The International Dialogue Centre – KAICIID and the United Religions Initiative (URI) have today signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize their long-standing collaboration and scale up joint efforts in interreligious and intercultural dialogue across the globe.

The signing ceremony took place on the margins of the 10th Anniversary of the KAICIID International Fellows Programme, hosted in Lisbon, Portugal. Ambassador António de Almeida-Ribeiro, Acting Secretary General of KAICIID, signed on behalf of the Centre, while Mr. Eric Roux, Chair of the Global Council, represented URI. Ambassador Mussie Hailu, URI’s Director of Global Partnerships and a key ally in KAICIID’s Africa engagements since the Centre’s inception, was also present.

This strategic partnership brings together two organizations with complementary mandates: KAICIID, an intergovernmental organization facilitating dialogue among policymakers and religious actors, and URI, the world’s largest grassroots interfaith network, with a presence in over 120 countries. The MoU sets a framework for deeper collaboration on training, advocacy, peacebuilding, and multi-stakeholder engagement, with a particular focus on youth, women, and religious communities.

This MoU marks a new phase of structured cooperation that will inspire further action,” said Ambassador António de Almeida-Ribeiro. Together with URI, we reaffirm our commitment to promoting coexistence, mutual respect, and inclusive societies rooted in dialogue.

A Shared Vision for Peace and Dialogue

Both KAICIID and URI have worked closely for over a decade through the engagement of experts across regional and global initiatives of the respective organizations, such as the International Fellows and Africa programmes and in organizing joint webinars on pressing global issues, including faith responses to COVID-19 and environmental sustainability.

The newly signed MoU builds on this shared history and outlines several priority areas for cooperation:

• Joint capacity-building initiatives focused on dialogue, social cohesion, and countering hate speech;
• Youth and women engagement as multipliers of peace in diverse communities;
• Co-organized webinars, conferences, and dialogue encounters, leveraging platforms such as the KAICIID Dialogue Knowledge Hub and URI’s global Cooperation Circles;
• Mutual participation in flagship events to amplify each other’s reach and impact.

Deepening Engagement with Africa and Beyond

KAICIID’s collaboration with the United Religions Initiative (URI) builds on a longstanding commitment to supporting interreligious and intercultural dialogue across Africa and globally. In 2018, URI recognized KAICIID with the Africa Peace Award for its contribution to dialogue initiatives that foster social cohesion, conflict prevention, and community resilience across the continent. Through this partnership, KAICIID reinforces its commitment to dialogue initiatives in Africa, where URI is associated with over 200 organizations across 31 countries, creating a robust community-based collaboration for interreligious dialogue, peacebuilding, and collective action on shared challenges..

KAICIID’s work in Africa focuses on promoting peace and reconciliation through interreligious and intercultural dialogue, particularly in regions experiencing conflict, displacement, and social fragmentation. Our key initiatives support peacebuilding by fostering dialogue among religious leaders, policymakers, and civil society, addressing the root causes of conflict, and strengthening social cohesion. In countries such as the Central African Republic (CAR), Mozambique, and Nigeria, KAICIID’s programmes focus on building networks of cooperation among religious communities, enhancing local peace efforts, and creating inclusive spaces for dialogue.

The main aim of the Africa Programme is to ensure that religious, traditional, and other relevant actors are fully engaged in supporting sustained peace and security initiatives, working together to uphold Human Dignity and realise the 2063 African Union Agenda.

Today marks a joyful milestone for all of us. As Chair of the United Religions Initiative, I am honored and deeply enthusiastic to enter into this Memorandum of Understanding with KAICIID. This partnership brings together two tremendous strengths: URI’s vast, vibrant grassroots network spanning every continent, and KAICIID’s powerful commitment to fostering dialogue and understanding at the highest levels of leadership.

At URI, we have always believed that real and lasting peace begins with people — with communities, with everyday encounters, with the courageous choice to listen and to cooperate. By joining our efforts with KAICIID, we are creating a bridge between the wisdom of the grassroots and the influence of global decision makers. This is not only strategic; it is profoundly hopeful. Together, URI and KAICIID will continue to nurture interfaith and intercultural harmony, human dignity, hope, strengthen dialogue, and build the foundations of a more peaceful and united world.

Looking Ahead

Following the signing, the two parties will hold a working meeting in Lisbon on December 10^th to define a roadmap for 2026 and beyond, identifying shared priorities across their global, regional, and grassroots networks. A particular focus will be placed on aligning efforts with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and equipping young religious and community leaders through joint programming.

As both organizations navigate an increasingly fractured world, this MoU signals a resolute belief in the power of dialogue to heal, connect, and build a more peaceful future.

About the Africa Peace Award

Established in 2007, the Africa Peace Award recognizes the committed, effective leadership to bring sustainable peace, development, democracy, good leadership, reconciliation and inter-religious and inter-cultural harmony, and peaceful co-existence on the continent. The Africa Peace Award celebrates, acknowledges, and honours the accomplishments of individuals or organizations who have exhibited extraordinary leadership to build a culture of peace, reconciliation, and harmony among different religions and cultures and promote human dignity as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  The Award helps to create role models of peace-builders throughout Africa.  Ultimately, the Africa Peace Award is intended to engender a greater appreciation and support for the effective and dynamic leadership associated with building a culture of peace and harmony in Africa on a sustainable basis.

About United Religions International

URI is an interfaith peace organization with Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and works to promote enduring daily interfaith cooperation, to end religiously motivated violence, and to create cultures of peace, healing, and justice for the Earth and all living beings. Through its 204  member organizations in  31 African countries, URI-Africa is cultivating peaceful co-existence among different religions and cultures by engaging people to bridge religious and cultural differences and work together for the good of their communities and the environment.

About the International Dialogue Centre

The International Dialogue Centre is an intergovernmental organization mandated to promote the use of dialogue globally to enhance understanding, cooperation and social cohesion. The Centre fosters dialogue among people of different religions and cultures to build bridges between communities that overcome fear and animosities to instill mutual respect. In its work, the Centre supports the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in particular the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. The Centre also implements programmes to overcome all forms of discrimination based on culture, religion or belief.