Faith to Action Network began in October 2010 when DSW (Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung), Christian Connections for International Health (CCIH), and Muhammadiyah undertook a feasibility study and participatory consultations to investigate strategic and practical considerations of working globally across faiths to realize better family planning and reproductive health funding and supportive policies (internal and external to faith organizations).

As a climax of the consultations, the study validation meeting with leaders from diverse religions and regions across the globe took place in June 2011 in Nairobi, Kenya. The validation meeting resulted in the ground-breaking Interfaith Declaration to improve family health and well-being otherwise known as the Nairobi Declaration. In this declaration, the religious leaders committed to leveraging their networks to support families to have increased access to information and quality services on family planning and reproductive health consistent with their faith. The religious leaders also mandated the establishment a global interfaith network (Faith to Action Network) to promote dialogue, build the technical and financial capacity of Faith organisations and religious institutions, and facilitate sustained joint advocacy and programming in support of family health and wellbeing. As a needs-based Network, the religious leaders, expressed the need to continuously organize forums for learning and experience sharing on the immense contribution made by the faith community to realise sustained development. In a meeting held in December 2012 in Addis Ababa, the structure of the Faith to Action Network as well as its operational and coordination mechanisms were agreed upon.

The Network has since spearheaded various groundbreaking initiatives including convening and mobilizing for faith participation at the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP), the Interfaith Conventions, International Women Rights in Christianity conference, Global Women Rights in Islam conference, faith participation in UNCPD and CSW among others. These platforms have witnessed growing participation of the faith community and increased depth of the content of engagement. As an example, the limited faith participation at the 2011 ICFP in Dakar Senegal has since grown to a faith and family planning preconference and dedicated faith and FP track within ICFP. Regarding women rights and gender justice, the online consultations and dialogues on women rights within in Christianity and in Islam climaxed into international conferences (women International Women Rights in Christianity – Kenya and Global Conference on Women Rights in Islam – Indonesia).

Regarding Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Communities, communities in diverse countries (Burundi, Ethiopia, Egypt, Indonesia, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania mainland and Islands (Pemba and Zanzibar), and Uganda) undertook interfaith initiatives that drew communities together in common actions. These included joint environmental actions, football matches, drama and puppetry, reciprocal visitation of each other places of worship among others.

The various interventions have strengthened interfaith community cohesion and collaboration, policy dialogue and advocacy, youth and women agency, and recognition of faith contribution in various spheres of development.