We Convene
Whether through local dialogue platforms or high-level meetings, KAICIID is dedicated to creating space at the table for representatives from every religion, tradition, culture, identity and background. We foster collaborations between policymakers and religious leaders, recognising that when we work together we reduce the inequalities and vulnerabilities that hinder equality and sustainable development. By convening diverse communities through interreligious and intercultural dialogue, we believe we can overcome conflict and division. When we know our neighbours, have mutual respect for those who are different from us, and form strong partnerships, we build cohesive communities founded on peace and justice for all.
Muslim Jewish Leadership Council (MJLC)
The Muslim Jewish Leadership Council (MJLC) was founded to serve the need to counter prejudice, disinformation, attacks, and violence against those who practise faith. It brings together actors from Europe’s Muslim and Jewish communities, who are equally represented on the Council, to address rising Islamophobia and anti-Semitism, as well as advise on policy related to freedom of religion and belief. The MJLC aims to improve relations between European Muslim and Jewish communities and to strengthen their voices when they make common cause to campaign for the rights of minorities to be respected by European policymakers.
As the only intergovernmental organization with a sole mandate to promote interreligious dialogue, KAICIID saw in the MJLC a unique opportunity to fill an important gap in the relations between religious communities in Europe. The Centre has lent it support and capacity building from its first steps in 2015
We Build Capacity
We offer capacity building opportunities for anyone interested in the field of interreligious dialogue and, in particular, for those who could benefit from applying it in their work, at an individual and institutional level. Faith leaders and religious institutions, for instance, are often on the frontlines of global crises, keeping the peace, advocating mutual respect and distributing humanitarian aid. Many of them need additional resources and are eager for further training in interreligious dialogue. We also help institutionalise dialogue in the highest governmental bodies by sharing policy recommendations and training policymakers to partner with faith communities on sustainable development agendas, peace and social cohesion. Through training youth and women we are also empowering them to bring change to their communities through interreligious dialogue.
We Work Regionally
KAICIID is dedicated to impacting every corner of the world with the transformative power of dialogue. In places torn apart by discrimination and conflict, we recognise that it is often religious leaders and faith-based organizations who serve as trusted mediators and ambassadors of peace. In our field programmes in Africa, the Arab Region, Asia and Europe, we host trainings and workshops which purposely bring opposing parties to the table in order to support them with dialoguing across difference and finding shared values. Our local platforms and networks also provide opportunities for collaboration, knowledge-sharing and resources, as well as training in dialogue facilitation. We believe that when we are united together, we can accomplish so much more.
Platforms
KAICIID’s dialogue platforms, based on interreligious partnerships, address the main drivers of conflict through policy and advocacy, as well as local dialogue initiatives at the grassroots level. Our regional platforms convene diverse high-ranking religious leaders, harnessing their authority, influence, and vast numbers of followers. They also bring together members of grassroots organizations, with a focus on women and young people, to multiply our reach and turn dialogue into action.
Conferences
Our global conferences and fora convene, among other relevant stakeholders from a variety of fields, religious leaders, policymakers and representatives of civil society organizations to address global challenges and threats to peaceful, cohesive communities. From our annual European Policy Dialogue Forum to the G20 Interfaith Forum, we have gathered thousands of participants to discuss issues such as combatting hate speech, using dialogue to support global development, and tackling violent extremism and the manipulation of religion to justify violence.
Secretariat
Led by the Secretary General, the KAICIID Secretariat carries out the administrative work of the Centre. The Secretary General oversees the day-to-day management of the Centre and provides regular reports of its activities to the Council of Parties and the Board of Directors. The Centre’s staff are responsible for implementing the programme of work laid out in the KAICIID Strategic Plan and ensuring its success in every corner of the world.
E-Learning and Online Resources
KAICIID’s E-Learning and Online Resources include digital knowledge tools, e-learning courses and thematic webinars, which teach dialogue as a tool to solve global issues. All e-learning courses are linked with global initiatives and development goals for sustainable peace. Additionally, the Connect2Dialogue online networking platform fosters best practices and knowledge exchange by connecting interreligious dialogue practitioners and experts from across the globe.
