For the past five years, the JISRA programme worked across Africa, Asia and the Middle East to build bridges between people of different beliefs. Led by Mensen met een Missie and its international partners, it supported local organisations and faith leaders to address harmful beliefs, promote dialogue, and strengthen social cohesion. As JISRA draws to a close, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs policy officer Julia Munsters reflects on her experience following the programme’s final phase.
Over the past year, what has been the most inspiring or memorable moment in your journey with JISRA?
“Without doubt, my field trip to Kenya. I had only just started in my role and had been reading reports at my desk in The Hague, struggling to picture how activities translated into local realities. Then I saw it first-hand. I met young people actively involved in peace committees, creating safer communities and engaging in dialogue with youth from other faiths. Their sense of ownership really struck me; these were grassroots initiatives led by young people themselves. I was also impressed by the Women of Faith network. Female religious leaders from different communities shared openly about their successes and challenges, encouraged one another, and brought lessons back into their communities. Seeing both youth and women’s leadership in action made JISRA tangible. Behind the reports, there is real ownership and pride at the community level.”
Julia’s visit to Kenya highlights a key aspect of JISRA’s approach: local ownership. By creating space for young people and women of faith to lead peace initiatives, the programme encouraged trust and collaboration at the community level.
Looking at JISRA as a whole, what do you see as its main challenges and success factors?
“One of the biggest challenges has been making outcomes visible. Because JISRA works in very different contexts, results emerge at many levels; sometimes through legislation, other times through community dialogue or preventing violent extremism. Such qualitative impact is not always easy to capture. Storytelling makes the impact tangible, not only for the wider public but also within the Ministry. As for success factors, JISRA’s cross-cutting approach has been key. It links Freedom of Religion and Belief to gender equality, youth participation, and even climate. I recall a reforestation initiative that brought religious communities together, addressing environmental concerns while strengthening interfaith cooperation. This holistic approach makes the programme more relevant and effective.”
Her reflections point to a recurring theme within JISRA: peacebuilding is rarely one-dimensional. The programme’s work across gender, youth, and environmental issues shows how social change is interconnected and how progress in one area can strengthen another.
What can governments, such as the Netherlands, learn from JISRA’s approach?
“The first lesson is to put Freedom of Religion and Belief more at the centre of our diplomatic and development work. Too often the religious dimension is overlooked, perhaps because it feels unfamiliar in a secular country like the Netherlands. But ignoring it means missing crucial dynamics. JISRA shows how FoRB can be an entry point to advance gender equality, counter violent extremism, and strengthen resilience. Another lesson is patience. In Kenya, I saw how trust between partners took years to build. The inception phase allowed relationships to grow, and that has paid off. For governments, it’s a reminder that building trust cannot be done in short cycles.”
Her reflections point to a recurring theme within JISRA: peacebuilding is rarely one-dimensional. The programme’s work across gender, youth, and environmental issues shows how social change is interconnected and how progress in one area can strengthen another.
What is your hope for faith-based organisations and initiatives like JISRA in the future?
“My hope is that there will continue to be space and resources for this important work. Political momentum for human rights and development cooperation seems to be declining globally, and that is worrying. At the same time, I hope communities themselves can build on what has been achieved. In Kenya I saw peacebuilding structures that were strong and inspiring. Long-term, what matters most is that the seeds planted can keep flourishing, with or without JISRA.”
Julia’s hope reflects one of the most important outcomes of JISRA: communities that continue to build peace independently. The structures and relationships established through the programme offer a foundation for continued dialogue and cooperation — long after the project itself has ended.
