Global faith-based humanitarian organizations to receive approximately $2 billion in federal funding

WASHINGTON (BP) – Partnerships with faith-based and community organizations that provide global health and humanitarian assistance will receive nearly $2 billion in assistance through a strategy initiated by the Trump Administration.

Groups such as Samaritan’s Purse and “a consortium” that includes World Vision and Compassion International will benefit, the U.S. State Department said on Aug. 6. Send Relief, Southern Baptists’ global compassion ministry, has not been included “as of yet,” said a spokesperson for the agency.

The announcement further claimed it is the largest allocation in more than 20 years of global health foreign assistance to faith-based organizations and “underscores the Trump Administration’s commitment to partnering with organizations that demonstrate faith in action.”

The effort is taking place under the America First Global Health Strategy (AFGHS), through which the State Department has earmarked $1.4 billion for the work of faith- and community-based hospitals and clinics in more than 20 countries “to support the delivery of integrated, life-saving health services.”

Up to $850 million will go toward the group that includes World Vision, subject to availability of funds to support the work of some 2,500 faith-based hospitals, clinics and community hubs across 17 countries. That figure also covers training and financially supporting more than 30,000 community health workers.

In addition to the $1.4 billion, memorandums of understanding signed with governments under the AFGHS provide an additional $570 million to faith-based community hospitals and clinics.

A list of the cooperating countries can be found through the AFGHS link above. In many of them, said the State Department press release, faith-based healthcare providers represent at least 40 percent of all health facilities and represent a high trust level of funding reaching those most in need.

“The faith-based and community organizations are ensuring at least 80 percent of resources go toward frontline health services that reach patients and clients while streamlining overhead and management costs, a significant increase from the 35 percent to 40 percent of resources that went to frontline health services in historical awards from the State Department,” it said.

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This story appeared in Baptist Press.