In a world marked by uncertainty, true resilience begins with robust systems and values. At Caritas India, this resilience is being built from within through the commitment to transparent, ethical, and accountable governance. This was the spirit behind the two-day workshop on Caritas Internationalis Management Standards (CIMS), held on April 21 and 22, 2025, at the Caritas India Head Office in New Delhi.

With over 160 member organisations worldwide, the Caritas confederation shares a unified mission: to serve the poor with professionalism and compassion. But such a mission requires strong roots. CIMS, officially adopted by Caritas Internationalis in 2015, serves as a cornerstone, enhancing accountability, governance, financial transparency, safeguarding, and stakeholder engagement at all levels.

“We are accountable not just to donors or institutions, but to God, the Church, and, most importantly, the people we serve,” was a recurring sentiment during the sessions, echoing Pope Francis’s call for deeper credibility and transparency within Caritas.

The workshop, facilitated by Mr. Kushal Neogy from CRS, took participants through a four-step self-assessment process, introducing tools such as the Organisational Review Tool (ORT), CIMS Reference Guide, Scoring Guidelines, Accountability Framework, and Safeguarding Guidance Notes.

Participants were trained to use these tools to evaluate the organisation’s health across five key management areas: Laws and Ethical Codes, Governance, Programme and Finance Accountability, Stakeholder Involvement, and Safeguarding.

The scoring system offered a clear, structured pathway to identify strengths and prioritise improvement plans. The process goes beyond checklists. It’s a vital internal reflection tool to spotlight existing good practices, analyse risks of noncompliance, strengthen transparency and reporting and develop actionable improvement plans.

As one participant reflected, “It was like looking in the mirror not just to see our reflection, but to refine it.” One of the most critical updates in the revised CIMS is the cross-cutting Safeguarding Standard, now mandatory for all Caritas members. The workshop deeply engaged participants in understanding how to adopt, implement, and monitor safeguarding practices not just through policy, but through staff awareness, survivor referral mechanisms, and accountability to affected communities.

The session did not stop at theory. It encouraged participants to consider how these standards apply to daily operations, project design, financial audits, communication strategies, and community engagement. Through hands-on application, Caritas India is now equipped to not only meet standards but model excellence within the broader Caritas network.

The CIMS self-assessment marks a step forward in a continuous journey. Caritas India will finalise its internal scoring, prepare improvement plans, engage in peer learning and work towards external validation and certification by Caritas Internationalis.

This workshop was more than a compliance check. It was a reaffirmation of faith-based service rooted in professionalism, humility, and integrity. Caritas India remains committed to growing as a transparent, accountable, and resilient organisation guided by the spirit of service and grounded in global standards.