1. Context
Caritas Africa, one of the seven regions of the Caritas Internationalis Confederation, which is made up of 46 Member Organizations in sub-Saharan Africa, has included in its 2019-2023 Strategic Framework and subsequent Operational Plan the issue of Safeguarding and the leadership of women and youth based on the promotion of the Caritas Internationalis Management Standards (CIMS). In a concrete way, these issues are addressed in all of its Member Organization Capacity Building Programs/Projects, including the APPROACH Program involving 17 Caritas in the Africa Region with co-funding from the French Development Agency (AFD), Secours Catholique Caritas France and Caritas Spain, the RECHANGE Project involving 6 national Caritas with co-funding from the European Commission (EUAV) and Caritas Austria, the IDEAS Project co-funded by Caritas Japan, Trocaire-Ireland, and CRS-SARO, as well as the Support Project for the Promotion of Safeguarding funded by the CI General Secretariat.
2. Brief presentation of the project
- Objectives of the Project
The overall objective of this project, which runs from January 2021 to December 2022, is to to contribute to the capacity building of Caritas and their partners at the grassroots level for greater effectiveness in addressing the challenges of injustice, reducing extreme poverty and inequality for integral, inclusive and sustainable human development.
The specific objective of the action is the promotion of Safeguarding, Women and Youth Leadership, and Caritas Internationalis Management Standards within the Caritas of the Africa Region through the mobilization of Church authorities and the accompaniment of Caritas to better respond to the concerns of the populations they are called to serve, defend, and accompany.
- Expected results, main activities and process monitoring indicators
Outcome 1: Safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults is adopted by Caritas and becomes a culture that develops within the Africa Region.
| Main activities | Monitoring indicators |
| R.1.A.1. Recruitment of a Focal Point in charge of Safeguarding within the Regional Executive Secretariat of Caritas Africa. | A contact person recruited for two years is present in the Caritas Africa team, providing advice and assistance to both country teams and other colleagues in the Regional Executive Secretariat in the implementation of the Safeguarding of Children and Vulnerable Adults. |
| R.1.A.2. Sensitization of the hierarchical authorities of the Church at the level of the Regional Episcopal Conferences on their role in the organization of the service of charity in Africa (Declaration of Kinshasa in November 2012, Declaration of Dakar in September 2017, …) with a focus on the 3 themes of the Project. | Number of statutory meetings of Bishops at the regional level (6 Zones) in which Caritas Africa participated Number of Bishops reached during these statutory meetings |
| R.1.A.3. Accompanying National Caritas and monitoring the implementation of the Safeguard by National Caritas. | At least 25 National Caritas in the Africa Region that have Safeguard Policies and Complaint Management Procedures in place and have effectively implemented these Policies and Procedures Number of national Caritas with a Focal Point for Safeguarding. |
| R.1.A.4. Capitalization and popularization of successful experiences in the implementation of Safeguarding policies for children and vulnerable adults | At least 15 successful experiences in implementing Safeguard Policies disseminated on the Caritas Africa KM (Knowledge Management) platform. Number of Caritas Africa Reference Group meetings in which the Safeguarding Officer has participated. |
Result 2: The place of women and youth has become more visible in the governance bodies and actions of Caritas in the Africa Region
Presentation of main activities and process monitoring indicators
| Main activities | Monitoring indicators |
| R.2.A.1. Sensitization of Caritas in order to participate in the frameworks of dialogue and multi-stakeholder consultation on the theme of “Women and Youth Leadership | 10 Caritas organizations that participated in the frameworks for dialogue and multi-stakeholder consultation on the theme of “Women’s and Youth Leadership” have consistently integrated this theme into their actions. |
| R.2.A.2. Participation of PF Sauvegarde in a workshop of Caritas National Executive Secretaries (SEN) on strategies that take into account the leadership of women and youth. | A strategic meeting of SEN that addressed the issue of women and youth leadership |
| R.2.A.3. Accompanying Caritas in defining a more visible strategy for taking into account the issue of women and youth leadership | Number of Caritas in Africa with a strategy for promoting women’s and youth leadership Number of Caritas in Africa that have integrated women and youth into the governance bodies and programs/projects of their organizations |
| R.2.A.4. Capitalization and popularization of successful experiences in taking into account the “Leadership of women and youth” in Caritas strategies, policies, projects/programs. | At least 12 Caritas in Africa have effectively implemented their strategy for promoting women’s and youth leadership. 1 special consolidated report on the consideration of the theme “Women and Youth Leadership” is available. |
Outcome 3: Caritas organizations in the Africa Region systematically engage in the implementation of the Caritas Internationalis Management Standards (CIM) for the Organizational Strengthening and Institutional Development of their organizations
Presentation of main activities and monitoring indicators
| Main activities | Monitoring indicators |
| R.3.A.1. Sensitization of African Caritas and sister Caritas in the North on the importance of implementing the NGCI within Caritas in the Africa Region | 1 webinar to mobilize Caritas in Africa and sister Caritas in the North on the need to support Caritas in the Africa Region in the implementation of the NGCI |
| R.3.A.2. Accompanying Caritas in the implementation of the Caritas Internationalis Management Standards | 25 missions to support national Caritas and monitor the implementation of the NGCI. At least 25 NGCI Coordinators retrained in NGCI (12 French, 12 English and 3 Portuguese speakers) |
3. Duration and Budget
The project runs from January 2021 to December 2022 with an overall budget of 191,667 euros, consisting of partial support of 115,000 euros from CI and a contribution of 76,667 euros from other Caritas Africa projects.
4. Guidelines for project implementation
In the framework of the implementation of this project (January 2021 – December 2022), it was decided to recruit a full-time Project Manager to lead the project activities. After analyzing the context and realities of the African Region (three working languages and 46 Member Organizations), challenges to be met and consultations at various levels, it was deemed useful to set up a Task Force that will collaborate with the Focal Point.
4.1. Mission of the Task Force
The Task Force will be responsible for supporting the part-time Focal Point in the implementation of the project. Caritas Africa will first consult with previously identified resource persons to ensure their willingness to participate in the implementation of this regional initiative. As soon as their agreement has been obtained, a virtual meeting to exchange experiences will be organized in order to build a common understanding of the issues and challenges of the project.
Thereafter, the members of the Task Force will:
- Develop a work plan for the implementation of this project, ensuring synergy and sharing of resources with other Caritas Africa projects;
- Harmonize/develop the messages and tools to be used to promote safeguarding in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Provide support to the Caritas concerned according to their needs/requests
- Evaluate this project implementation strategy in December 2021.
- Develop a Work Plan for the year 2022.
4.2. Composition of the Task Force
The following human resources have been identified to constitute the Task Force according to their competencies in the project issues
| N° | Names | Organization | Domains | Working language | |
| 1 | Pierre Kossi HOTONYO | Caritas Africa | Management standards | French | |
| 2 | Martin Chileshe Sampa | Caritas Africa | Management standards | English | |
| 3 | Mrs. Fatima CAMARA | Caritas Angola | Management standards | Portuguese/ English | |
| 4 | Father Georges KALENGA | CENCO – DRC | Backup | French | |
| 5 | Rde Sr Regina AFLAH | Caritas Ghana | Backup | English | |
| 6 | Ms. Chinwe NnEKA ENI | Caritas Nigeria | Backup | English |