In line with CRS' local leadership principles and commitments to the Grand Bargain, in 2018, we launched EMPOWER, for “Empowering Partner Organizations Working on Emergency Responses.” EMPOWER is a project-based initiative developed by the CRS Humanitarian Response Department. It aims to enhance the readiness of local humanitarian actors with extensive geographic reach within their countries to manage crises and emergencies. |It also promotes sustainable, community-driven development through three key strategic areas.

Since its inception in Latin America and the Caribbean, EMPOWER has demonstrated strong results and scalability. As of 2024, 4 EMPOWER project initiatives are supporting 96 local institutions in 60 countries in Asia, Centra Africa, Latin America and West Africa. This brief provides an overview of the EMPOWER projects and their overarching reach and accomplishments to date.