Overview
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Founded in 1943 by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, CRS provides assistance to people in need in more than 100 countries and territories, focusing on alleviating human suffering and promoting human development.
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has been operating in Tanzania since 1962, focusing on assisting marginalized and underserved communities. Their programs encompass health, nutrition, early childhood development, youth empowerment, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).
Health Programs: CRS addresses the HIV epidemic with a focus on maternal retesting and Early Infant HIV Diagnosis (EID) for exposed infants. They also support COVID-19 vaccination initiatives, reaching over 15,000 people in Kigoma and Mbeya regions. Additionally, CRS collaborates with the Government of Tanzania to strengthen health systems through policy development, healthcare provider training, and mentorship.
Nutrition and Early Childhood Development: With 31.8% of children under five years old experiencing stunting in Tanzania, CRS implements multi-sectoral interventions to combat malnutrition. They work with mother leaders to promote maternal mental health and positive parenting strategies, aiming to create supportive household environments. CRS also utilizes peer trainer approaches to efficiently reach thousands through face-to-face communications.
Youth Empowerment: CRS empowers young men and women by providing entrepreneurial and life skills training, as well as vocational skills. They link participants with financial service providers, government social services, and private sector partners to enhance employment and self-employment opportunities. For example, the “Kahawa ya Kesho” project aims to sustainably increase coffee production and engage youth in inclusive coffee value chains in the Southern Highlands.
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH): CRS improves water security for rural communities by promoting sustainable and context-appropriate WASH technologies. They collaborate with government stakeholders and potential impact investment partners to facilitate the creation and adoption of community-based solutions to climate change. Their approach includes the introduction of innovative pre-paid water systems and solar technology to reduce costs and improve performance.