Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace.

Ottawa -- Development and Peace (DP) is the official international humanitarian organization of the Catholic Church in Canada and the Canadian member of Caritas Internationalis, a network of 162 autonomous, Catholic emergency relief, development and social services organizations working in 200 countries. In a massive restructuring over the past year, DP reduced its budget by 16% and its workforce by about 23% to cope with reduced funding, of which forty percent comes from Share Lent offerings.

A news release of October 19 2006, states that its mission is to promote peace and peaceful conflict resolution; maintain, protect and create democratic forums; and engage Canadians in advocacy and fundraising programs that support groups around the globe in networks and alliances that promote social change.

In 2005, DP provided $18.4 million to support 309 long-term development projects and 72 emergency relief projects in the Global South. Some 2006 emergency relief projects include drought in Kenya--$80,000; refugees in Darfur--$100,000; West Bank and Gaza--$80,000; earthquake in Pakistan--$1.6 million

Advocacy initiatives include regulation of operating standards of Canadian mining, oil and gas companies overseas; Global Right to Water; and global warming. DP joins with community and labour organizations to lobby for these causes.