Strengthening the next steps of the FOWLS Project and ensuring a Synodal approach to promote the “Care is work” approach (21 November 2023, Global)

Strengthening the next steps of the FOWLS Project and ensuring a Synodal approach to promote the “Care is work, work is care” approach

Extended Advisory Committee Meeting (November 2023)

Background

Over the past year, we have taken significant steps in our commitment to the promotion of social justice in the world of work and the “Care is work, work is care” approach.

Our journey has seen us dedicated to consolidating this approach through the method of Common Social Discernment. This Extended Advisory Committee meeting comes at a time in which we are starting to consolidate the main pillars and topics identified by the five Regional Working groups, setting the stage for the launch of the second phase of “The Future of Work – Labour after Laudato Si’” Project.

On one hand, the establishment of the Regional Working groups has proven to be a catalyst for progress, serving as hubs of innovation and action. They have fostered collaboration and knowledge-sharing among a diverse range of stakeholders. It is through the collective efforts of these Working groups that we have identified five pivotal topics, illuminating the multifaceted challenges and opportunities present on both global and regional levels.

On the other hand, the organization of two pilot projects has allowed us to put our experience with the Common Social Discernment approach into practice. These activities included a European-Global seminar on “Social justice in the world of work and beyond: from common values to common engagement and action” held in Geneva on June 9-10, and a conference on “The Future of Work in Chicago’s Hospitality Industry” in Chicago, USA on June 13. These initiatives provided valuable lessons and insights, while the ongoing Synodal process has been advancing in its discussions, allowing us to implement and work together considering the fruits of the first phase of the Project and the inputs from partners during the current year.

This preparatory process is designed to pave the way for a more extensive Global Consultation, which we hope to convene in Rome in early 2024, subject to the availability of funding. This meeting taking place on Wednesday, 22 November and Friday, 24 November aims to bring together our global community, uniting us in pursuit of our shared vision.

Objectives of the Consultation

• Engage in a Common Social Discernment approach to develop further actions for social justice in the world of work, building on input from the FOWLS2 regional working groups.
• Focus on identifying challenges, existing solutions, and specific advocacy messages for the five topics identified:
  1. Decent work in the food supply chain, sustainable farming, and access to food
  2. Extractive industries and decent work at the local level
  3. Social justice, dignity, and inequality
  4. Protection of migrants, including vulnerable groups
  5. Just environmental transition

• Develop a roadmap for the Global Consultation in 2024, articulating connections between social justice challenges, promoting collaboration among partner organizations, and discerning scenarios for advocacy in international forums.

Participants

Members of the Advisory Committee, key contributors to the Project, including Catholic-inspired organizations, Jesuit and Scalabrinian social centers, academic foundations, and representatives from the Secretariat of State, the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, and Episcopal Conferences.

Expected outcomes

As we conclude the Extended Advisory Committee meeting, anticipating vibrant discussions and insights, we look forward to translating our shared vision into actionable outcomes. The culmination of this meeting will be a presentation summarizing the discussed topics, a collective effort to lay the groundwork for the Global Consultation in 2024.

The FOWLS Project, propelled by a commitment to “Care is work, work is care,” envisions a Global Transformative community. This community will be dedicated to addressing social justice challenges, fostering collaboration among partner organizations, and advocating for a just and sustainable world of work. Our journey continues, and the upcoming Global Consultation in 2024 will be a key milestone, offering a platform for deeper collaboration and a renewed commitment to our shared values.

In the spirit of Laudato Si’ and Pope Francis’ exhortation Laudate Deum, we invite all partners to join hands as we embark on the next steps of the FOWLS Project. Together, let us shape a future where care is at the center of our work, echoing the call for the care of creation and a more just and compassionate world.