ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the contribution of faith actors to the new U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We are not so much interested in how particular faith pronouncements might support or challenge aspects of the SDG framework, but instead upon how faith actors, as an ostensibly distinct cohort, have been involved in the consultation process to set the SDGs as well as how they are now interpreting, adopting, and implementing them in their work with local faith communities. We use the SDGs as a lens to view ideological and cultural encounters between international development actors and faith actors, including local faith communities. We base our discussion upon findings from a research network, funded by the U.K. Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and titled ‘Keeping Faith in 2030: Religions and the Sustainable Development Goals’, which focussed on India and Ethiopia.
