University of Notre Dame Rome and Caritas Internationalis have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), formalizing and strengthening their collaboration in research and formation at the service of the Church’s humanitarian mission.
The agreement builds on a successful initial collaboration and establishes a structured framework to support fellows, interns, and faculty from Notre Dame in contributing to the work of Caritas Internationalis. It comes at a critical moment for the global humanitarian sector, as Caritas responds to significant shifts in international aid and development funding.
Following major foreign aid reductions announced in early 2025 by the United States and subsequently by several European governments, Caritas Internationalis launched an initiative to reassess its approach to Integral Human Development (IHD). Mandated by the Representative Council of the Caritas Confederation (REPCO), this effort seeks to produce a comprehensive guidelines document to support Caritas organizations worldwide in adapting their programming, advocacy, and fundraising strategies.
Rooted in Catholic Social Teaching, Integral Human Development remains a cornerstone of Caritas’ identity. The forthcoming guidelines aim to ensure that this framework is both theologically grounded and practically applicable in a rapidly evolving and increasingly competitive humanitarian landscape.
The first initiative under the MOU is a dedicated research fellowship focused on contributing to the development of the IHD guidelines document.
The fellowship is funded by Notre Dame Rome, the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and the Nanovic Institute for European Studies, both part of the Keough School of Global Affairs, reflecting a shared institutional commitment to interdisciplinary research and global engagement. It is also co-sponsored by the Catholic Peacebuilding Network.
The selected fellow will be appointed as a Research Fellow at Notre Dame Rome from September 1, 2026, to May 31, 2027. For approximately nine months, the fellow will be seconded to Caritas Internationalis, where they will conduct research under the supervision of the Integral Human Development team on a project dedicated to the development of the IHD guidelines.
The fellow will also support the consultation process across the global Caritas network, helping gather and integrate feedback. The final document is expected to be presented at the Caritas Confederation General Assembly in May 2027.
This partnership builds on earlier collaboration between the two institutions, including the fellowship of Flora Gicquel, who between October 2024 and the beginning of 2025, worked with Caritas Internationalis on a global study of peacebuilding initiatives. Her research helped identify best practices across the Confederation and contributed to strengthening Caritas’ strategic approach in that field.
Her experience demonstrated the value of embedding academic research within Caritas’ global operations—an approach that informs the structure of the new fellowship.
By formalizing this collaboration, the University of Notre Dame and Caritas Internationalis reaffirm their shared commitment to advancing Integral Human Development through research, formation, and service.
Originally published by at rome.nd.edu on May 20, 2026.