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Faith Leaders Deepen Commitment to Peace at Interfaith Dialogue in Nadi
February 14, 2025
The four-day interfaith dialogue conference and retreat in Nadi, fostered collaboration among faith leaders to promote peace and social cohesion.
Nadi, Fiji – Under the UN Social Cohesion Project, the Evangelical Fellowship of Fiji (EFF),
the UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Women, and OHCHR hosted a four-day interfaith dialogue conference and retreat in Nadi, fostering collaboration among faith leaders to promote peace and social cohesion. The newly appointed Chairperson of the Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Dr. Marcus Brand, attended the opening ceremony.
The event brought together over 70 faith leaders – including 50 from the EFF member churches across Fiji’s 14 provinces, and over 20 from other faith communities in and around Nadi and Lautoka. The event provided a platform for structured discussions on challenges and opportunities of advancing interfaith collaboration in Fiji.
Recognizing the pivotal role of faith communities in fostering peace, national reconciliation and healing, the dialogue featured thematic themes on social cohesion, social development, family unity, and the role of women in peacebuilding. Participants reflected on ways to strengthen interfaith collaboration, community trust-building, and inclusive dialogue. UN Women led discussions on women's leadership in social cohesion and peacebuilding, highlighting their contributions to reconciliation efforts and their crucial role in maintaining unity within families and communities.
UNDP clarified to participants that the UN Social Cohesion initiative, including its community dialogues and engagements, operates separately and parallel from the mandate and work of the Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
While outcomes of the UN’s social cohesion work would benefit the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s efforts, both processes remain distinct. This distinction ensures stakeholders understand and appreciate their respective contributions to fostering peace and reconciliation.
Through such initiatives, the UN hopes to empower faith leaders as key agents of peace, contributing to social cohesion and strengthening peaceful coexistence between people of across diverse religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji Peacebuilding Fund Project Manager, Raphael Asuliwonnu said:
“This initiative aligns with UN’s broader efforts to promote peace and social cohesion in Fiji. Faith leaders play a crucial role in uniting communities, and by strengthening interfaith dialogue, we are fostering a more inclusive and harmonious society.”
The Fiji Evangelical Fellowship Church established in 1993, represents more than 295 individual churches in Fiji and around the world. As a key partner in this initiative, Fiji Evangelical Fellowship church seeks to strengthen interfaith collaboration, ensuring peaceful coexistence remains a cornerstone of Fiji’s social fabric.
The dialogue conference took place from 11 to 14 February in Narewa, Nadi.
For more information please contact:
Risiate Biudole, Communications Analyst, UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji, risiate.biudole@undp.org
