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Institute for Capacity Strengthening

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Institutional Strengthening of the Catholic Church

As a member of Caritas International, the worldwide network of Catholic humanitarian agencies, CRS provides emergency relief and helps people in the developing world break the cycle of poverty by advancing the competency and leadership of local organizations.

Local Leadership (LL) is one of CRS’ most important differentiating elements in our Vision 2030 strategy. Our rationale for advancing LL starts with the Catholic Social Teaching principle of subsidiarity, which recognizes that human affairs are best handled at the level closest to the affected persons. We believe that program participants, as well as the institutions they are involved with, should play the central role in individual, community, and societal development. In fiscal year 2022, CRS collaborated with a total of 1,748 local partner organizations, including 653 institutions affiliated with the Catholic Church. During the same period, CRS invested $20.6 million in partner capacity strengthening efforts by sharing our best technical and operational know-how. Part of this work focuses on our sister Church partners.

The resources presented in this curated selection offer a sample of documentation to (a) learn about the journeys that colleagues from partner organizations and CRS have jointly taken over the years in advancing the work of the Church in various nations, and (b) a set of capacity strengthening resources intended to support the adaptation and replication of these journeys in other countries.

Resources


  • CRS AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN RWANDA

    PDF Papers/Reports

    CRS AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN RWANDA

    In the early 2000s, the Church in Rwanda was struggling to recover from dwindling external support and the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, and to respond to the overwhelming need of those left...
  • Capacity Strengthening with the Catholic Church of Rwanda

    PDF Case Studies

    Capacity Strengthening with the Catholic Church of Rwanda

    This case study describes how CRS and the Catholic Church of Rwanda developed a particularly successful partnership. CRS provided technical assistance, accompaniment and eventually modest funding for...
  • Partnership and Capacity Strengthening Case Study: Caritas India

    PDF Case Studies

    Partnership and Capacity Strengthening Case Study: Caritas India

    CRS began operations in India in 1962 with the establishment of Caritas India. CRS and Caritas focus on emergency relief and disaster response, antitrafficking and livelihood programs. CRS funds...
  • KARUNA MISSION SOCIAL SOLIDARITY: A CARITAS MEMBER ORGANIZATION’S INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING

    PDF Learning Briefs

    KARUNA MISSION SOCIAL SOLIDARITY: A CARITAS MEMBER ORGANIZATION’S INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING

    This learning brief highlights how collaboration amongst Caritas Internationalis member organizations led to the enhanced effectiveness and efficiency of institutional strengthening of the Karuna...
  • How Capacity Strengthening Helped a Local Partner Grow by 4.1 Million in Ethiopia

    PDF Learning Briefs

    How Capacity Strengthening Helped a Local Partner Grow by 4.1 Million in Ethiopia

    This learning brief describes how Catholic Relief Services helped a local partner to reach 1.5 million more beneficiaries and increase its value by $4.1 million. The partner made dramatic...
  • The EMPOWER Initiative

    PDF Learning Briefs

    The EMPOWER Initiative

    EMPOWER, for Empowering Partner Organizations Working on Emergency Responses, promotes the leadership of humanitarian response by local organizations that have nationwide coverage. It is an approach...

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Courses


  • Partnership Basics: An Introduction to CRS’ Approach to Partnership

    Course Course

    Partnership Basics: An Introduction to CRS’ Approach to Partnership

    Est. length: 0: 40 Level: Level 1: Meet It
  • Capacity Strengthening Basics: An Introduction to CRS’ Approach to Capacity Strengthening

    Course Course

    Capacity Strengthening Basics: An Introduction to CRS’ Approach to Capacity Strengthening

    Est. length: 0: 40 Level: Level 1: Meet It
  • Relationship Basics: How CRS Staff Relate to Partners and Approach Capacity Strengthening

    Course Course

    Relationship Basics: How CRS Staff Relate to Partners and Approach Capacity Strengthening

    Est. length: 0: 40 Level: Level 1: Meet It

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    Catholic Relief Services is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Donations to CRS are tax-deductible to the full extent allowable under the law.

    Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States.

    We are the official overseas relief and development agency of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and a member of Caritas International and the National Catholic Development Conference.

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