CRS Seeks Stronger Partnerships To Scale Humanitarian Impact

The Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has called for stronger collaboration among government, development partners, faith-based organisations, civil society and local communities to scale humanitarian and development interventions across Nigeria.

The call was made yesterday at the CRS Nigeria Impact Showcase 2026, themed “CRS at Work: Scaling Impact in Nigeria,” held to commemorate the organisation’s 26 years of service in the country.

At the event, CRS Country Representative, Akim Kikonda, said the showcase was an opportunity to reflect on the organisation’s impact while sharing lessons, innovations and partnerships that have transformed lives across Nigeria.

He said CRS has worked with government institutions, the Catholic Church, faith-based organisations, community groups and non-governmental organisations to address some of Nigeria’s most pressing humanitarian and development challenges.

He said the organisation’s interventions have focused on health systems strengthening, agriculture and food security, livelihoods and community resilience, humanitarian response, peacebuilding and social cohesion.

“They are mothers who now have greater access to quality healthcare and life-saving services for themselves and their children. They are farmers who have increased productivity and strengthened food security. They are communities affected by conflict, displacement and disaster who have rebuilt their lives with dignity and hope,” Kikonda said.

He stressed that lasting development cannot be achieved by one organisation alone, noting that government leadership, donor support, local partnerships, research and innovation are all essential to achieving sustainable impact.

Also, the minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, commended CRS for complementing government efforts in addressing humanitarian and development challenges.

Bagudu said organisations such as CRS play a vital role in identifying vulnerable populations who may be excluded from government interventions and ensuring they are not left behind.

He noted that while the Federal Government has introduced bold economic reforms aimed at repositioning the economy, it remains mindful of the disproportionate impact such reforms may have on low-income households.

According to him, global challenges, including the Russia-Ukraine war, the Middle East conflict and global tariff tensions, have further worsened the cost of living through rising energy and fertiliser prices.

He said these realities underscore the need for stronger partnerships between government and humanitarian organisations to ensure support reaches vulnerable communities.

“It takes a whole-of-society approach to achieve peace and harmony. Government alone cannot do it all, and organisations like Catholic Relief Services help ensure those who are often left out are included,” he said.

In separate goodwill messages, development partners described CRS as a trusted partner that has made significant contributions to improving health, nutrition, agriculture, emergency response, livelihoods and peacebuilding over the past 26 years.

The Country Representative of the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), Uko Ekott, said CRS has remained “a beacon of hope, resilience and compassion” in Nigeria’s humanitarian and development landscape.

He commended the organisation’s emphasis on community-led development, local ownership and cross-sector collaboration, describing these as critical to achieving sustainable growth and resilience.

Similarly, Action Against Hunger praised CRS for strengthening maternal and child health, combating infectious diseases, reducing malnutrition, improving food security and supporting communities affected by crises.

The organisation, however, cautioned that food insecurity, displacement, climate change, unemployment and social tensions continue to threaten development gains, calling for deeper collaboration and increased investment in proven interventions.

The Executive Director of the Justice Development Peace Caritas Initiative (JDPCI), Abuja, Rev. Fr. Sebastian Sani, highlighted the impact of the long-standing partnership between CRS and JDPCI through programmes such as the Youth Entrepreneurship Development and Empowerment Scheme (YEDES) and ecological conversion initiatives.

He said the collaboration had empowered young people with employable skills, improved livelihoods and strengthened community resilience.

“As we face increasing humanitarian needs, climate-related challenges, youth unemployment and social inequalities, there is an even greater need to deepen collaboration among government, faith-based organisations, civil society, development partners and the private sector,” he said.

Auxiliary Bishop of Abuja, Bishop Anselm Umoren, said although CRS is a faith-based organisation, its programmes are driven by the principles of human dignity rather than religion.

“The issues CRS deals with are not about faith; they are about human dignity, human values and life. Their impact cuts across every religion because they focus on lifting people out of poverty, providing life skills, healthcare and education,” he said.

The CRS Nigeria Impact Showcase featured interactive exhibitions highlighting the organisation’s work across key sectors while providing stakeholders with an opportunity to share experiences and explore new partnerships aimed at expanding development impact across the country.