The work of Caritas Liberia began in earnest in the civil crisis that started in 1990 and escalated in 1999–2003, when the agency provided emergency assistance such as food and medical supplies to thousands of people forced to flee their villages. Since 2003, the agency has moved from delivering immediate emergency relief to longer-term development programmes in sustainable agriculture, education, maternal and child health, HIV and AIDS prevention, poverty eradication and livelihood development. Caritas Liberia’s enduring commitment to help the poorest and most vulnerable populations lead full and productive lives and participate in decisions regarding their right to development underpins their work.
Caritas Liberia’s agricultural-led development initiatives aim to reduce poverty and hunger and improve rural livelihoods. Programmes include the provision of seeds and fertiliser, and training for farmers on how to improve their cassava and rice yields by introducing improved farming techniques, time-saving technologies and better access to markets.
Since its beginnings, one of Caritas Liberia’s primary missions has been to provide care to those affected by AIDS and increase awareness on prevention measures to mitigate the spread of the pandemic. At the diocesan level, Caritas Gbarnga, in conjunction with CRS, implemented the Faithful House project to promote marital fidelity and mitigate the spread of the virus among married couples.
The agency’s health programmes provide pre-natal care to expectant mothers, work with communities to strengthen immunisation and health systems, and provide training and liaison with Government and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Caritas Liberia’s capacity building improves water supplies and sanitation facilities in schools and communities, and promotes safe hygiene practices.
Caritas Liberia’s main office in Monrovia works closely to provide guidance and support to the three Caritas diocesan structures – Caritas Monrovia, Caritas Gbarnga and Caritas Cape Palmas.
In response to the Apostolic Letter, Motu Proprio of the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI Intima Ecclesiae Natura (“On the Service of Charity”), the Catholic Bishops of Liberia in 2017 passed a resolution to merge its National Caritas Department and Commission for Justice and Peace of the three dioceses and establish the National Commission for Justice, Peace and Caritas (NCJPC), which shall be the one national body of the Catholic Church responsible for overseeing the design, delivery and evaluation of all efforts of the Church to deliver charity, development and social justice.
Vital to the success of Caritas Liberia’s work is its collaboration with the global Caritas network, such as Catholic Relief Services USA, Caritas Italy, Caritas England and Wales – CAFOD, Caritas Internationalis and Caritas Africa.