Asia

Indigenous people and vulnerable communities are at the heart of Caritas’ integrated community development work in Asia. Our work is defined by the people’s own needs in agriculture, forestry, income-generating projects, access to clean water and community health care. Such work benefits the economic and overall well-being of the people.

Caritas has worked with two major consortiums in Asia for many years, the Asia Partnership for Human Development (APHD) who have now merged with Caritas Asia, and Cooperation Internationale pour le Development et la Solidarite (CIDSE - International Cooperation for Development and Solidarity).

We work with partners in Nepal and Bangladesh in South Asia, and Cambodia, Lao, Timor Leste and West Papua in South-East Asia. Our programmes address education; clean drinking water; food security; land rights; advocacy; helping to address gender imbalance; developing effective community leadership; indigenous peoples rights; supporting local NGOs; small business development to augment family incomes; health clinics and training in health; sustainable farming methods; and business management and accounting.

Caritas also supports human rights agencies, inter-faith dialogue and peace building, movements for democratic change, and an independent and free press.