Empowering Faith Actors: Highlights from the G20 Interfaith Forum

August 2025

Guided by the theme “Ubuntu in Action: Focus on Vulnerable Communities,” the 2025 G20 Interfaith Forum convened religious leaders, non-governmental organizations, governments, and multilateral entities in Cape Town, South Africa, to exchange knowledge and provide actionable solutions to some of the world’s most complex challenges.

Several Network members participated in the meeting, including the International Network of Engaged Buddhists, KAICIID, Reimagining New Communities, World Faith Development Dialogue, the African Union Commission, Adyan Foundation, Arigatou International, the Global Interfaith Network, PaRD International Partnership and United Religions Initiative.

G20 Youth Interfaith Forum

G20 Youth Interfaith Forum group photo. 2025.

Ahead of the G20 Interfaith Forum, 55 young leaders from over 25 countries, primarily from Africa, came together to exchange ideas, build skills, and strengthen connections in intercultural and interfaith dialogue.

The G20 Youth Interfaith Forum was organized by A Common Word Among Youth (ACWAY) and supported by the Stirling Foundation, alongside the United Religions Initiative (URI), Charter for Compassion, Dialogue Centre and the Peacemakers Network.

To build the capacity of young professionals to implement impactful advocacy messages, the Peacemakers Network led an e-advocacy training based on its e-advocacy training workbook. The training equipped the young people with the skills needed to craft compelling messages and amplify them across online platforms during the G20 Interfaith Forum, enabling them to break through the noise and effectively reach their intended audiences.

G20 Youth Interfaith Forum welcome. 2025.

G20 Youth Interfaith Forum e-advocacy training group discussion. 2025.

G20 Interfaith Forum

G20 Interfaith Forum Impact of Theology and Advocacy in Action panel. 2025.

During the G20 Interfaith Forum, Peacemakers Network Executive Director Dr. Mohamed Elsanousi spoke on the panel, Impact of Theology and Advocacy in Action. He emphasized that “no one should be left behind in the fight against climate change,” calling for inclusivity and collective action through interreligious partnerships. Dr. Elsanousi stressed that stewardship of the earth is both a scientific necessity and a moral, spiritual responsibility, noting that every major faith tradition calls for the care of creation, yet current global action falls far short of the urgency the climate crisis demands.

He underscored that interfaith advocacy is essential because it leverages moral authority and community trust to reach audiences where science alone may not persuade. This aligns directly with SDG 17, strengthening partnerships for sustainable development and mobilizing faith communities to inspire change, influence policy, and move hearts.

The Peacemakers Network’s Senior Specialist for Inclusive Peace, Jessica Roland, spoke on the panel, “Solidarity and Interfaith in the G20 Context: Focus on Women and Youth.” She focused her remarks on the critical role of women and young people in peace mediation efforts, with a focus on women and youth faith-based mediators. She also highlighted the upcoming advocacy brief launch for positive faith-based counter narratives to pushback against the pushback on gender and inclusion being developed by the gender working group of the UN Multi-Faith Advisory Council.

G20 Interfaith Forum Solidarity and Interfaith in the G20 Context Focus on Women and Youth panel. 2025.

Putting words into action, the participants of the G20 Interfaith Forum partnered with Rise Against Hunger Africa, to pack 33,000 meals for children in the local area of Cape Town, which is enough to feed 143 children for an entire year.

G20 Interfaith Forum partners with Rise Against Hunger Africa. 2025.