Background and objectives

Tags: Knowledge programme

In the Promoting Pluralism Knowledge Programme, Hivos works with academics and development practitioners to promote a culture of tolerance and dialogue.

In three different countries – India, Indonesia and Uganda – experts from universities and civil society join forces to understand the appeal of fundamentalisms. How do they engage with everyday problems of the social context they belong to? What are their strategies of generating support? What can civil society do to counter fundamentalist forces and to promote pluralism? Which strategies have been successful and why? Which knowledge and skills are needed?In order to answer these questions and contribute to more pluralist societies, the programme will:
• Conduct country specific research on pluralism and fundamentalisms
• Stimulate cooperation between development practitioners and academic researchers
• support civil society organisations to experiment with new practices to promote tolerance and diversity
• help create international networks of civil society initiatives around issues of pluralism
• translate acquired knowledge into practice.