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Technical Resource: Emergency Response and Recovery
Gaza Emergency Strategy: Executive Summary
Breaking the Cycle of Emergency Response through Disaster Risk Reduction
Study on cash transfers for seed security in humanitarian setting
The results of this nine-country 2019 study advocate for a multi- stakeholder perspective on the quality of seed, while offering farmers the most flexible and most appropriate response possible for their given situation. While this may often be cash transfers, a range of options offers the best...More
Rapid Seed System Security Assessment (R-SSSA)
In response to demand for a more rapid and less resource-intensive seed system assessment, S34D developed a methodology and set of tools – the Rapid Seed System Security Assessment (R-SSSA). The R-SSSA toolkit is based on the standard SSSA toolkit and was designed to be implemented by a single...More
Participatory Impact Assessment of Emergency Seed Interventions
This report presents the findings of a Participatory Impact Assessment (PIA) of emergency seed interventions implemented by World Vision in the Adjumani District of Northern Uganda. The assessment’s aim was to generate evidence on the impacts of selected emergency seed interventions on community...More
Participatory Impact Assessment of Emergency Seed Interventions
This report provides a synthesis of three Participatory Impact Assessments of emergency seed interventions in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The interventions were implemented by World Vision, Lutheran World Federation and CRS respectively, and the assessments were undertaken under...More
Participatory Impact Assessment of Emergency Seed Interventions
This report presents the findings of a PIA of emergency seed interventions implemented by Lutheran World Federation in Adjumani District, Northern Uganda. The assessment explored the impact of seed interventions implemented by LWF under two projects.More
Participatory Impact Assessment of Emergency Seed Interventions
This report presents the findings of a participatory impact assessment (PIA) of emergency seed interventions implemented by CRS in Kasai Central province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The aim of the assessment was to generate evidence on the impacts of selected emergency seed interventions...More
Can Cash Transfers Promote Sustainable Seed Markets?
S34D conducted a PAR focused on the 2022 Diversity in Nutrition for Enhanced Resilience (DiNER) fairs held as part of CRS Guatemala’s Restorative Agriculture in Communities for Economic Sustainability project. More
A Framework for Resilient Seed Systems
The seed system resilience framework presented in this report offers a structured conceptualization of seed system resilience and the types of seed-related support that are appropriate in the face of climate change and in protracted crisis contexts. In contrast to earlier frameworks (which have...More
Designing and implementing seed fairs
Nine specific actions to promote seed market linkages were proposed as part of the design and implementation of agricultural fairs that took place in March 2020 in Eastern Uganda in response to flooding at the end of 2019. This report describes the ways in which some of these actions were...More
Opportunities and Constraints in Regulated Finance
This paper draws from Opportunity International’s experience in agriculture and refugee financing in two settlements in Uganda from 2019. It discusses the Ugandan refugee context, the response from the Ugandan government and NGOs, and the shift away from food in-kind towards a market development...More
Six Lessons for Seed Sector Development in Fragile States
Existing models for seed sector development are not viable in fragile states. Based on case studies in Haiti, Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan, combined with literature review and first-hand experience, six lessons for seed sector development in fragile states have been...More
Emergency Seed Security Response
Work on seed systems has shown how pivotal markets are for helping smallholder farmers access seed in both normal and stress periods. This eight-country, nine-crop review focuses on the current and future potential use of markets to support smallholder farmer seed security in emergency and...More
Review of Cash Transfers for Seed Security in Emergency Contexts
While there has been an increase in the uptake of cash transfers for seed security in recent years, experience is still somewhat limited. This report provides an analytical review of eight cash transfer for seed security interventions and offers lessons and recommendations to guide the use and...More
Emergency Seed Interventions, Subsidies and Seed System Development
In collaboration with the global Food Security Cluster (gFSC), S34D has developed a set of innovative tools to rapidly assess local seed situations. These tools identify seed security issues, determine if seed security is an issue at farm level, and apply a gender, youth, and PWD lens during the...More
Effects of Agricultural Input Fairs on Seed Markets: A Review
This review comprises information from four different studies from Malawi, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. The review examines the market effects of Diversity for Nutrition and Enhanced Resilience fairs, draws lessons learned and provides recommendations for the use of fairs for...More
DiNER Fairs and Voucher Programming
This study evaluates how the DiNER Fair approach improves participating households’ food and nutrition security as well as strengthen access to seed and other agricultural inputs at the last mile in Madagascar, Malawi, and Zimbabwe It followed a mixed methods approach combining multiple...More
Uganda Seed Sector Profile
This report focuses on four aspects of the seed sector in Uganda and the interactions between them – the (i) formal seed system, (ii) semi-formal or Quality Declared Seed system, (iii) informal seed system, and (iv) emergency seed provisioning. It examines current strategies for seed sector...More
CRS Global Food Crisis Response Strategy
Millions of people around the world are experiencing life-threatening levels of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in a global crisis that has reached unprecedented levels. At the root of this crisis are converging factors that have exacerbated the fragilities of global and local food...More
CRS Resilience Framework
Catholic Relief Services conducts resilience programming that spans many (if not all) key technical areas and sectors, while also engaging at the level of individuals, households, communities, and systems. Doing so requires (1) understanding the consequences of different shocks and stressors, (2...More
Drivers and Barriers to Household Resilience in Northern Nigeria
Led by the University of Notre Dame’s Integration Lab through partnership with Catholic Relief Services, this study explores both the long-term impacts of CRS’ Feed the Future (FTF) Nigeria Livelihoods project – completed five years earlier – and the current state of resilience in Northern...More
CRS Supply Chain Management Handbook
The CRS Supply Chain Management Handbook captures best practices in supply chain management that enable CRS to effectively meet the needs of those we serve. This handbook is the product of numerous peer...More
CRS Homes and Communities Strategic Change Platform: FY20-22 Progress Update
Sudan Emergency Response Strategy
On April 15, 2023, armed conflict erupted across Sudan with fighting concentrated in the capital, Khartoum, and in cities across the Darfur and Kordofan states. An estimated 4.7 million people have been displaced within the country, or fled across the border to neighboring Egypt, Chad,
...MoreRapid Seed System Security Assessment (RSSSA) Tools
In response to demand for a more rapid and less resource-intensive seed system assessment than the standard Seed System Security Assessment (SSSA), the CRS-led S34D project along with the global Food Security Cluster (gFSC) has developed a set of rapid tools. These tools will provide a rapid way...More
Faciliter la gestion communautaire des risques de catastrophes
Ce guide est basé sur des manuels précédents élaborés par CRS et CAFOD. Il ajoute de nouvelles sections pour renforcer le leadership communautaire et les mécanismes de participation, ainsi que sur la manière d'intégrer l'adaptation au changement climatique. Également disponible en...More
Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres Dirigida por la Comunidad
Esta guía se basa en manuales anteriores elaborados por CRS y CAFOD, y agrega nuevas secciones sobre cómo fortalecer los mecanismos de liderazgo y participación comunitaria, así como cómo integrar la adaptación al cambio climático. También disponible en...More
CRS Approach to Market Systems Development for Housing Solutions
CRS is recognized for supporting families and communities throughout the full continuum of an emergency response - from relief to recovery - to ensure that people not only have the support to survive in the wake of a disaster but have the foundation to thrive long after it. With the increased...More
Maharo Gender Analysis Report
MAHARO is a five-year projet (2019-2024) focused on food security funded by the Resiliency Food Security Assistance (RSFA) Program of USAID/FFP. It is implemented by the Consortium: CRS, CDD, Venture 37, Youth First, Humanity - Inclusion, Cornell University, and Harvard University. This gender...More
Ifaa Gender Analysis Report
As a continuation of the previous Development Food Security Activity, the CRS-implemented Ifaa (meaning “light” in Afaan Oromo) activity is a five-year Resilience Food Security Activity program in Ethiopia supported by the USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance with the goal of enabling ...More
Girma Gender Analysis Report
The Girma program—meaning ‘dignity, prestige, and growth’ in Hausa—is funded by the United States Agency for International Development/ Food for Peace (USAID/ FFP) and implemented by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and its partners—Education Development Center (EDC), Community Development...More
CRS Safe and Dignified Homes and Communities Technical Handout
This overview provides an insight into the technical approach of CRS' Homes and Communities strategic platform. During emergencies, the loss of a home can fracture a family’s identity—and have a grave impact on their safety, health, prosperity, emotional well-being and dignity. Often, people are...More
CRS Safe and Dignified Homes and Communities 1-Pager
This overview provides a summary of CRS' approach to its safe, dignified Homes and Communities strategic platform. During emergencies, the loss of a home can fracture a family’s identity—and have a grave impact on their safety, health, prosperity, emotional well-being and dignity. Often, people...More
Making a Home, Building a Community: Community-led Settlement Manual Northern Shan and Kachin, Myanmar
This manual aims to capture the knowledge and experiences from the long-standing engagement of Karuna Mission Social Solidarity (KMSS) in providing vital humanitarian and shelter & settlement assistance to displaced populations in Myanmar. In particular, the manual aims to document
...MoreBuilding Climate-Resilient Homes and Communities: Ten Best Practices
Around the world, climate change is greatly impacting the lives of vulnerable communities as erratic rainfall, more frequent and catastrophic storms and more prolonged droughts decimate lives and livelihoods. At Catholic Relief Services, we see the consequences of climate change everywhere we...More
Water Market Assessment in Maiduguri, Nigeria (2019)
CRS conducted a market assessment of the water system in Maiduguri, Nigeria in 2019. The assessment aimed to understand the formal and informal water market in the context and identify pilot activities and recommendations for market-based water programming. This report summarizes the methodology...More
Engaging the Informal Private Water Sector to Respond to Water Supply Needs in Urban Areas: Final Report (2023)
CRS completed a comparative operational research project that evaluated which was the most effective and sustainable way of meeting populations water needs in urban areas. The research asked the following: ‘Is it more effective to directly support an existing informal private water sector rather...More
Leveraging Markets in Housing for Scaling Up: Internal Desk Review
Millions of low-income families around the world get their housing through market systems. If those market systems were more inclusive and efficient, more vulnerable families could get safe and dignified housing. CRS is in a unique position to develop housing market systems so that they...More
The CRS Approach to Market Systems Development
This report explains CRS’ tailored approach to market systems development (MSD) across the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus and how it can be an engine for CRS to achieve its goals.
Markets are essential to provide people with access to food, products and services to survive...More
Safer and Healthier Homes: Low-cost and Sustainable House Design and Construction
The purpose of this curriculum is to enhance best construction practices inl ow-cost housing, considering safer construction and environmental, health, and well-being aspects, through shelter design, construction materials, and construction techniques, mitigating risks related to physical and...More
Peace in the Sahel: Policy Recommendations for the U.S. Government
Introduction
The Sahel region of West Africa is experiencing increased violence and extremism, weak national institutions, and shrinking natural resources, which have contributed to the displacement of millions of people who have left their homes in search of security. Despite the...More
Protecting Peace in Coastal West Africa
The Global Fragility Act (GFA) presents a fresh opportunity for the United States government to invest in conflict prevention and peacebuilding. By focusing on reducing the risk of large-scale violence and instability, rather than responding to its aftermath, the United States government can...More
Improving Development Outcomes by Strengthening Couples
In 2008, CRS implemented the SMART Couples project (Strengthening Marriages And Relationships Through Communication and Planning.) CRS’ signature couples strengthening approach is the SMART Couples program (Strengthening Marriages AND Relationships Through Communication and Planning). The...More
The Faithful House: Training of Facilitators Manual
The Faithful House Training of Facilitators manual is a curriculum for training master couples as facilitators for Faithful House.
CRS’ signature couples strengthening approach is the The Faithful House (collectively known as SMART Couples). The program coaches...More
CRS Sahel Humanitarian Response Strategy 2023-2025
The sharply worsening conflict in the Central Sahel, the mass displacement it’s caused, and a new global hunger crisis have created a humanitarian catastrophe in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger in 2022. The Sahel Crisis requires a well-coordinated, rapid, and robust humanitarian response to save...More
Strengthening Trauma Awareness and Social Cohesion in Greater Jonglei, South Sudan
This case study explores CRS’s initiative in Greater Jonglei, South Sudan to integrate trauma awareness and social cohesion within multisector resilience programming. The case study documents the emerging and additive impact that trauma awareness and social cohesion training are making on...More
The Case for Inclusive Agricultural Development
With this policy brief, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs aspires to add to the growing conversation about inclusive development through the lens of agriculture and food security.
Recognizing that inclusive agricultural development is a nuanced and multifaceted issue, this brief...More
CRS Afghanistan Emergency Response and Recovery Strategy: Drought and Economic Crisis
This document provides a detailed overview on CRS' emergency response and recovery strategy to the compounded humanitarian emergencies facing people in Afghanistan, including an economic crisis and the impacts of severe drought. CRS has been serving Afghan families since 2002, with offices in...More
CRS Emergency Response Strategy for Ukraine Crisis
This document provides a detailed overview on CRS' regional response to the Ukraine humanitarian crisis across 10 countries, working in close collaboration with Caritas and local partners.More
CRS Framework for Quality Early Childhood Education (ECE) Intervention
This CRS Framework for Quality Early Childhood Education (ECE) (ECE Framework) aligns with and reflects CRS’ Global Education Conceptual Framework, which recognizes that for all children to learn and thrive, they must be healthy, safe, engaged, supported and resilient as they grow and...More
Preparing for Enhanced Protection in Disaster Response (PrEPD)
When humanitarian teams respond to disasters, mainstreaming protection in preparedness and response plans is a critical element. Yet, many humanitarian and disaster risk reduction (DRR) organizations do not design and implement responses that ensure access, dignity and safety for the most...More
Standing Shoulder to Shoulder
The West Africa Ebola epidemic of 2014-2016 put into stark relief the global consequences of failing to sufficiently address the destructive effect of years of conflict and civil war in the three most profoundly affected countries – Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. In fact, it was the glaring...More
Enhancing Outcomes by Integrating Social Cohesion & Justice
Thriving societies begin with social cohesion and justice. When people and communities are empowered to address what divides them, uphold what unites them, and act together for stronger, healthier and more just social ties, they are better able to achieve their recovery and development...More
CRS EMPOWER APPROACH
Rooted in Catholic Social Teaching, CRS is committed to its principle of subsidiarity: the understanding that communities, who are the closest to local challenges, are the artisans of their own development. Building and strengthening local leadership and institutions ensures that CRS respects...More
Haiti Earthquake Emergency Response Strategy (October 2021)
This document provides an overview of CRS' Emergency Response Strategy after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on August 14, 2021, in southern peninsula or “Gran’ Sud,” with the epicenter located approximately 80 miles west of the capital Port-au-Prince. More than 2,248 people lost their...More
Monthly Interval Resilience Analysis (MIRA)
The Monthly Interval Resilience Analysis (MIRA) is CRS’ high-frequency resilience monitoring approach and is used for measuring resilience and well-being for stronger food security and resilience programming.
MIRA was jointly designed by CRS and Cornell University to provide short-...More
CRS Emergency Strategy for India COVID-19 Response
Read about CRS and partner efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in India that threatens the health and survival of millions. The strategy outlines priority...More
Strengthening Partners in Protection against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse through Protection Mainstreaming
Read a brief 2-page overview on program impact, recommendations and learnings from a three-year CRS project that helps to strengthen the capacity of 38 local or national organizations...More
CRS South Sudan Capacity Statement
Read an overview of CRS programming and impact in South Sudan since it began operating in-country in the 1970s. As you'll see in the Capacity Statement, CRS implements integrated,...More
Lessons Learned: Providing business training in Bidibidi Refugee Settlement
Learning Bulletin: Ethiopia
CRS Ethiopia has worked alongside government, partners, communities and other key stakeholders to adapt our programming to the rapidly evolving pandemic context.More
Goat Breed Improvement Interventions in Earthquake Recovery Project
A massive earthquake in 2015 caused large scale losses to life and livelihoods of communities in Gorkha district in Nepal. CRS, through the three-year Gorkha Recovery and Resilience Project (GRRP), supported communities to restore their agricultural livelihoods as well as promote improved...More
Promoting Large Cardamom Cultivation in Post-Earthquake Nepal
A 2015 earthquake in Nepal led to large-scale losses of lives and livelihoods for communities in Gorkha district. CRS responded to the immediate and longterm needs of the communities through integrated shelter, WASH and livelihood relief and recovery activities. Taking cue from global evidence,...More
Inclusive value chain study for Lentil sub-sector in Nepal
The Government of Nepal (GoN), through its Agriculture Development Strategy (ADS), has identified 15 potential value chains and prioritized five: dairy, lentil, maize, tea and vegetables. CRS Nepal conducted a comprehensive value chain study in Palpa and Dang districts in Province 5. Based on...More
Earthquake Recovery in Nepal: Cash transfers and embedded extension for improved goat shelters
The rationale for goat shelter support, practical interventions and positive results.More
Inclusive Value Chain Study for Ginger Sub-sector in Nepal
The Government of Nepal (GoN), through its Agriculture Development Strategy (ADS), has identified 15 potential value chains and prioritized five subsectors: dairy, lentil, maize, tea and vegetables. CRS Nepal proposed to conduct a comprehensive value chain study in Palpa and Dang districts in...More
MARKit: CRS Market Monitoring, Analysis and Response Kit-2nd Edition 2020
The aim of the Market Monitoring, Analysis and Response Kit (MARKit) is to improve program quality by enabling managers to adapt their programs to changes in the local market environment. MARKit provides a framework for market monitoring, analysis and response decision‑making, using prices as...More
CRS Emergency Winter Review
CRS Shelter Photo Catalogue
Mozambique: Cyclone Idai Response - Emergency Market Assessment of Pole and Bamboo
In March 2019, more than 1.5 million people were affected by Cyclone Idai across four provinces of Mozambique. By October 1st that year, half of those who were displaced in shelters had returned home, while 61 resettlement areas continued to provide refuge to people in need. An estimated 240,000...More
Shelter, Settlement and Infrastructure Case Studies
Here you will find a selection of short, compelling case studies that highlight diverse, challenging, innovative and impactful efforts in providing safe, dignified homes and settlement solutions for people in need in the wake of an emergency. From some of the world’s most pressing refugee crises...More
CRS 2030 Strategic Goal Area - Homes and Community Platform
CRS Shelter and Settlement Newsletter November 2019
This edition showcases the latest updates on shelter and settlement activities taking place across CRS and partners' community of practice. The efforts highlighted reflect the approaches underway in diverse contexts to ensure safe solutions and integrated, holistic support for people affected by...More
FY19 CRS Emergency Shelter and WASH Global Report
This report highlights the collective efforts to provide shelter, WASH and infrastructure to vulnerable communities affected by humanitarian emergencies in Fiscal Year 19. In this report, you will find compiled data, analyses and latest trends across the three program sectors.More
Sustaining Resilience
This study is based on field research in Guatemala, Bangladesh and Vietnam, where CRS implemented projects to strengthen peoples’ capacities to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters. The research aimed to establish which activities the women and men who had...More
Central Africa Emergencies Newsletter: Spring 2019
Across the global humanitarian landscape, emergency relief and recovery programming has increasingly shifted from the direct distribution of supplies to the use of vouchers or cash to help people directly access or buy critical goods and services. In fact, cash and voucher assistance, or CVA,...More
Northeast Nigeria Strategy
This updated CRS emergency strategy for relief and recovery in northeast Nigeria highlights the latest context and needs from one of the most severe crises in the world today. CRS has been providing comprehensive emergency support since July 2016 in Borno, an area devastated by the Boko Haram...More
Nepal Earthquake: Goat Shelter Recovery
After a massive earthquake in 2015 led to large‑scale loss of life and livelihoods for communities in Nepal’s Gorkha District, one of the key impacts for people was damage to their livestock shelters, which led to distressed sales and reduction in herd...More
Preparing to Excel in Emergency Response (PEER) Evaluation Report
With emergencies increasing in frequency and severity around the world, local organizations are often the best placed to respond. To strengthen their capacity, CRS piloted three capacity building models in the Preparing to Excel in Emergency Response project, or PEER. ...More
Gender Protection Analysis in the CRS Central Sulawesi Response
This study analyzes the gender dynamics and protection risks that differently influenced men and women in CRS' emergency response to the tsunami-earthquake in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, in 2018.More
Bulletin sur les urgences dans la région de l'Afrique centrale - hiver 2019
Central Africa Emergencies Newsletter - Winter 2019
Extending Impact Study
Gender Integration in Emergency Programming: Best Practices from the Central African Region
When gaining an understanding of people’s needs in a humanitarian emergency, gender is a crucial consideration, but often overlooked. Yet, the experiences and vulnerabilities of women and men, girls and boys are very different in a crisis. In its first of a series of sector-specific publications...More
Market Support Interventions in Humanitarian Contexts
This tip sheet defines what market support programming in humanitarian contexts is and what it can look like in practice. Its goal is to enable humanitarian practitioners to consider market support interventions from the outset by highlighting the potential benefits of market support programming...More
MIRA - Measuring Resilience in Malawi
This handout provides an overview of the Measuring Resilience in Malawi (MIRA) project, which has devised a data collection and analysis scheme to measure and predict resilience among households prone to food insecurity one to two months out. More
Increasing Resilience to Natural Disasters with Cash-Based Interventions
Following Vietnam’s devastating Typhoon Damrey, which flooded 15 central provinces and claimed 100 lives in November 2017, at least 400,000 people were in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. Thanks to generous support from the Start Fund, CRS and Save the Children launched a cash-based...More
The Vendor Effect: Hurricane Matthew Response in Haiti
This study explores the appropriateness and effectiveness of the cash-based initiatives used by CRS in its response to Hurricane Mathew in Haiti in 2016. Specifically, it looks at how such initiatives improved, affected and supported vendors and the market systems where they were implemented. ...More
Lessons Learnt Report - Rohingya Emergency Response Community-based Response Approach
This study captures the experiences and learning from a pilot project at the heart of the Rohingya refugee emergency response in Bangladesh, and the delivery of shelter and settlement upgrades to a small site of 182 households within a small area of the overall settlement. The project piloted a...More
Guidance on Livelihoods Programming in Emergency Response and Recovery Contexts
This guide was designed to help practitioners plan and implement high quality livelihood projects in emergency and recovery contexts. It has three specific objectives:
- To provide a general understanding of key livelihood intervention concepts
- To guide practitioners ...More
Strategic Recommendations for Shelter Upgrade in Response to the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis
CRS and other agencies joined forces to assess and improve shelter assistance to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
TABLE OF CONTENTS...More
Delivery Mechanism Mapping for Cash-Based Interventions (CBI) in Cox's Bazaar, Bangladesh
As of December 2017, more than 867,480 Rohingya were estimated to have taken shelter in Bangladesh after fleeing violence and persecution in Myanmar. From August to December 2017 alone, an estimated 655,000 Rohingya had arrived in Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh. The Government of Bangladesh, UN...More
Vital Emergency Support for Rohingya Refugees
CRS continues to provide urgent aid to displaced Rohingya families in Bangladesh.More
E-vouchers in Conflict Situations
This case study presents a detailed description of the utilization of electronic vouchers (or e-vouchers) for the delivery of emergency relief. In these pages, we hope to provide a snapshot for humanitarian response peers on best practices, lessons learned and recommendations for the...More
Ukraine Crisis Response
Ukraine Crisis Response
In late 2014, instability spread to Eastern Ukraine when the Russian Federation annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula and armed separatists took control of the Donbas region. The violence affected local communities and infrastructure, and nearly three million people fled their homes. More than 1.7...More
Measurement indicators for resilience analysis
With the increasing severity of weather related shocks threatening food security, there is demand for a comprehensive protocol to monitor and evaluate resilience in the context of development. Launched as a collaboration jointly conceptualized by the monitoring, evaluation and learning unit (...More
Guide simplifié des bonnes pratiques de construction
L’objectif de ce guide est de faciliter la sensibilisation sur les aspects techniques et bonnes pratiques lors de la construction habituelle au Mali. Il concerne les pratiques quotidiennes et des améliorations, adaptées aux zones rurales ou urbaines, sur des petits bâtiments (environ 40m2). Les...More
Guide to Facilitating Community-Led Disaster Risk Management
This guide builds on previous manuals produced by CRS and CAFOD, adding new sections on how to strengthen community leadership and participation mechanisms, and how to integrate climate change adaptation. Also available en ...More
Little by Little: Exploring the impact of social acceptance on refugee integration into host communities
This study explores the effect that refugees have on host communities. Just like refugees, host communities require support that reflects the multifaceted ways—economic, political, social, and developmental—in which their lives are affected. The study also elucidates a variety of tools and means...More
South Sudan: Hunger Emergency
This 2-page handout provides an update on CRS' emergency response in South Sudan. More
Iraq Emergency Response Strategy
This 8-page document provides an overview of the needs of Iraqi families living outside of formal camps, in such areas as shelter, food, water & sanitation, psychosocial needs & education, as well as productive livelihoods. It also explains the strategy behind the assistance provided by...More
Conflict Sensitivity Key Messages
This PowerPoint presentation accompanies the CRS training module on conducting a one-day workshop on Conflict Sensitivity in Emergency Programming. The 19 slides...More
A Seed System Security Assessment in Diffa, Niger
This assessment studied seed access and availability in the Toumour commune of Diffa, Niger. The goal was to determine whether seed fairs would be an appropriate response to the ongoing food security crisis. The researcher also examined the seed system in Diffa town, the regional capital, and its...More
Northeast Nigeria Emergency Response and Recovery Strategy (2017-2019)
This document describes CRS' emergency response strategy to the Boko Haram crisis in Northeast Nigeria. As of June 2017, nearly 9...More
Supporting Markets in Emergencies
This study presents a review of current and past market-support initiatives implemented by aid actors across various sectors in emergency settings around the world. The focus is on indirect interventions. Following the different steps of the project management cycle, the study examines market-...More
Cash or In-Kind? Why Not Both? Response analysis lessons from multimodal programming
This publication reviews lessons learned from emergency responses wherein more than one modality (cash, vouchers, or in-kind) was a “best fit” – or where the type of response changed over the course of the project. The research provides concrete examples of projects that used various criteria to...More
Supporting Markets in Post-earthquake Nepal
This publication presents lessons learned from a CRS project to support economic markets in Nepal's Gorkha District, which was heavily hit by an earthquake in April 2015. The document also gives recommendations for improving future market-based projects.More
Response Strategy: Humanitarian Crisis in Lake Chad Basin
This document describes CRS' emergency response to the crisis in the Lake Chad Basin area of central Africa, where 9.2 million people urgently need food, water and basic supplies as of October 2016. CRS' strategy is to focus on restoring people's assets, including food, shelter and living...More
Healing personal trauma to restore communities
This assessment shares testimonies from CRS and partner staff who participated in a trauma healing program in Central Africa Republic. After our initial emergency response to the violent conflicts in the regions of Bouar and Boda, CRS utilized SILC groups to reach partner field agents from ...More
Learning Briefs from CRS’s Response, Recovery and Resilience (R3) Program
These learning briefs share insights from disaster risk reduction projects in the Response, Recovery and Resilience (R3) program in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Haiti, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Indonesia, which aims to build the resilience of underserved...More
Using Cash for Shelter
Cash continues to gain prevalence as a modality for humanitarian agencies to help people meet multiple and diverse needs in the wake of a crisis. It provides people with the dignity of choice, and is often significantly more cost-efficient than the delivery of in-kind aid. In programs with a...More
Pintakasi
CRS’ Typhoon Haiyan Integrated Shelter/WASH Recovery Program was one of the largest post‑disaster responses to use a cash-transfer modality for shelter and toilet construction. CRS repaired and constructed 20,000 household shelters and 23,000 household toilets as part of CRS’ overall Typhoon...More
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Cash-Based Food Assistance Projects
Despite recent and expanding literature on cost effectiveness and value for money, there is little by way of guidance for the implementation of cost-effectiveness analysis in humanitarian and development programming. This report distills findings from the literature on ex post cost-effectiveness...More
Early warning systems in central DR of Congo
In June 2004, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was shaken by widespread crises, notably in the East of the country. To ensure that response organizations had the financial and material means to react quickly, the humanitarian community implemented a Rapid Response Mechanism program in...More
Support to the local tool market post-Typhoon Haiyan
Super Typhoon Haiyan struck Leyte and Eastern Samar in the Philippines in November 2013. CRS responded by initiating a program in 2014 to support the livelihoods recovery of 5,250 agriculture-based households. The Livelihood Early Recovery Support to Agricultural Households Affected by Typhoon...More
MARKit
The MARKit: Price Monitoring, Analysis and Response Kit was developed by representatives from the Local Regional Procurement Learning Alliance to guide food assistance practitioners through the steps to monitor markets during the implementation of food assistance programs, and to ensure...More
Expect the Unexpected
This case study reviews CRS’ food voucher program in urban Somalia over two years, which brought benefits to markets and communities beyond its intended scope.
The study is intended as a resource for practitioners and others looking to learn from recent experiences in urban market-based...More
Extending Impact
CRS used the Designing for Behavior Change methodology to conduct a study on people’s perceptions of using CRS‑recommended hazard‑resistant construction practices. The study involved communities in five countries where CRS had implemented postdisaster reconstruction projects in the last six...More
Governance at the Grassroots
This study analyzes governance issues in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. It focuses on the links between decentralization and local government's management of disaster risk reduction. The study offers recommendations to strengthen a project that builds resilience to climate change.
Catholic...More
Understanding Community Perceptions of Resilience
What does resilience mean to vulnerable communities? This question is crucial when designing initiatives to promote disaster risk reduction and resilience. Catholic Relief Services interviewed vulnerable people from 12 communities in Asia and Latin America about what makes communities resilient...More
The Road to Resilience
How can relief and development programs promote resilience in regions that experience recurrent crises? The six case studies in this document describe some of the ways that CRS has responded to the following challenges in the Horn of Africa:
- Drought-related climate change ...More
Toward Resilience
Toward Resilience is an introductory resource for staff of development and humanitarian organizations that are working with people whose lives and rights are threatened by disasters and climate change. The guide provides
- essential introductory information, ...More
Building Resilience
This manual describes how to help communities implement disaster risk reduction activities. It was written for development workers and community-based organizations in the Horn of Africa, but practitioners can use it to implement activities around the world.More
Step-by-Step Guide to Shelter Construction
This manual describes how to build disaster-resistant shelters. Catholic Relief Services used this guide to build flood-resistant shelters in West Bengal.More
Niger Resilience Study
In 2012, the Sahel faced a severe food security crisis for the fourth time within a decade. Poor rains, rising food process and internal displacement caused by insecurity has placed almost 12 million people at risk for hunger.
In May and June of 2012, CRS partnered with TANGO International...More
Learning From Urban Transitional Settlement Response in the Philippines
This publication documents CRS' experience in implementing an urban transitional settlement program in response to the destruction caused by Tropical Storm “Washi” in Cagayan de Oro in the Philippines. It offers reflections and a monologue of questions to ask oneself when faced with similar...More
Banking with Mobile Phones in Haiti
In 2011, Catholic Relief Services utilized T-Cash, a new mobile phone–based banking service. The initiative improved the speed, security and cost of beneficiaries' banking transactions.More
Maximizing the Value of Cash for Work
This report describes the 20 best practices distilled from a recent Real Time Evaluation of EARLI, a cash for work program implemented by CRS in Niger.
EARLI is a USAID/OFDA-funded food security and land recuperation project in which vulnerable households in Tillabéry and Ouallam are paid...More
Urban Livelihoods in the West Bank City of Nablus
Catholic Relief Services conducted a rapid livelihoods assessment in the West Bank city of Nablus to better understand the challenges that urban dwellers face and to develop potential interventions.More
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning in Emergencies
This resource pack offers practical advice about how to implement a system for monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) in emergencies. It provides standards for MEAL in emergencies; an overview of informal and formal monitoring; guidance on how to conduct monitoring and...More
Impacts of Food Vouchers on Local Markets
Food vouchers, as well as local and regional procurement programs, are assuming greater importance as alternatives to traditional food aid. CRS commissioned a study to analyze the effects of food vouchers and procurement programs in Project ADVANCE, which CRS implemented in Niger between August...More
Learning From the Urban Transitional Shelter Response in Haiti
This handbook documents the experience of Catholic Relief Services in planning and implementing its urban transitional shelter response in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The publication highlights challenges, successes and key aspects that could be useful in future responses to urban disasters.More
Information and Communication Technologies for Development
This paper provides a snapshot of agriculture solutions that are emerging through information and communication technologies. It describes how these solutions are beginning to be used to fight hunger, reduce poverty, advance education, protect the environment and improve health.More
Managing Post-disaster Reconstruction Projects
This step-by-step guide explains how to manage the two main types of CRS post-disaster or post-conflict construction: owner-driven and contractor-built. The guide is for non-construction professionals, construction professionals who are new to international relief, and engineers.More
Livelihoods in Northern Haiti
The publication summarizes the results of a participatory assessment that collected data on livelihoods in northern Haiti and produced recommendations for future programs.More
Seed Aid for Seed Security
Seed-based agricultural recovery is more complex than commonly assumed. These 12 practice briefs offer advice on how to sustain and strengthen seed systems during disaster response and recovery periods.
Up-to-date technical information addresses issues such as introducing new varieties,...More
Seed System Security Assessment
This joint assessment, which was carried out in May 2010 by ten organizations, assesses the impact of the January 12, 2010, earthquake on households and agricultural livelihoods in Haiti, including possible changes in assets, land holdings, labor availability, income generation activities, crop...More
A Rapid Seed Assessment in the Southern Department of Haiti
This report summarizes the results from a rapid seed assessment in the South Department in Haiti between February 12 and March 1, 2010. The purpose of this assessment was to understand broadly the effects of the January 12 earthquake on seed security in the South Department, including related...More
When Disaster Strikes
International aid agencies often respond to food security emergencies by providing seeds for farmers in the affected region. But how can we ensure that such an intervention is a real solution and does not harm local seed systems and coping mechanisms?
This guide presents a seven-step...More
Joint Evaluation of Responses to the Yogyakarta Earthquake
CRS, CARE, Save the Children, and World Vision Indonesia responded independently to the earthquake in Yogyakarta on May 27, 2006. But the agencies came to believe that a joint evaluation of their independent responses would demonstrate greater accountability and produce results that would be...More
Zambia Livelihoods Assessment
CRS gathered detailed livelihoods data in Zambia as a basis to evaluate whether its existing programs were adequately addressing the needs of communities, determine if CRS was reaching the most vulnerable, and inform strategic planning and future programming.More
Emergency Preparedness and Response Handbook
This handbook helps CRS country programs to be more accountable to disaster-affected populations and to assist donors through the design and implementation of high quality emergency preparedness and response programs.More
Targeted Seed Aid and Seed-System Interventions
This document presents the reflections of a working group held in Uganda in 2000. Individuals from 11 institutions came together to compare and contrast practical experiences on supporting farmers’ seed systems, particularly in times of severe stress.
The workshop and report were funded by...More