INERELA+: Empowerment of Faith Based Communities as Leaders of Change
“INERELA+ takes advantage of her member religious leaders and organizations to reach out to communities with the powerful message around positive behavioral change.”
The International Network of Religious Leaders Living with and Affected by HIV and AIDS (INERELA+) began in 2002 as the African Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Personally Affected by HIV or AIDS (ANERELA+). In 2008, the network changed its name to INERELA+ because of the geographical scope of its membership in other continents. The network’s main goal is to help religious leaders living with or personally affected by HIV and AIDS, so that they can become agents of change by breaking the six evils: Stigma, Shame, Discrimination, Denial, Inaction and Misaction (SSDDIM), as they serve other vulnerable populations such as women, youths, and LGBTIQ+s.
© Sarah-Dona Manev
Currently INERELA+ has 15 networks across Africa, and representations in Asia Pacific and Latin America, with a global membership of approximately 8,158 members, and a Secretariat based in Johannesburg, South Africa, which provides co-ordination and technical support to all the networks. The national networks are constituted and managed by ordained and lay religious leaders, who are living with or personally affected by HIV/AIDS, and are the implementing bodies of the work of INERELA+. An RCF grant was first awarded to INERELA+ in 2014 as a member of The Global Faith Coalition for Getting to Zero (GFCGZero) consortium, and further funding in the 2016-2018 grant cycle.
One of its many successes while receiving funds through RCF has been its work with INERELA+ Burundi. INERELA+ has supported the development of INERELA+ Burundi, which was on the decline, through technical assistance and programmatic funds throughout the three-year grant cycle. INERELA+ Burundi plays an important role in its nation’s civil society, as it is the only organization with access to the faith community around issues of HIV and AIDS. In 2016, INERELA+ trained INERELA+ Burundi in advocacy and communications, with the goal of influencing policy makers. Government officials and media representatives were engaged in this training from the beginning, serving to raise awareness about INERELA+ Burundi´s capacity, and lay the foundation for change work. This training led to its members being able to increase their image and visibility, and bring their activities to the forefront, especially as they led the country’s World AIDS Day activities. Heightened awareness of INERELA+ Burundi in the public sphere led to governmental interest in their expertise and opportunities for additional international funding.
Given this heightened profile, and growing respect for INERELA+ Burundi´s ability to mobilize the faith community, in 2016, key members were invited to meet with the First Lady of the nation to discuss the issues of Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) and prevention of Gender-Based Violence (GBV). Ten Religious Leaders, six GBV survivors, once police officer, one legal representative, one Ministry of Health official, and one representative from the Ministry of Social Affairs, Human Rights and Gender were also present at the dialogue. Given the history of civil war, conflict and violence in Burundi, religious leaders were seen as a secure partner, who could mobilize communities impartially. In the meantime, INERELA+ Burundi was approached by Christian Aid as a possible implementing partner. The meeting with the First Lady resulted in a dialogue process in 2017 around national programming initiatives, with INERELA+ Burundi as a driver of the initiatives. These initiatives were carried out in 2018, supported by the funding from Christian Aid.
INERELA+ Burundi lent legitimacy, knowledge and resources to the campaigns. Partner organizations, with the backing of INERELA+ Burundi, were able to talk about GBV with women in their groups. Religious leaders organized a workshop around GBV, and stories that came from the workshop made national headlines. The effects have been impactful. Programming for PMTCT is now diversified, working through the religious community for education and promotion, GBV education and awareness is spreading, and the First Lady continues to work on these two issues as her platforms.
The support of INERELA+ to INERELA Burundi (via RCF) was instrumental in these successes. INERELA+ provided leadership and a clear strategic direction to the country network, while supporting with technical assistance that resonated with the concerns, needs and priorities identified in the context.