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- +254 748029405 | +254 208112889
- info@faithtoactionetwork.org
Faith to Action Network
Steering Council
The Steering Council is the policy-making organ which lends strategic direction to the Faith to Action Network.
Peter Munene
Faith to Action Network
Peter is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Faith to Action Network, a global interfaith network of more than 100 Bahai, Buddhist, Christian, Confucian, Hindu and Muslim faith organisations represented in 26 countries. He has 22 years’ experience in advocacy and implementation of programmes targeting marginalized groups.Previously, Peter worked for African Network for the Prevention and Protection Against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN) where he was Head of Child Labour Department at its headquarters in Kenya and the Nigeria and Zambia (which he established) Chapters. He also worked as Country Director for DSW Tanzania, an office he established and later as International Affairs Manager in charge of advocacy, Africa and Asia.
Under Faith to Action Network, Peter has mobilized and identified an interfaith delegation to Al-Azhar University in Cairo, United Nations Commission for Population and Development (CPD) 51 and 52 and the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) – 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018 and currently planning 2021. He has been key in organizing the first ever Faith Preconference at ICFP in 2016 in Bali Indonesia and 2018 in Kigali Rwanda. A similar pre-conference is being planned at ICFP 2021 in Thailand.
Peter is a member of the UN Taskforce on Religion and SRHR.
Dr. Francis Kuria
African Council of Religious Leaders – Religions for Peace
Dr. Francis Kuria Kagema, is the Secretary General of the African Council of Religious Leaders-Religions for Peace. He has also served as the Executive Director of Inter-Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK) 2008. Dr. Kuria had also served as Programs Director and head of the IRCK secretariat for a period of six years. Before joining IRCK, Dr. Kuria worked as the National Coordinator for the Small Business Network, an organisation advocating for small and medium enterprises. He also worked as a Financial Analyst at the Nairobi Stock Exchange and as a volunteer with St. John Ambulance Brigade where he served for 16 years, retiring as Assistant Commissioner, Training and Operations in 1998. Dr. Kuria holds a degree in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery.
Dr. Emma Rachmawati
University of Muhammadiyah Prof. Dr. HAMKA
Dr. Emma Rachmawati, is a Public Health Coordinator and General Health Advisory Council at Central Board of Muhammadiyah Organization, Indonesia
She is a lecturer at the Faculty of Health Sciences and has served two terms as its Dean between 2011-2018. Dr. Rachmawati is currently also serving as national head of ethical clearance at the health research commission. She is also coordinator at the triple elimination (HIV/AIDS, syphilis and hepatitis b) partnership program.
In Muhammadiyah Organization, she serves as a Public Health Coordinator for the General Health Advisory Council, Central Board. She is also responsible for Partnership Program since 2011 in public health programs such as health promoting hospital and reproductive health at Muhammadiyah Islamic Boarding Schools. She is a member of Health Council of the Central Board for ‘Aisiyah Organization (Woman’s wing organization of Muhammadiyah), Indonesian Public Health Professional Certification Agency (LSPKMI) Treasury and Indonesian Public Health Association, Jakarta Branch’s Expert Board.
She is currently Coordinator of Public Health and Education Division, Muhammadiyah Covid-19 Command Center (MCCC)
Geertje van Mensvoort
Catholic Organization for Relief and Development Aid (Cordaid)
Geertje van Mensvoort is Sexual Reproductive Health Advisor at Cordaid in the Netherlands and has extensive experience in Development Aid. She has a background in sociology and health education. Within Cordaid she works, among others, on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights and Gender programs. She has been involved in studies on religion and SRHR and developed a training manual for religious leaders on adolescent sexual and reproductive health. She is currently supporting several programs including the Jeune S3 programme in DRC, CAR, Benin and Cameroon. Before joining Cordaid she worked for UNAIDS in Ghana and Ethiopia.
Dr. Douglas Huber
Christian Connections for International Health (CCIH)
Dr. Douglas Huber is a physician and public health expert who has provided leadership for large-scale maternal and child health programs in 41 countries. For more than 30 years, Dr. Huber has held senior positions in international health organizations. He has led innovations that have significantly increased contraceptive prevalence in varied settings, including successful community-based programs in Bangladesh and Afghanistan that served as models for national scale-up of family planning services.
Dr. Huber served on the expert international committees for the World Health Organization and the International Planned Parenthood Federation that produced the Global Handbook for Family Planning Providers and newly developed guidelines for community health workers. As co-chair of the Family Planning/Reproductive Health working group of Christian Connections for International Health, he works closely with leaders in Christian health associations and Islamic health networks in Africa. He also served as the HIV/AIDS advisor to the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa from 2002-2004. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and a Fellow of the American College of Preventing Medicine
Prof. Dr. Ahmed Ragab
International Islamic Centre For Population Studies and Research, Al Azhar University
Prof. Dr. Ahmed Ragaa A. Ragab is a Professor of reproductive health at the International Islamic Centre for Population Studies and Research, Al-Azhar University. He is a graduate from Al-Azhar University, one of the oldest and prestigious Islamic University) where they teach Islamic studies and medical science side by side. He is holding three master degrees (OB/GYN, population and bioethics) and a Ph.D, reproductive health. He helped in developing strategies and programs that aim at improving child health, eradication of violence against women and children, reduction of maternal mortality, tackling gender-based violence and improving reproductive health in some of the developing countries, mainly in Africa and Arab region. He worked much in countries in crisis like Somalia, Darfur camps in Eastern Chad, Iraq, Yemen and Afghanistan. He was a member of the advisory committee for African Network for Social Accountability (ANSA) (2006-2010) for North Africa, a member of Africa Faith Based Organization, Durban, South Africa and, currently, the Vice Chairman of Faith to Action Network.
He was awarded several awards: The National High Academy of Scientific Research Family Planning Award, 2004 and a medal of excellence from Al-Azhar University, 2008. Egyptian medical syndicate awarded him its annual award for his work in the area of promoting the health of women in 2006. UNICEF report, 2002, put him as one of the leaders of health for his work in Somalia for eradication of female genital cutting (page 19). He has extensive record of research and books addressing family planning, reproductive health and gender issues from faith perspectives. He was nominated to be the Chairman of the “Family Culture Committee” of the “Egyptian Family House” starting from January 2017. He is an ex-member of the reference group of FP2020 t. The Reference Group sets the overall strategic direction for FP2020 and drives coordination between the partnership’s stakeholders
Rev. Canon Grace Kaiso
Inter-religious Council of Uganda (IRCU)– Peace Institute
Rev. Canon Grace Kaiso is a theologian and an ordained minister in the Anglican Church. He was trained in Uganda, New Zealand and Canada. He is married to Christine with five children. Since his ordination in 1977 he has served in the Church in different capacities and at different levels.
Rev. Kaiso served for 9 years as the Executive Secretary of the Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC), an ecumenical body that brings together the Anglican Church, the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. Rev. Kaiso has worked with World Vision International as Project Manager and Facilitator of urban projects for 10 years where he was actively involved in issues of urban ministry with special focus on empowerment of the poor. He is known within the Faith circles as an ardent advocate for human rights, good governance and is an active player in peace building initiatives in the Great Lakes region.
Rev. Canon Kaiso’s approach to social justice issues is informed by his faith in Christ and theological training, his passion for building harmonious and dignified communities, and also by his practical experience of engagement with diverse governance structures, the urban poor and minority groups. He is an advocate of social emancipation, transforming and compassionate leadership; and for innovative Christian ministry models for effective Christian witness. Rev. Kaiso has served on various Boards including; Micah Challenge International, Media Council of Uganda, National Council for Children Uganda, Anglican Alliance, ECLOF- Uganda, FECCLAHA, Africa Council for Religious Leaders and ICCO Regional Board.
He currently serves as the Director – Peace Institute at the Interreligious Council of Uganda (IRCU) and Senior Adviser with the Anglican Alliance.
Advisory Council
Dr. Abdul Mu’ti
The State Institute for Islamic Studies, IAIN Walisongo, Semarang, Indonesia
Prof. Abdul Mu’ti is Secretary General of Central Board Muhammadiyah and Associate Professor at State Islamic University Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. Prof. Mu’ti has been greatly involved in Interfaith organisations and dialogues, partnerships, and cooperations. He is a member of executive committee of Asian Conference of Religion for Peace (ACRP) and Indonesia-USA Committee of Religion and Pluralism. He Also served as a member of Indonesia-United Kingdom Islamic Advisory Board (2007-2009) and Advisor of the British Council (2006-2007).
Prof. Mu’ti served as the Head of the National Accreditation Board of School/Madrasah (2012-2017). From 2019, Prof. Mu’ti was appointed Head of National Board of Indonesia Education Standards. His latest publications are Positive Pluralism (2019) and Authentic Tolerance (2019). His Ph.D (Doctor) Thesis at Graduate School of State Islamic University Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta studied Christian students within Schools of Muhammadiyah in Ende(East Nusa Tenggara), Yapen Waropen (Papua), and Putussibau (West Kalimantan).
Ray Martin
Christian Connections for International Health (CCIH)
Ray Martin serves as Executive Director Emeritus for Christian Connections for International Health (CCIH) a network of over 500 organizational and individual members promoting international health and wholeness from a Christian perspective. He served as Executive Director from 2000 to 2014. He has 45 years’ experience as an international development and public health specialist managing the design, implementation and evaluation of large health and population programs. In a 25-year career with USAID, he was chief of the Health, Population, and Nutrition offices in Zaire, Pakistan, and Cameroon. He also served in Ghana and Morocco with USAID. From 1992 he worked several years on African programs as a public health specialist at the World Bank.
Ray Martin’s international career began as a Mennonite volunteer in community development in Somalia and in refugee development in Tanzania. He has a B.A. in economics from Goshen College, Indiana, an MPH degree from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. He is fluent in French. In October 2012, Ray Martin received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Health Section of the American Public Health Association and in September 2013, he received the Johns Hopkins University Knowledge for the World award for alumni who exemplify the Johns Hopkins tradition of excellence. He is a strong advocate of closer collaboration between global development institutions and civil society, including the faith community.
Prof. Dr. Gamal Serour
International Islamic Centre For Population Studies and Research, Al Azhar University
Professor Dr. Gamal Serour is the Director of the International Islamic Center for Population Studies and Research at Al-Azhar University. Serour, an Egyptian, was President of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) from 2009-2012. He joined the FIGO Ethics Committee in 1994 and became the chair in 2003. Has authored and co-authored numerous papers published in international, regional and national journals and has edited various books. He is a reviewer for several international journals, and often addresses scientific meetings. Prof. Serour has received numerous National Awards and Honorary Memberships in Obstetrics and Gynaecology Societies Worldwide. Prof. Serour was a member of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Bioethics Committee (IGBC), and the International Bioethics Committee (IBC) for 9 years. As Director of the IICPSR, he received the 2013 UN Population Award. In 2018, he was awarded by the President of Egypt the highest State Prize – The Nile Award for Medical Science. In 2019, Prof. Serour was elected as a Member of Islamic Research Council Al Azhar and an Advisor to the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar.
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- Hatheru Court, Hatheru Road, off Gitanga Road, P.O. Box 2438-00202, Lavington, Nairobi, Kenya
- info@faithtoactionetwork.org
- +254 748029405, +254 208112889
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