Religion, Gender, and Sustainable Development Through the Lens of the Contributions of the Religious Sisters of Charity of Ottawa in Eastern Zambia

Although women, religiously, have been at the centre of the sustainable development agenda, their contributions have hardly received scholarly attention. Drawing on a case study research design informed by document analysis on the religious mandate of the Religious Sisters of Charity of Ottawa in Eastern Zambia, this chapter explores the intersection of religion, gender, and sustainable development. It is anchored on the Catholic social teachings as a framework for making meaning of the work of the said group; the chapter specifically focuses on SDG 3 (on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages) and SDG 4 (on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all). The chapter shows that the Religious Sisters of Charity are contributing to the attainment of these SDGs through their provision of education, health care, and social and pastoral care from a human dignity perspective. The work of the sisters is inspired by their religious mandate and the broader principles of Catholic social teachings which enables them to focus on education at various levels (primary and secondary, including skills training), water and sanitation development, women and youth empowerment, and health provision, especially in the rural areas. The chapter argues that religion and gender are significant dimensions towards the attainment of sustainable development in Zambia.