To transform our relationships with local partners and encourage changes in the relief and development industry, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) embarked more than 20 years ago on a journey to change how we think, operate and measure success. As a result, we have evolved from working through local actors to working with them to, now, working for them.

The world faces poverty, injustice and unprecedented numbers of humanitarian crises. To address these challenges, international aid agencies and local institutions must work together, each contributing skills and experience in a way that respects the authority and ownership of those A UNIQUE ROLE FOR INGOs closest to the issue. By following the lead of government, civil society and faith-based institutions in the nations where we work, CRS can contribute to solutions in a spirit of solidarity.

This document details how CRS promotes local leadership by changing the way we work.