The World Economic Forum engages over 100 religious leaders, faith-based organizations, interfaith groups, multi-faith networks, and scholars of religion representing a wide range of the world’s major religions and spiritual traditions.
In collaboration with global faith representatives, academic experts, and community voices, the Forum’s Faith in Action Community explores how partnerships with faith actors can contribute to broader efforts addressing today’s global challenges—particularly in a context of rising polarization and declining trust.
The Community brings together religious, spiritual, and global leadership to foster dialogue, support cooperation, and explore values-based approaches to complex issues. With approximately 84% of the global population identifying with a religious or spiritual tradition, the initiative acknowledges the ongoing relevance of faith in shaping societal engagement. By connecting shared values with practical collaboration, the initiative seeks to enhance mutual understanding and support efforts to strengthen societal resilience.
Growing divides within and between societies can limit opportunities for constructive dialogue and collaboration. As social cohesion erodes, efforts to address complex issues—such as inequality, environmental change, and the governance of emerging technologies—become increasingly fragmented.
Economic uncertainty, environmental pressures, and societal disparities are increasingly interlinked. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated responses that draw on diverse experiences, disciplines, and communities.
Faith-based actors bring extensive networks, long-standing community presence, and values-driven perspectives. Yet, they are often underrepresented in global cooperation efforts. Strengthening engagement with these actors can help broaden the range of insights and approaches applied to shared global concerns.
Faith traditions offer diverse ethical perspectives and values that can contribute to mutual understanding and cooperation. Emphasizing these commonalities can support bridge-building across sectors and communities.
Partnerships involving faith actors, businesses, governments, and civil society can expand the range of responses to complex global challenges. Such alliances enable the exchange of insights and the alignment of efforts around shared objectives.
Faith-inspired leadership can play a role in strengthening social cohesion, sustainability, and inclusive dialogue. Integrating moral and spiritual perspectives into multi-stakeholder cooperation offers an additional dimension to addressing long-term societal needs.
Faith in Action
A World Economic Forum Initiative