Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
Overview
CRS in Uganda
Uganda is located in East Africa and is bordered by
Kenya to the east, the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to the west,
South Sudan to the north,
Tanzania to the south, and
Rwanda to the southwest.
Known as the Pearl of Africa, Uganda is endowed with outstanding natural scenery and a rich diversity of tribes and cultures. Wildlife is protected within vast national parks and numerous game sanctuaries. Despite this natural wealth, more than one-third of Uganda’s population lives on less than USD 1.90 per day, limiting the ability of many households to escape poverty or withstand economic, social, and environmental shocks.
Uganda is the top refugee-hosting country in Africa, with
1.7 million refugees and asylum seekers as of June 2024, mainly from South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Eritrea. Uganda’s political and policy framework is widely recognized as one of the most progressive and inclusive towards refugees globally. In addition, Uganda has a very young population, with a median age of 16.2 years.
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has been working in Uganda since 1965 in partnership with the Government of Uganda, the local Catholic Church, and national and international partners. CRS supports vulnerable individuals and communities across the country through integrated humanitarian and development programs.
CRS Uganda Vision Statement
Empowered families reach their full potential and are resilient to external shocks in safe, just, and inclusive communities, supported by effective local systems.
Program Strategy
To support the
CRS Global Strategy, CRS Uganda developed a long-term country program strategy following a comprehensive internal and external analysis of key issues expected to impact Uganda over the next decade. This strategy runs through 2030 and includes a mid-term assessment to guide learning, adaptation, and performance improvement.
CRS Uganda’s strategy embraces five priority areas:
Health and Social Services System Strengthening
CRS focuses on strengthening health and social service systems by leveraging partnerships with government institutions and civil society organizations. The approach emphasizes improving leadership, governance, and workforce capacity at sub-national levels to support effective planning, delivery, and monitoring of quality, inclusive, equitable, and accountable health and child protection services.