Faith to Action Network (F2AN), in partnership with Eco Bhinneka Muhammadiyah and ACT Church of Sweden, successfully convened and officially launched the Asia Hub, a new interfaith regional platform connecting faith-based organizations across Asia.
Held from 18–20 May 2026 at the Central Board of Muhammadiyah offices in Jakarta, Indonesia, the three-day hybrid convening brought together 59 participants from nine countries: Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, India, Myanmar, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sweden. The gathering marked a significant milestone in strengthening regional cooperation among faith actors working to advance peace, gender justice, climate action, youth engagement, and social inclusion.
Building a Regional Platform for Collective Action
The Asia Hub was established in response to a growing need for stronger regional collaboration among faith-based organizations in Asia. While many national-level interfaith platforms exist across the region, participants recognized the absence of a dedicated space for organizations to learn from one another, coordinate advocacy efforts, and amplify collective voices at regional and global levels.
“This Hub is not merely a discussion forum,” noted Hening Parlan of Eco Bhinneka Muhammadiyah. “It must live in communities as a platform for collaboration, learning, and collective action that creates real impact on the ground.”
The convening provided an opportunity for participants to reflect on shared regional challenges and identify areas for future collaboration. Discussions highlighted issues such as shrinking civic space, gender-based violence, climate vulnerability, religious polarization, youth participation, and barriers to freedom of religion or belief.
A Historic Moment for F2AN
The convening also marked an important leadership transition for Faith to Action Network, as Reverend Jane Nganga was officially introduced to Asia Hub members as F2AN’s incoming Chief Executive Officer.
Addressing participants, Rev. Nganga emphasized the transformative role of faith communities in advancing social change:
Faith is not a barrier to change; faith is the engine of change.
She reaffirmed the Network’s commitment to strengthening interfaith partnerships and supporting faith actors working to build peaceful, just, and inclusive communities.
Key Priorities Identified
Through thematic and regional working groups, participants identified seven priority areas for collective action:
- Peace and Peacebuilding
- Climate Justice
- Youth Engagement and Digital Literacy
- Women’s Leadership and Gender Justice
- Social Inclusion
- Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB)
- Public Health and Mental Health
Participants also highlighted the importance of strengthening faith-based climate action, countering online misinformation and hate speech, promoting women’s leadership, supporting vulnerable communities affected by conflict, and creating safe spaces for interfaith dialogue.
Looking Ahead
The convening concluded with the formal launch of the Asia Hub by Dr. Samuel Mwenda, Chair of Faith to Action Network’s Supervisory Council.
“The Asia Hub is now officially launched and will be included in the list of Hubs within the Faith to Action Network,” he announced.
Participants agreed on a roadmap for the Hub’s first year, including quarterly meetings, the development of an Asia Hub online platform, capacity-strengthening initiatives, collaborative research, youth-led media engagement, and joint advocacy efforts.
The Hub will operate as a member-driven platform guided by principles of interfaith collaboration, accountability, inclusivity, learning, and sustainability. It aims to serve as a space where faith leaders, practitioners, researchers, and community organizations can connect, share expertise, and work together to address some of the region’s most pressing challenges.
As Asia faces increasing social, environmental, and humanitarian challenges, the newly launched Asia Hub represents an important step toward strengthening collective action and ensuring faith communities play a meaningful role in shaping a more peaceful, just, and resilient future.
About the Asia Hub
The Asia Hub is Faith to Action Network’s fifth regional hub and brings together faith-based organizations, faith leaders, and like-minded institutions from across Asia to collaborate on advocacy, learning, and collective action. The Hub is open to both institutional and individual members committed to advancing peace, gender justice, climate resilience, social inclusion, and community wellbeing.
