting partnerships
How can we contribute to trusting aid partnerships when we hold the money bag? It is an important question to ask ourselves, which is passing on aid money.
Read MoreScandinavian ministerial meeting on religion, climate and aid
The Knowledge Forum for Religion and Development network met the Scandinavian Ministers for Development Aid to talk about what faith has to do with civil society and aid.
Read MoreStronger emphasis on faith in new theory of change and development
Petter Jakobsson, our theological advisor, talks about the update of our theory of change and development and what we hope it will lead to.
Read MoreShorter distances with virtual follow-up visits
The distances in the world have felt longer than usual during the pandemic. But they decreased when we recently brought Sida on virtual follow-up visits to our partners in the Amazon, Colombia, Ethiopia and Nepal.
Read MoreNew guidelines to strengthen work on the environment and climate
A special investment of SEK 5 million per year will promote the integration of the environment and climate into the international development efforts that SMC supports through its member organisations.
Read MoreYemen’s foreign minister wanted to hear civil society’s analysis of the situation
Siri Karlsson from ADRA Sweden was there when Yemen's Foreign Minister recently visited Sweden. He was particularly interested in how civil society can contribute to peaceful development.
Read MoreJust over a billion in applications to Sida for the next five years
SMC applies for just over SEK 1 billion to finance the development cooperation planned together with the member organizations.
Read MoreNew operational strategy decided
At the Annual Meeting of the SMC yesterday, a new operational strategy for 2022-2026 was decided under the slogan Believe in a Better World. However, the decision was not taken unanimously.
Read MoreLessons learned from civil society during the pandemic
How have our partners tackled the pandemic during the past year? What have the restrictions meant for freedom? How has it affected the ability of faith-based organisations to operate in civil society?
Read MoreCore support shall facilitate cooperation in aid
In recent years, Sida has challenged us strategic partner organisations to work more with a new form of support called Core Support. During the spring, we have carried out a pilot project.
Read MoreFundamentalism in Latin America – what can the Church do?
A political-religious version of fundamentalism has developed in Latin America over the past 20 years. It has weakened democracy across the continent. We gathered experts in Latin America to talk about what the role of the Church is and can be.
Read MoreAnalysing civic space from a faith perspective
We invited policymakers and civil society actors to help us connect the dots between freedom of religion or belief and civic space. The discussion illustrated a need for increased dialogue between advocates for democracy and advocates for freedom of religion or belief.
Read MoreLong-term aid work in Ghana pays off
We want to share a story from Ghana. It is about how more than forty years ago our member organisation ADRA laid the foundations for a small vocational school that has today grown into a thriving university.
Read MoreHow to include freedom of religion or belief in civic space analysis
We at SMC work with different civil society actors around the world – many of which are faith-based. In this article we provide a checklist for understanding the role of freedom of religion or belief in civic space analysis.
Read MoreFinal reports show how rights for young people are being strengthened
Children's rights are a recurring theme in the final reports we have read for 2020. Hanna Toorell talks in her column about how some of our partners work to strengthen children's rights over time.
Read MoreSuccessful course on conducting humanitarian projects
During three highly appreciated days, Illiasou Adamou from Niger taught the art of conducting both development but above all humanitarian projects in line with Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS).
Read MoreTo love one’s neighbor by listening
We invite our member organisations to a day were we talk about the heart of mission - about what we put into the concept of holistic mission and how we can work ecumenically to learn from each other.
Read MoreSupport local forces to reverse developments in Yemen
Many are disappointed after this week's International Donors' Conference for Yemen. Our member organisations ADRA and PMU's local partners work in Yemen.
Read MoreHigh marks for our international work on religious freedom
An external evaluation concludes that our international work to promote religious freedom for all is very successful.
Read MoreNetwork meeting of Nordic Mission Councils
Every year, the Nordic Mission Councils meet for exchange of experience and networking. This year, it was naturally done digitally, which also enabled more people to participate.
Read MoreOur contribution to Agenda 2030 is hope!
Over 100 participants logged on to "SMC Network Inspirational Day" - our international and digital adaptation of the annual membership days.
Read MoreResilience puts words to sustainable aid work
An evaluation of our special investment in resilience 2017-2021 shows that the initiative has promoted collaborations in our network and that the concept of "resilience" is valuable for putting into words a work that is already being done, often linked to the nexus issues.
Read MoreThe Bible inspired work for the climate
A book about the Bible and the climate revolutionized her way of thinking. Since then, Dr. Ruth Valerio has devoted her life to climate change. At our annual membership days in February, she is one of the keynote speakers.
Read MoreMore climate focus in new development cooperation guidelines
There are now new guidelines for cooperation between SMC and the member organizations on long-term development cooperation in civil society (CivSam).
Read MoreA fighter for cooperation with and between religious
In the shadow of the covid-19 pandemic, religious actors must cooperate regardless of their faith. This is according to Professor Azza Karam, who is one of the keynote speakers at our annual membership days in February.
Read More‘Claiming Space for Faith’ report draws international attention
Internationally renowned Religion and Diplomacy draws attention to our latest report in an interview with Kristina Patring, our advisor on religious freedom.
Read MoreYoung people’s health: “We lost so many”
He comes from a large family with eight siblings. But three of them died of AIDS. That's when Mike Mutungi began to take an interest in questions about young people's health.
Read MoreConscientious objection: Said no for conscience’s sake
Juan Pablo Córtes was 18 years old when he refused to do military service on the grounds of conscience. A decision that has affected his life in several ways.
Read MoreOver 270 million for international aid in 2021
Next year, SMC - Faith in Development will co-finance 57 international development efforts. 16 member organisations have been granted funds of over SEK 270 million for work mainly in Africa and Asia.
Read MoreAbout leadership and mountains
In crisis situations such as a pandemic, good leadership is needed. That's why I'm so excited about our newly started series of webinars focusing on leadership, organizational development and how our faith plays a part.
Read MoreDesk Officer Days 2020: How to Support Effective and Sustainable Development
Julia Brandström shares some reflections after this year’s Desk Officer Digi-Days at SMC, mainly concerning ”How can we truly increase local ownership?”
Read MoreWe sow seeds for change with digital learning
In November, the SMC - Faith in Development held its first course on the digital learning platform Fabo. It was an introductory course in Outcome Mapping and Outcome Harvesting.
Read MoreNew Report Shows: Faith Overlooked in Work for Democracy
"Work for democracy will simply be more effective if issues of freedom of religion or belief are included and if we as aid actors understand the challenges facing our partner organisations."
Read MoreContinued humanitarian engagement
Sida has not yet taken a formal decision on the future of SMC's strategic humanitarian partnership. However, when the current agreement expires in March 2021, an extension is expected until December 2022.
Read MoreMore digital learning through Fabo
Through our membership in Fabo, we and our member organizations will have greater opportunities to create digital resources for learning.
Read MoreIs the world really getting less religious?
Yes, if you believe the latest survey by the World Value Survey. But the survey raises many questions.
Read MoreInvitation: Championing a Localisation Movement in DRR
As part of the Swedish CSO Resilience Network we are happy to coordinate this interactive seminar on Thursday 1st of October.
Read MoreAmbassadors raise awareness about orphanages
The number of orphans worldwide is declining, but orphanages are still being set up at a rapid pace. The Orphanage Dialogue project aims to create an awareness of the problems of orphanages and to show alternatives.
Read MoreSmarter Development with Resilience
Promoting resilience will be critical in order to lift millions out of extreme poverty and meet the 2030 Global Goals. In this interview, resilience expert Silva Ferretti explains the idea of resilience and how to start working with it to strengthen development interventions.
Read MoreLocal actors facilitate humanitarian work in the wake of Corona
The SMC has recently been granted more than SEK 6 million divided over three humanitarian operations in South Sudan, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.
Read MoreNew report: Corona pandemic hits the world’s poor hard
Today we and six other Swedish organizations are releasing the report Coronapandemin hits the world's poor hard. The report is a rally for democracy that lifts the voices of those most affected.
Read MoreThe heart of the Mission is part of the work on a new strategy
If you can't do what you want, you can do what you can. So, a cancelled meeting place about the mission's heart became a foundation in our work on a new operational strategy 2022-2026.
Read MoreFaith in Development and the 2030 Agenda
The motto of SMC is “Faith in development”. Niklas Eklöv, head of policy and learning at SMC, highlights three main aspects borne out of having faith in development. These aspects are key to understanding the role that faith based actors play in working towards the 2030 Agenda.
Read MoreFaith-based actors and their response to the 2030 Agenda
Sida invites partners and Sida staff to a lunch seminar on “Faith-based actors and their response to the 2030 Agenda”.
Read MoreMaking the most of feminist foreign policy
Law and gender specialist Dr. Saumya Uma visits Sweden with a clear message on the importance of connecting freedom of religion or belief and women’s rights.
Read MoreLearning Platform to Promote Freedom of Religion or Belief to be Launched at the UN
79% of the world’s population live in a country where their religion or belief can put them at risk. Government restrictions and social hostilities based on religious identity or conviction are on the rise globally. The Freedom of Religion or Belief (FORB) Learning Platform offers tools to help reverse this trend.
Read MoreOur Network
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Read MoreTheory of Change
Read MoreInternational development cooperation
Read MoreEnvironment, Climate and Resilience
In our international work, we meet many of those who are ultimately affected by climate change and are inspired by their ideas and resilience.
Read MoreOur Work
Read MoreFaith and Democracy
Read MoreInternship program
Read MoreHumanitarian interventions
Read MoreIntegrity Policy
Read MoreCommunications Program
We want Swedish people to engage in a society that is environmentally sustainable, just, equal and democratic.
Read MoreOur Board and the Committee
Read MoreAdvocacy
Advocacy is an important tool in creating change and helping decision-makers better understand the needs of the world. We are knowledge based, working with freedom of religion or belief, religious literacy and development policy. Being able to understand the language of both theology and human rights gives us the bilingualism that is often lacking in the Swedish foreign and development policy.
Read MoreLongterm development cooperation
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Read MoreBecome a Member Organisation
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Read MoreFreedom of Religion
Read MoreReligious literacy - a part of SMC's identity
Read MoreWe are rebuilding our website
Does something seem different here? You are right - we are in the process of rebuilding our website to make it more user-friendly.
Read MoreOrganisation & Partnership
There is a multitude of organisations in our network. The partnership between us is a condition for us to be able to contribute to a sustainable society.
Read MoreErik Bäckelid
Read MoreNetworking with Faith in Climate and Resilience
Our network shared experiences of international advocacy and our special asset as faith-based actors in bringing hope and action to the table, both on a local and international level.
Read MoreJohanna Olofsson
Read MoreErik Stenseke
Read MoreAll our Policies
for us at SMC, policy documents are important tools for quality assurance of the work we do. The policies govern assessments of development efforts and provide support for our member and partner organizations on various issues.
Read MoreCourse on Religious Literacy
With our digital course on religious literacy, you can learn more about your own values in relation to other people's faith and beliefs.
Read MoreLime Portal
Read MoreCourse Why resilience matters
Read MoreKristian Hartman
Read MoreMira Kim
Read MoreKristina Patring
Read MoreViktoria Isaksson
Read MoreChild participation is a win-win
- Child participation is a win-win because it leads to a more humane society, enhanced realisation of children’s rights, a stronger commitment to democracy and more compassion between people, says Gerison Lansdown ahead of the SMC Member Days 2023.
Read MoreCommunities of practice
Read MoreSevere cuts in Sida funds
Sida has terminated the agreement with SMC regarding the information and communication grant due to the government's cuts for 2023.
Read MoreAbout our website and integrity policy
Read MoreOutcomes from our network
Read about what effects the funds we distribute have around the globe
Read MoreJulia Brandström
Read MoreTonya Lilburn
Read MoreMiriam Mondragon
Read MoreMission
Read MoreCuts to the info/com budget have major consequences
The government's cuts to Sida's info/com budget from 155 to 20 million have major consequences for communication on global issues. It was crushingly clear in a meeting that Sida invited to about the grant and in which SMC and representatives of member organisations participated.
Read MoreAnnual meeting
Read MoreVictoria Pfeiffer
Read MoreThe annual report of 2022 is here
The annual meeting has formally approved the annual report of 2022. It includes features, interviews, financial statements and information about the staff, board members and committee.
Read MoreGreat engagement at SMC's annual meeting
How should faith-based organizations relate to a renegotiated social contract? Does the annual meeting need to confirm motions that have already been addressed? These were some burning questions discussed last week when SMR's network gathered for a day focused on the annual meeting.
Read MoreEmmalill Hector
Read MoreGood results but ongoing significant needs - final report on humanitarian aid
On the last day of May, SMC submitted the final report for humanitarian aid to Sida. In total, 2.2 million people in 17 countries have received humanitarian assistance between 2017 and 2022.
Read MoreKristina Patring elected to the Council for Human Rights
Kristina Patring, expert advisor at the SMC - Faith in Development, has been elected as a delegate to the newly formed advisory council on Human Rights, an advisory body to the Swedish National Institute for Human Rights. She is one of 20 Swedish human rights experts who have been elected to the advisory council.
Read MoreMagnus Lindgren
Read MoreTomasz Swiesciak
Read MoreAlmedalen - Global anxiety or global hope?
How do we reverse a growing sense that the world is falling apart completely? That was the key question when the SMR network organized a panel discussion on young people’s future perspectives and engagement on Wednesday in Almedalen.
Read MoreLaunch of Facilitators´ toolkit
Interactive exercises, stories and case studies. In April the Freedom of Religion or Belief facilitators’ toolkit was launched in a digital event with around 50 participants from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
Read MoreYouth in focus at member days
The theme for SMCs 2023 member days, attended by almost 100 participants from 29 member organizations was "Youth is the Present." It was the first time after almost three years of digital meetings that the network could meet in real life, and sprits were high among the participants.
Read MoreSMC Webinar on Auditing and Follow-Up procedures
Read MoreSMC Learning Network 2024
For many years SMC have had annual learning days in late November together with our Member Organizations, called the “Desk Officer Days”. These days have been an opportunity to dig deeper into different subjects, and to share and learn together. In recent years we have combined digital and in person meetings.
Read MoreOn the topic of environment, climate and resilience - how do you strengthen biodiversity?
In September, SMC arranged a workshop in environment, climate and resilience. An important theme was how we can strengthen biological diversity within the intervention activities.
Read MoreSMC Learning Network - digital meeting for member organisations and partners
Read MoreSMC Learning Network - personal meeting for member organisations
Read MoreSMC Learning Network - digital meeting for member organisations and partners
Read MoreSMC Learning Network - personal meeting for member organisations
Read MoreMember Days 2024
Read MoreSMC Inspirational Day 2024
Read MoreThe internship program ends - final report presented
On 15 November, SMR submitted the final reports for the trainee grant to UHR. Reporting applied to both 2021 and 2022.
Read MoreSofie Twal Hedman
Read MoreAnna Olsson
Read MoreHanna Toorell
Read MoreAnna-Lena Hansson
Read MoreNicole Vestling
Read MoreHeart Of Mission
The focus during the heart of the mission was on two themes, value-based work in relation to ecumenical diaconia and on the relationship between religious freedom and LGBTQI+ rights.
Read MoreMember Days 2023: Engaging youth
The theme for our first physical membership days in three years was "Youth is the present". In the program there was inspiration about how young people in our network get involved in missions, climate, human rights and social development, both locally and globally - but also a lot of concrete advice on how we as adults can become better at being children and young people's skills and needs.
Read MoreThe role of religious freedom in Swedish foreign and development policy
What can decision-makers, officials and various development actors do to promote an open and democratic culture, in the midst of a time of international division?
Read MoreFinal Report for Communication programme and Humanitarian programme
Sida has approved our final report for the communication program in 2022 and three months in 2023, both the narrative and financial. Sida was impressed that we were able to show results from the work, despite the big challenges in 2022 and that we had to stop the work so quickly.
Read MoreThe religious freedom expert on the Quran burnings and freedom of expression
The debate about the Quran burnings is filled with difficult questions about freedom of expression and religion. To get one step closer to understanding the complexity of the issue, we asked our religious freedom expert to answer a few questions.
Read MoreLGBTQ+ learning priority
During the year, a key learning focus within the SMC network has been the relationship between freedom of religion and belief (FORB) and rights of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
Read MorePost-pandemic: rewarding follow-up visits with cooperating partners
During 2023 SMC have made six follow-up visits meeting several cooperating partners in Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Nigeria, Honduras and Guatemala. Visiting cooperating partners to LM International, Children’s Mission, LPI, ADRA, the Leprosy mission and PMU.
Read MoreSMC's first framework-agreement approved
During 2023 SMC approved its first framework-agreement. The process, however, started already in 2021 with the recommendation in a report on how to best organise the SMC office to reach the goals set out in the strategic plan for 2022-2026.
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