where two or three are gathered in my name... ANNUAL REPORT 2015 For more than 70 years, Catholic Relief Services has been bringing people together to stand in solidarity with the poor WE WORK IN and vulnerable. Established by the Catholic bishops of the “Where two or three are gathered together in United States during World War II, we have grown into a global 101 humanitarian leader—a trusted partner working side by side with a COUNTRIES my name, there I am in the midst of them.” broad network of organizations on five continents. MATTHEW 18:20 WITH 1,550 PARTNERS CRS puts faith into action, reaching 107 million people through programs that create meaningful, measurable change. Whether we’re on the frontlines of a humanitarian crisis, supporting local farmers, increasing access to health care, or creating new 93% pathways to break the cycles of poverty and conflict, our work is OF OUR ANNUAL BUDGET GOES TO CRS grounded in an abiding respect for human dignity. PROGRAMS THAT SERVE THE POOR OVERSEAS We are deeply grateful for the many generous donors who support CRS each year, including American taxpayers by way of U.S. poverty-focused foreign assistance, which makes up less MILLION than 1 percent of the federal budget. When programs funded by 107 PEOPLE BENEFITED FROM these dollars are consistent with Catholic teaching, CRS applies CRS PROGRAMS IN 2015 for resources to expand our work to lift people out of poverty. Thanks to all of our supporters, our impact is felt far and wide— and our resolve is stronger than ever. Paper sculptures by Mary Miller Doyle for CRS for Mary Miller Doyle by sculptures Paper 2 CRS ANNUAL REPORT 2015 1 LETTER FROM DR. CAROLYN Y. WOO LETTER FROM ARCHBISHOP PAUL S. COAKLEY GATHERED TOGETHER Shared faith gives us the strength to overcome extraordinary Pope Francis’ first visit to the United States, in the fall of 2015, was a cause challenges. Gathered together in communities around the world, we for celebration and reflection. It’s hard to recall a time when the Catholic become part of something larger than ourselves, motivated by the Church in America has received such positive attention in the media. The example of Jesus Christ to honor human dignity, ease human suffering “buzz” was not only in response to the personal charisma of this pope, but and make the world a better place. also to the compassionate and inspiring messages he has highlighted since beginning his papal ministry. In 2015, a heart-wrenching photo called the world’s “God makes promises attention to the plight of refugees: a lone Syrian boy, and keeps them, and Pope Francis challenges us to go out to the peripheries of society and be drowned at sea, washed up on a beach in Turkey. merciful to the poor and forgotten, wherever they may be. He has modeled these promises are The image was a reminder that every life is sacred—a Gospel living by his own personal gestures and simple manner of life. belief that underlies every CRS program. about love for us. He encourages us—as Catholics and as human beings—to take action in response to poverty, injustice, persecution and suffering. He reminds us Last year CRS worked with our Caritas partners During every challenge, that environmental degradation has a human cost, and that caring for God’s across the Middle East and Europe to aid hundreds every disappointment, creation is a moral imperative. of thousands of refugee families. We also responded I have held on to this.” to the earthquake in Nepal, aided Ebola recovery in It is my great privilege to serve as chairman of the CRS Board of Directors, West Africa, and continued providing emergency DR. CAROLYN Y. WOO a role that allows me to see firsthand how the principles of Catholic social Dr. Carolyn Y. Woo in Ethiopia with a delegation relief to people displaced by violence in Central Working for a Better World Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, left, visits CRS programs teaching can lift spirits and transform lives. Working with local partners, from CRS. in northern Iraq with a delegation from CRS. African Republic. At the same time, we focused CRS met Pope Francis’ challenge head-on in 2015. Refugees from Syria, Photo by Petterik Wiggers for CRS Photo by ©Rawsht Twana/Metrography for CRS on creating new opportunities and a better future for families in 101 nurses in Zambia, newborns in Niger, coffee farmers in Colombia: Through countries through innovative agricultural programs, and efforts to CRS programs, we reached out with compassion to our brothers and sisters improve and expand health care. in 101 countries. From food and shelter, to clean water, to HIV testing and counseling, our faith made a real and measurable difference. At CRS, we do God’s work in partnership with others. United with our dedicated donors, colleagues and Church partners, we are uniquely We all need encouragement and support to hear God’s invitation, to open our able to touch millions of lives around the world. hearts to charity, and to respond generously. We at CRS are full of gratitude for the many donors and partners who enable us to fulfill our mission. May blessings overflow, ARCHBISHOP PAUL S. COAKLEY DR. CAROLYN Y. WOO Archdiocese of Oklahoma City President & CEO Chair, CRS Board of Directors 2 CRS ANNUAL REPORT 2015 3 CROSSING BOUNDARIES As the official international Catholic relief and development agency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Relief Services draws upon a rich tradition of Scripture and Catholic social teaching, which serves as the foundation for our guiding principles. Acting as a guide to what a just world might look like, these principles are where we serve shared across religious and cultural boundaries, and articulate values that are common among people who seek to promote and work toward true justice and lasting peace. LATIN AMERICA AFRICA EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST EAST & SOUTH & CARIBBEAN & CENTRAL ASIA ASIA Bolivia Angola Malawi Afghanistan Kazakhstan Bangladesh Brazil Benin Mali Albania Kosovo Cambodia Colombia Botswana Mauritania Algeria Kyrgyzstan China Costa Rica Burkina Faso Mozambique Bosnia and Lebanon East Timor Cuba Burundi Namibia Herzegovina Moldova India Dominican Republic Cameroon Niger Bulgaria Pakistan Indonesia Ecuador Central African Nigeria Cyprus Serbia Japan El Salvador Republic Republic of Congo Egypt Syria Laos Grenada Chad Rwanda Greece Tajikistan Mongolia Guatemala Democratic Senegal Iraq Tunisia Myanmar Republic of Congo Guyana Sierra Leone Jerusalem, Turkey Nepal Djibouti West Bank Haiti Somalia Turkmenistan North Korea Eritrea & Gaza Honduras South Africa Ukraine Oceania Ethiopia Jordan Jamaica South Sudan Philippines Ghana Mexico Sudan Sri Lanka Guinea Nicaragua Swaziland Thailand Guinea-Bissau Peru Tanzania Vietnam Ivory Coast St. Lucia The Gambia Kenya Togo Lesotho Uganda Liberia Zambia Madagascar Zimbabwe 4 CRS ANNUAL REPORT 2015 5 EMERGENCY RESPONSE & RECOVERY MICROFINANCE WATER & SANITATION CRS at $267 million EXPENDITURE $5 million EXPENDITURE $10.7 million EXPENDITURE a glance 168 PROJECTS 63 PROJECTS 37 PROJECTS 46 COUNTRIES 29 COUNTRIES 23 COUNTRIES AGRICULTURE HEALTH JUSTICE & PEACEBUILDING EDUCATION $152.1 million EXPENDITURE $137.5 million EXPENDITURE $31.4 million EXPENDITURE $62.5 million EXPENDITURE 116 PROJECTS 104 PROJECTS 76 PROJECTS 77 PROJECTS 38 COUNTRIES 41 COUNTRIES 33 COUNTRIES 34 COUNTRIES 6 CRS ANNUAL REPORT 2015 7 EMERGENCY RESPONSE & RECOVERY GATHERED TOGETHER we renew hope People are at their most vulnerable in an emergency. Driven from REBUILDING HOMES CONFRONTING A GLOBAL CRISIS their homes, refugees and survivors of natural disasters have often CRS is a recognized leader in CRS assisted more than 1 million uprooted Syrians and Iraqis across the lost everything—loved ones, livelihoods and the plans they had for innovative shelter solutions Middle East and Europe in 2015. that meet the right need at the future. CRS responds immediately to crises like these around the IRAQ: PROTECTING FAMILIES globe. We work with a broad network of Church and local partners to the right moment. In the early days of an emergency, tarps Lives changed in a moment for many Iraqi provide vital necessities like food, shelter, living supplies, protection and other materials protect families with a call in the middle of the and education for children, medical assistance, and trauma healing. families from the elements. night saying: “Leave home. Leave town. But it is our adaptability to circumstances and commitment to long- Later, as communities begin They’re coming.” term recovery that differentiates our approach. We help people to recover, we offer transitional Escalating violence by ISIS forced 3.2 million develop the tools and skills they need to get back on their feet, and— housing that can be converted to permanent Iraqis to leave their homes, schools and working within local communities to rebuild lives—we create new homes. And we encourage upgrading these homes professional lives. Civilians of all ethnic and to make them more resilient. Our designs consider opportunities that renew hope. religious backgrounds have been affected, available materials so they are compatible with the including Christians, Yazidis, Turkmen, as local architecture and culture. well as Shiite and Sunni Muslims. At least 1.5 million people sought refuge in northern INVESTING IN COMMUNITIES Children displaced by ISIS attend child support AT A GLANCE Iraq’s Kurdistan region. centers run by CRS in partnership with Caritas Iraq. In the aftermath of a disaster, CRS works to restore 13,267,433 BENEFICIARIES | 168 PROJECTS | 46 COUNTRIES Photo by Kim Pozniak/CRS local economies. By providing people with vouchers CRS and Caritas Iraq share three offices or cash grants to use at local shops or organized across Kurdistan that have served more fairs, our market-based programming helps vendors than 101,000 displaced Iraqis with critical relief, including safe get back in business.