Documenting Faith-Development Trajectory in Africa: Contributions and Contestations
Olajire O. Olutola *
Department of Behavioral Sciences, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This article focuses on faith and work particularly in Africa. It highlights the important role of faith-based organisations in development. Specifically, it reviews the history of faith-based social provisioning; however, particular attention is devoted to the contributions of faith-based organisations towards enhancing delivery of social services to the disadvantaged and vulnerable people in Africa. To compliment the foregoing, a comprehensive review of existing relevant literature on achievements and contradictions attributed to faith-based social provisioning is examined. In short, this article concludes that Faith-based Organisations, in line with their myriad social and developmental activities have become a veritable institution that caters for the vulnerable and disadvantaged people, particularly in remotes areas and societies where expenditure on public services has been cut by the governments.
Keywords: Faith, faith-based organisations, development, Africa, social provisioning