We are pleased to announce that the Henry R. Luce Initiative on Religion and International Affairs has awarded the CIHA blog a $40,000 grant for our project entitled, “Charity, Representation, and Humanitarianism in Africa: Religious and Secular Perspectives,” undertaken to extend participation and ownership of the blog to academic and other institutions on the African continent.
The Luce grant will be used to expand the network of international scholars and religious leaders exploring different perspectives on the way humanitarian aid in Africa is sought, delivered, and perceived. CIHA Blog editor Cecelia Lynch will travel to selected areas of the continent during summer 2012 to create new and solidify existing relationships with African universities and institutions to deepen the dialogue and expand its impact. Future blog posts will update readers on the progress and content of the on-going dialogue and other developments, information which we hope will make humanitarian policy makers, non-governmental organizations, and academics better informed about the ethical and material advantages and disadvantages of assistance that is intended to benefit others.