Caritas Africa and SECAM Renew Their Commitment to Human Development

The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) and Caritas Africa have reaffirmed their commitment to joint action in areas such as governance, justice, peace, poverty reduction, integral ecology, and human development. This renewed collaboration follows a two-day strategic meeting held from 19^th to 20^th June 2025 at the SECAM Secretariat in Accra, Ghana.

The workshop brought together senior leadership from both institutions to strengthen their collaboration, providing an opportunity to exchange experiences and chart a structured and strategic path forward. Participants left the meeting feeling empowered and optimistic about the potential of this partnership to advance the Church’s mission across Africa and its islands.

Strengthening Institutional Collaboration

“The purpose of this meeting was to build on our existing work, learn from each other’s experiences, and develop a more structured and strategic collaboration,” explained Mrs. Lucy Esipila, Executive Secretary of Caritas Africa, based in Lomé, Togo. “We reviewed the collaboration guidelines, identified priority areas for joint action, and clarified the institutional roles and expectations that will guide our partnership,” added the Kenyan-born executive.

Fr. Uchechukwu Obodoechina, Director of SECAM’s Justice, Peace, and Development Commission (JPDC) and Deputy Secretary General of SECAM, described the sessions as enriching, with productive brainstorming that helped define clear roles and collaboration strategies. Fr. Obodoechina, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, Nigeria, emphasized the shared commitment of both institutions, stating: “Where one partner faces challenges, the other can complement—together, we can be a stronger, unified voice for Africa.” He also proposed quarterly meetings to maintain momentum, exchange insights, and enhance the impact of their joint work.

Planned Joint Actions

This collaboration is anchored in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Caritas Africa and SECAM, particularly through the JPDC. The recent meeting provided an opportunity to revisit the collaboration framework and identify priority areas for joint initiatives, notably in advocacy, governance, justice, peace, poverty alleviation, and environmental sustainability.

Concrete joint actions have been outlined for July to December 2025, focusing on advocacy around pressing issues such as debt relief and sustainable food systems. Fr. Obodoechina also highlighted SECAM’s participation at the 6th African Union (AU) – European Union (EU) Agriculture Ministerial Conference in Rome on 27 June 2025, where SECAM will co-host a side event with partners to address agriculture, Africa-Europe relations, and power imbalances.

Additionally, Mrs. Esipila briefed participants on the upcoming G20 Summit of Heads of State and Government, scheduled for 22–23 November 2025 in South Africa. Caritas Africa, along with Caritas Zambia and Caritas Zimbabwe, will represent the Church’s voice in advocating for environmental protection and sustainable development at this global platform.

Looking ahead to 2026, both institutions will collaborate on the celebration of the 20th anniversary of Deus Caritas Est (God is Love), the first encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI, published on 25 December 2005. The anniversary event is planned for March 2026 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

A Partnership that Cultivates Hope

Speaking within the context of the ongoing Jubilee Year themed Pilgrims of Hope, Fr. Alfred Bebodu, Deputy Secretary General in charge of Evangelization at SECAM and incoming Executive Secretary, expressed optimism about the evolving relationship between Caritas Africa and SECAM. “This renewed collaboration is a promising sign of our collective ability to face critical challenges such as debt, poverty, and ecological degradation,” said Fr. Bebodu, a diocesan priest from Takoradi, Ghana.

He also provided updates on the work of SECAM’s Evangelization Commission, which focuses on key themes such as safeguarding, synodality, and interreligious dialogue. Fr. Bebodu further mentioned the ongoing reflections toward SECAM’s 25-year vision for the future of the Catholic Church in Africa, the draft of which will be presented to the bishops during the upcoming SECAM Plenary Assembly from 30 July to 4 August 2025.

Sustaining National-Level Engagement

Mr. Richard Akurugu Nyaaba, Executive Director of Caritas Ghana, also took part in the discussions, presenting his institution’s achievements and challenges. He emphasized priority areas for continued advocacy, including debt forgiveness, food systems, ecological protection, and the regulation of hazardous pesticides. Expressing his appreciation for the meeting, Mr. Akurugu highlighted how this collaborative approach between SECAM-JPDC and national Caritas structures serves as a valuable model for national-level partnerships, which he hopes will be replicated across Africa.

About SECAM and Caritas Africa

Founded in 1969 in Kampala, Uganda, SECAM serves as the continental body of the Catholic Church in Africa, with its headquarters in Accra, Ghana. Its mission is to strengthen pastoral collaboration among the bishops of Africa, promoting evangelization in all its dimensions, including charity and integral human development. SECAM plays a central advocacy role on behalf of the Church in Africa, notably through its Liaison Office to the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and through the Justice, Peace, and Development Commission (JPDC).

Caritas Africa is one of the seven regional bodies of Caritas Internationalis, a global network of 162 national Caritas organizations operating in over 200 countries and territories. Comprising 46 member organizations, Caritas Africa works to promote integral human development, humanitarian response, and social justice across the continent. Based in Lomé, Togo, it supports member organizations through regional coordination, governance, and programmatic initiatives aligned with the Church’s mission of serving the most vulnerable.

Charles Ayetan