This guidance and template have been prepared to help facilitate the development and documentation of a broad understanding between two partners: A CRS Country Program (CP) and the in-country Catholic Church (represented by the episcopal conference or national leadership of the social development/Caritas network).

The expectation is that only one memorandum of understanding (MoU) of this type will be established between the CP and the in-country Church, and that other types of agreements (project, grant, sub) with individual dioceses, commissions, etc. will be developed within the framework of this MoU.

In certain instances, a CP might determine that a MoU of this type should be developed bilaterally with individual dioceses or commissions; in such cases, it is recommended that this MoU be adapted accordingly (paying special attention to clauses 1.4, 4.2 and 4.5).