A Potent Fuel? Faith Identity and Development Impact in World Vision Community Programming

Abstract

This paper explores the role of faith identity on impact in development by looking at the programming of a major international faith-based development organisation (FBDO). It argues that faith identity rests not only in the internal projected identity of the FBDO but also on perceptions of that identity in the community, highlighting the role context plays in the formulation of faith identity and its impact. Secondly, the paper argues that FBDOs possess not only a faith identity but also a development one and that it is the interplay between both that allows for the creation of engagement and trust in interventions.