As the global community seeks to rebuild after the shock of COVID-19, this requires a new coalition of innovative philanthropists, foundations and socially conscious businesses, social entrepreneurs, and faith actors. Catholic communities, particularly congregations of men and women inspired by Catholic Social Teaching and by Pope Francis’ visionary leadership, have been working on the front lines to foster social and economic empowerment of the most vulnerable and to build a fairer society and economy. To maximize their impact, GSF is working to break silos, foster inter-congregational efforts and create systemic and long-term partnership with businesses and other development actors at the global and local levels.
GSF is focusing on two workstreams over the period of 2020-2022:
- Facilitating and supporting inter-congregational efforts at the global level to affect the post-COVID development landscape, and at the local level through focused pilots to build trust relationships with partners, have the greatest possible impact on people’s lives, and test specific approaches;
- Creating a powerful and flexible platform at the global level to bring together leading businesses and representatives of the Catholic Church through the launch of an “Innovation Lab.”
As a starting point, we have focused on further empowering the work of the Catholic Church with migrants — offering them alternative opportunities, thus preventing forced migration and promoting their economic empowerment.
If your organization is active in this area, and you’d like to learn more about partnering with us, please contact us.