Development and Peace
Professional services
UnclaimedCanada's Catholic international development and humanitarian organization, supporting social justice, community-led development, advocacy, and emergency assistance.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Development and Peace is the international development and humanitarian organization of the Catholic Church in Canada. Its formal name is the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, while it is also known as Caritas Canada and, in French, Développement et paix. The organization was established in 1967 by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops in response to Pope Paul VI's encyclical Populorum Progressio, which called attention to the development of peoples and framed development as a matter of justice, solidarity, and human dignity. The organization combines international programming with public education, fundraising, advocacy, and volunteer participation in Canada. Rather than operating primarily through a large network of directly managed overseas facilities, it generally works with local nongovernmental organizations, social movements, and other community-based partners. These partners propose projects intended to help people improve their living conditions sustainably and participate more fully in the social, economic, and political development of their communities. Development and Peace's regular programming has covered more than 30 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Program officers based mainly in Montreal periodically visit partner organizations to review progress, provide training and resources, encourage collaboration, and plan future work. Humanitarian response is another central area of activity. Development and Peace can provide assistance through its own emergency programming and through the wider Caritas Internationalis network, of which it has been the official Canadian member since 2001. Its wider institutional relationships also include CIDSE, the Halifax Initiative, the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, and networks connected with the Humanitarian Coalition. Through these relationships, the organization can participate in coordinated responses to disasters and humanitarian crises while drawing on local and international Catholic relief structures. Development and Peace is also a membership-based movement. Its Canadian members and volunteers organize fundraising, educate the public, engage politicians on international justice issues, and contribute to governance. In 2023, the organization reported more than 12,700 members across Canada. Members elect representatives to the National Council and related committees. The organization operates national offices in Montreal and Toronto, alongside regional offices whose staff support and train members as community advocates and agents of change. Although rooted in Catholic social teaching, it welcomes volunteers from all faith backgrounds. Its principal annual fundraising initiative is Share Lent, conducted during the Lenten season and held annually since 1968. In the 2022–2023 financial year, reported revenue was C$21 million, including more than C$5.1 million raised through Share Lent in 2023. Bilateral programming supported by Global Affairs Canada represented more than C$7.7 million in the same financial year. Government support declined substantially after a 2012 policy change at the Canadian International Development Agency, with Development and Peace reporting a reduction of approximately two thirds in that source of funding. The organization's identity has periodically been tested by debates concerning the relationship between Catholic institutional oversight, partner selection, and international development practice. In 2018, Canadian bishops raised concerns that some partner activities might promote or tolerate contraception, leading to a multi-year review of more than 200 partner organizations and their conformity with Catholic social and moral teaching. After approximately three years of investigation, Development and Peace continued working with all but 24 of the partners reviewed. The episode underscored the organization's dual character: it is both a Canadian Catholic institution accountable to Church authorities and an international development organization working through locally defined programs and civil-society partnerships.
History
Development and Peace was created in 1967 by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. Its foundation followed the publication of Pope Paul VI's Populorum Progressio, an encyclical that treated poverty, inequality, and the development of peoples as matters of international justice and human solidarity. The organization's original mandate brought together two related activities: supporting development initiatives overseas and encouraging Canadians to understand and act on the structural causes of poverty. The organization developed as a Catholic movement with a substantial lay and volunteer component. Its Canadian members have taken part in education, fundraising, advocacy, and organizational governance, while professional staff have managed international programs and relationships with partner organizations. Share Lent, introduced in 1968, became its principal annual fundraising mechanism and tied the organization's international mission to the liturgical calendar and parish life in Canada. Development and Peace gradually built links with international Catholic and secular civil-society networks. It joined the Halifax Initiative in 1994, connecting it to Canadian public-interest work concerning international financial institutions. In 2001, it became the official Canadian member of Caritas Internationalis, the global confederation of Catholic charitable and humanitarian organizations. Its membership in the Canadian Foodgrains Bank also connected it to the Humanitarian Coalition and to coordinated Canadian responses to major humanitarian emergencies. The organization's funding environment changed significantly after a 2012 policy change by the Canadian International Development Agency. Government support declined by approximately two thirds, increasing the importance of private donations, parish-based fundraising, institutional grants, and partnerships. Despite that pressure, Development and Peace continued to operate international programs through local organizations in more than 30 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Its model has generally emphasized partner-led projects designed to improve living conditions sustainably and strengthen the participation of disadvantaged communities in their own development. A major institutional dispute began in April 2018, when Canadian bishops accused Development and Peace of promoting or tolerating contraception through some of its partner relationships. The dispute concerned the balance between the organization's development practice and its accountability to Catholic teaching and episcopal oversight. A review was conducted over approximately three years and examined more than 200 partner organizations. Development and Peace ultimately continued working with all but 24 of the partners considered in the review. The episode was one of the most consequential recent controversies in the organization's history because it affected its partnerships, public identity, and relationship with the Canadian bishops. By 2023, Development and Peace remained a national membership movement with more than 12,700 members. Its structure included national offices in Montreal and Toronto and 15 smaller regional offices staffed by personnel who train and support volunteers. Its work continued to combine long-term development, humanitarian response, international solidarity, Canadian public education, and political advocacy. Emergency assistance is often delivered with help from other Caritas members, while regular projects are typically proposed and implemented by local nongovernmental or community organizations. In the 2022–2023 financial year, the organization reported revenue of C$21 million; its 2023 Share Lent campaign raised more than C$5.1 million, and bilateral programs with Global Affairs Canada provided more than C$7.7 million.
- 2023
Membership and fundraising reported
[1]Development and Peace reported more than 12,700 members and Share Lent fundraising of over C$5.1 million.
- 2021
Partner review concludes
[1]After approximately three years of investigation, the organization continued work with all but 24 of the more than 200 partners examined.
- 2018
Partner review begins
[1]A dispute with Canadian bishops over alleged partner support for contraception led to a review of the organization's international partnerships.
- 2012
Government funding declines
[1]Following a policy change at the Canadian International Development Agency, government funding for Development and Peace fell by approximately two thirds.
- 2001
Becomes Canada's Caritas Internationalis member
[1]Development and Peace became the official Canadian member of Caritas Internationalis, strengthening its connection to the global Catholic humanitarian network.
- 1994
Joins the Halifax Initiative
[1]Development and Peace joined the Halifax Initiative, a coalition focused on public-interest education and advocacy concerning international financial institutions.
- 1968
Share Lent begins
[1]The organization launched its annual Share Lent fundraising campaign, which became its principal public fundraising initiative.
- 1967
Organization founded
[1]The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops established Development and Peace in response to the principles of Populorum Progressio and the Catholic Church's concern with global poverty and development.
Products and positioning
A Catholic, community-centered international development and humanitarian organization that combines overseas partnerships with Canadian education, advocacy, fundraising, and volunteer mobilization.
Fundraising campaign · 1968
Share Lent
Share Lent is Development and Peace's annual Lenten fundraising and public-engagement campaign. It connects Canadian Catholics and other supporters with international development and humanitarian projects, using parish, community, educational, and digital activities to raise funds and explain the organization's solidarity-based approach. The campaign has been held annually since 1968 and raised more than C$5.1 million in 2023.
Development program
International development partnerships
Development and Peace supports projects proposed and implemented by local nongovernmental organizations, social movements, and community partners. The programs aim to improve living conditions sustainably and expand the participation of marginalized people in their societies. Regular programming has covered more than 30 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, with monitoring and capacity-building support from Development and Peace staff.
Humanitarian aid
Emergency assistance
The emergency program provides assistance to people and communities affected by humanitarian need. Delivery frequently takes place through other Caritas Internationalis members, allowing Development and Peace to use an established international network for relief and coordinated disaster response.
Advocacy and civic engagement
Public education and advocacy
Through members, volunteers, regional animators, and national staff, Development and Peace educates Canadians and engages policymakers on international development, poverty, social justice, and humanitarian issues. This work is an integral part of its movement model rather than a separate commercial service.
Controversies
2021
Conclusion of partner review
After approximately three years of investigations, Development and Peace retained all but 24 of the partner relationships reviewed. The controversy highlighted tensions between Church oversight and the organization's locally led development model.
2018
Dispute with Canadian bishops over partner organizations
Canadian bishops accused Development and Peace of promoting or tolerating contraception through some partner organizations. The dispute prompted a multi-year examination of whether more than 200 partners operated consistently with Catholic social and moral teaching.
Marketing campaigns
- 1968Share Lent
Canada
Annual Lenten fundraising and education campaign supporting Development and Peace's international development and humanitarian activities.
Outcome. More than C$5.1 million was raised in 2023.
Brand decisions
2018
Review international partnersStrategyBackground
Canadian bishops raised concerns about whether some partner activities were compatible with Catholic teaching, particularly regarding contraception.
Action taken
Development and Peace and the Canadian bishops undertook a multi-year review of more than 200 partner organizations.
Aftermath
The organization continued working with all but 24 partners examined after approximately three years of investigations.
2001
Join Caritas InternationalisStrategyBackground
Development and Peace sought to strengthen its international Catholic humanitarian and development connections.
Action taken
It became the official Canadian member of Caritas Internationalis.
Aftermath
The organization gained a formal place in the global Caritas network and a stronger channel for coordinated emergency assistance.
Sources2 sources
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