The 2024 Annual Assembly of the Jesuit Justice and Ecology Network Africa (JENA) took place from 3-7 October 2024 in Cape Coast, Ghana - hosted by the Jesuit North-West Africa (ANW) Province.

Bringing together Jesuits, social delegates, and representatives from various social centers across Africa, this gathering focused on building unity, reviewing strategies, and setting a clear roadmap for JENA’s future.

Opening with Reflection and Purpose

The Assembly commenced with an ecological Mass led by Fr. Yannick Essengue, SJ, setting a reflective tone that connected faith, justice, and environmental responsibility. Fr. Kpanie Addy, SJ, from the host province, warmly welcomed participants, emphasizing the importance of encounter, experience, and enrichment. He encouraged attendees to embrace Cape Coast's rich culture and engage fully in discussions that would foster meaningful change across the JENA network.

Strategic Directions and Unity

The Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar (JCAM) President, Fr. José Minaku, SJ, during the opening session welcomed attendees and highlighted the assembly’s theme, "Catalysing Faith and Justice for the Planet's Wellbeing and People calling for a renewed focus on social justice priorities. He encouraged the network to strengthen partnerships with stakeholders, including Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), aligning efforts to address issues like migration, displacement, and ecological justice.

Fr. Minaku also outlined three critical questions guiding the assembly’s work: identifying JENA’s primary focus, recognizing key stakeholders, and defining effective strategies. He emphasized the need for unified goals and a concerted effort towards capacity building, advocacy, and fundraising, which would equip JENA to address social and ecological challenges.

Group Reflections and Strategic Review

Participants shared reflections on the assembly’s direction and objectives, discussing ways to increase collaboration and focus. A notable point of discussion was the importance of collaboration and support within Jesuit social apostolates and the Network secretariat - JENA, and the deployment of resources to enable each center to address issues unique to their contexts while aligning with JENA’s broader goals.

The JENA Secretariat presented a strategic review report, highlighting the network’s accomplishments and partnerships over recent years. The report underscored the importance of collaborations, both within Africa and globally, to amplify the impact of JENA’s projects on social justice.

Thematic working groups tackled some of Africa’s pressing challenges, namely: governance, financing for development, climate and food security, justice in mining and migration.

Path Forward: Priorities and Next Steps

During the final session of the last day, Fr. Minaku identified and highlighted five core functions based on the outcomes of the meeting, for JENA’s roadmap: strengthening support for social centers, capacity building, focused advocacy, improved communication, and formation. Some of the key initiatives suggested include launching a podcast series to showcase the work being done by Jesuit ministries in Africa, establishing a shared platform for social apostolates, piloting an advocacy training module, and setting a clear advocacy focus for JENA. He called for a greater emphasis on discernment, encouraging deeper reflection on Jesuits' work on social and ecological justice. Noting the importance of clarity in focus areas, he highlighted the significance of each social center concentrating on its core mission while contributing to the broader goals of JENA in order to continue fostering unity within the network.

In a heartfelt note, the JCAM president also thanked the participants for their dedication, with special gratitude to the ANW Province and its Provincial, Fr. John Ghansah, SJ, for hosting the meeting and their exceptional hospitality.

The 2024 JENA Assembly in Cape Coast provided an essential space for shared vision, collaboration, and planning, setting a path for impactful social action that aligns with the values of faith and justice at the heart of the Society of Jesus.

The next JENA Annual Assembly is scheduled for October 2025, with the Jesuit Madagascar Province (MDG) proposed as the host.