With the rising frequency of emergencies across Latin America and the Caribbean, CRS EMPOWER supports local organizations with a nationwide reach to lead humanitarian response efforts. Rooted in the Catholic Social Teaching of subsidiarity—the understanding that communities, who are closest to challenges, are best placed to be the artisans of their own development. Through a locally-led approach, CRS provides technical assistance to local partners to address their priorities in providing emergency response. Since 2022, USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance support of the EMPOWER project has enhanced the emergency response capabilities of more than 20 partners across Latin America and the Caribbean. This work has benefited tens of thousands of people through trainings, accompaniment, rapid responses and disaster risk reduction programs.