Faith to Action Network Celebrates 15 Years of Transforming Lives Across 39 Countries iI’m Nairobi on July 16, 2026.
By Peace Muthoka
NAIROBI, Kenya, July 16, 2026 — Faith to Action Network on Thursday celebrated 15 years of advancing faith-led solutions to health, gender equality and social development, marking a journey that has reached more than 30 million people, influenced 47 policy changes and grown from a small interfaith initiative into a global network operating in 39 countries.
The anniversary celebration brought together government officials, faith leaders, development partners, civil society organisations and youth representatives to reflect on the network’s achievements since its inception while charting a bold vision for the future under new leadership.
The organisation traces its roots to October 2010, when faith leaders and development partners launched consultations on establishing a global interfaith platform to improve family health and well-being.
The vision took shape in June 2011, when religious leaders from different faiths and regions gathered in Nairobi and signed the historic Nairobi Declaration, committing themselves to improving access to family health information and services. Since then, the network has grown from 12 founding members to more than 215 member organisations, with institutional members working across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas.
Delivering the keynote address, Fidelis Ndung’u, Deputy Director for Population Education and Advocacy at the National Council for Population and Development (NCPD), praised the organisation for demonstrating how faith communities can become powerful agents of social transformation.
She said churches, mosques and other places of worship continue to play a critical role in shaping values among young people at a time when many parents have little time to mentor their children because of economic pressures.
“Faith leaders remain trusted voices in society. They teach integrity, respect, responsibility and the fear of God while helping young people make informed decisions and become responsible members of society,” Ndung’u said.
She noted that Kenya continues to face significant sexual and reproductive health challenges, including teenage pregnancies, child marriages, new HIV infections and gender-based violence, which threaten the education and future of many young people.
Ndung’u called for stronger collaboration between government and faith-based organisations in promoting age-appropriate sexuality education that respects Kenya’s cultural and religious values. She added that NCPD has developed Adolescent Health and Wellbeing Guidelines for Religious Leaders under the Triple Threat initiative to strengthen efforts aimed at ending new HIV infections, adolescent pregnancies and gender-based violence.
Congratulating the organisation on its milestone, she said Faith to Action Network had matured into an institution with a clear vision and a growing impact.
“As we celebrate 15 years today, we look forward to returning in five years to celebrate two decades of even greater achievements and impact,” she said.
The celebration also marked a leadership transition as Jane Ng’ang’a officially assumed office as the network’s incoming Chief Executive Officer.
Ng’ang’a said she was honoured to lead an organisation with a strong legacy and pledged to build on the foundation established over the past 15 years. She said her priorities include strengthening existing regional hubs, expanding into new frontiers, increasing youth participation and positioning the network to respond to emerging issues while remaining focused on family health, gender justice and social accountability.
She also outlined plans to strengthen the organisation’s financial sustainability by reducing dependence on donor funding through social enterprises, consultancy services and other innovative income-generating initiatives.
“Our expertise, tools and experience have tremendous value. We want to package them into sustainable services that will generate income, strengthen the organisation and enable us to continue supporting our members and communities,” Ng’ang’a said.
Reflecting on the organisation’s journey, outgoing Chief Executive Officer Peter Munene said Faith to Action Network has grown from a small interfaith movement into one of the world’s leading faith-based advocacy networks.
He said the organisation has expanded its work beyond family health to include women’s rights, gender justice, peacebuilding, inclusive communities, environmental sustainability and climate action, while earning recognition at national, African Union and United Nations levels.
Munene noted that the network has influenced 47 policy changes, reached more than 30 million people with faith-sensitive family health information and strengthened partnerships with governments, faith institutions, civil society organisations and development partners.
He acknowledged that funding constraints, staff turnover and coordinating diverse faith traditions had presented challenges over the years. However, he said the commitment of members and partners had enabled the organisation to continue expanding its reach and impact.
One of the network’s landmark achievements, he added, was helping secure interfaith representation at the United Nations, ensuring that global policy discussions reflect diverse faith perspectives.
Incoming Supervisory Council Chair Samuel Mwenda pledged to safeguard the organisation’s vision while strengthening governance, accountability and strategic leadership.
Mwenda paid tribute to the founders, former leaders and partners whose commitment laid the foundation for the organisation’s success, saying the council would focus on preserving that legacy while supporting the network’s continued growth.
“I do not intend to reinvent the organisation. My commitment is to build on the strong foundation that already exists, protect what is working well and support Faith to Action Network as it enters its next chapter,” he said.
Today, Faith to Action Network works through three strategic pillars Gender Justice and Women’s Rights, Family Health and Well-being, and Faith Leadership and Social Accountability. As it embarks on its next chapter, the organisation says it will continue leveraging the influence of faith communities to improve health outcomes, champion women’s rights, strengthen accountability and accelerate sustainable development across Africa and beyond.
