About our Partnerships

Catholic Relief Services is proud to have a diverse range of partnerships with foundations and corporations with whom we share a mission of serving the poor and marginalized overseas. We have several consistent partnerships lasting over 20 years working towards goals based on mutual interests, trust, transparency and positive impacts. This signifies the importance we place on our collaboration with private foundations and the corporate sector to help people transform their lives through sustainable development.  

Kasmauski, Karen

Location: Magwi, Magwi, Sudan Vocational Training Center started in 2007 for young adults. CRS built the roof for the place in 2007. John Edema Ciriako is the principal. There are 45 trainees, 25 women who are working on tailoring. When there was food provided had more students, but once program ended, students had to go work in the fields for food. Child care is provided for the young moms, Atooo Joska, in the bright blue shirt is the care care provider, her daughter is, Sandy, 2, who is wearing the African print dress

Atooo Joska with her daughter, Sandy, at the Vocational Training Center in Magwi, Sudan. Photo by Karen Kasmauski for CRS

Emergency Response

In the wake of natural disasters, many foundations and corporations have turned to CRS as their preferred agency for providing emergency relief support with a lasting impact. In particular, CRS is known for being among the first to arrive to the frontlines of crisis, having a long-established presence and trusted network of partners in more than 100 countries, and being committed to staying with communities and families until they have rebuilt their lives. These philanthropic initiatives have enabled CRS to build the capacities of our local partners for disaster preparedness and anticipatory actions, reducing the loss of lives in communities affected by natural disasters and increasing their resilience and ability to recover afterwards. CRS often provides cash and vouchers to affected families so that they can purchase needed items – a strategy that immediately reinvests resources in the local market to accelerate recovery.  

Development Programs

In addition to emergency response, CRS is widely recognized as a leading development agency in areas such as agriculture, health, education, shelter and water and sanitation. Our demonstrated track record of program quality, efficiency and sustainability is recognized worldwide—from peers and leaders at the highest international levels, to families and grassroots partners living in the communities we serve.   

Support from our foundation and corporate partners have enabled CRS to scale our Water Smart Agriculture approach and build solid evidence that the restoration of soil and water resources to increase water and agricultural productivity is a viable solution to the economic and environmental problems associated with smallholder agriculture.  Applying these regenerative agriculture practices improves the quality and quantity of produce leading to an improved supply chain for agri-businesses and increased income for farmers. For example, CRS has developed improved value chains of cacao and coffee in Central America that produce high quality, organic products for export.  

Photo by Oscar Leiva/Silverlight for Catholic Relief Services

 Foundation funding gives CRS the flexibility to address diverse and complex needs  - from combatting child trafficking and migration in India to improving early childhood development centers in Southern Africa - we strive to achieve transformational change to improve the lives of vulnerable people around the world.