NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Interfaith Mediation Center from Nigeria received 5th place at the Intercultural Innovation Award Ceremony 2017.
The ceremony, held this year for the first time at United Nations headquarters in New York, was chaired by Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, and Mr. Bill McAndrews, Vice President BMW Group Communications Strategy, Corporate and Market Communications. See event photo.
Interfaith Mediation Center was awarded for their project, “Transforming pastoralist-farmer conflict in Nigeria” which involves Muslim and Christian faith leaders to co-initiate and co-facilitate a process of intercultural dialogue between farmers and pastoralists. This project creates a positive feedback loop in which cooperation enhances livelihood collaboration and improves the rural economy, thereby reducing tensions over natural resources and thus empowering development.
“Violent extremism, ethno-religious conflict, land degradation and climate change are all challenges faced by the sub-Saharan region,” says Pastor James Movel Wuye and Imam Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa, Co-Executive Directors of Interfaith Mediation Center. “Our faith-based approach to addressing the farmer-pastoralist conflict helps to both heal the land and mend the social fabric of our community. We are grateful to the Intercultural Innovation Award for acknowledging our efforts.”
The Intercultural Innovation Award supports grassroots initiatives that promote intercultural dialogue and understanding, thereby contributing to peace, cultural diversity and more inclusive societies.
In addition to a financial grant, the Interfaith Mediation Center will receive support from UNAOC and the BMW Group to help their project expand and replicate in other contexts. This model of collaboration between the United Nations and the private sector creates deeper impact, as both partners provide their respective expertise to ensure the sustainable growth of each project. Assistance is customized based on the specific needs of award recipients.
