NAIROBI — Efforts to expand and strengthen child protection policies across Africa are gaining traction, as Church leaders from Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and other West African nations take critical steps toward implementing the Memorare Initiative, the Commission’s capacity building programme. 

On 15 May Bishop Markos Gebremedhin, the delegate for Safeguarding and Child Protection for the Catholic Bishops Conference of Ethiopia, met with Commission representative Augusta Muthigani in Nairobi to review Ethiopia’s progress. According to Bishop Gebremedhin, significant strides have been made, including the training of clergy and religious personnel, the establishment of national and diocesan safeguarding offices, and the rollout of a robust child protection programme in schools. 

Despite administrative delays due to restructuring within the Catholic Secretariat, Bishop Gebremedhin reaffirmed the Conference’s commitment to fast-tracking the Memorare Initiative grant application, which was officially submitted in October 2024. 

Elsewhere on the continent, all 16 member conferences of the Reunion of Episcopal Conferences of West Africa (RECOWA) have established safeguarding policies, according to Fr. Vitalis Anaehobi, Secretary General of RECOWA. In a virtual meeting held on 29 April, Fr. Vitalis underscored the need for episcopal leadership to ensure safeguarding is fully integrated at the governance level, calling the Initiative “timely” and “essential” for fostering a synodal approach across the region. 

“What we’re seeing across the continent is a genuine commitment to creating safer environments for children and vulnerable adults. There is still much to be done, but the energy, collaboration, and courage of local Church leaders give me great hope for the future.” — Augusta Muthigani  

The Bishop’ Conference in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been implementing safeguarding measures since 2013. According to Fr. Georges Kalenga, Vice-Secretary General of CENCO and national Safeguarding Coordinator, all 48 dioceses have established safeguarding desks. Yet gaps remain, especially in the area of training and accessibility to Listening Centres, which exist only in select dioceses. A virtual meeting on 20 May confirmed that the Conference has begun the process of applying for a Memorare Initiative grant. 

That same day, Commission staff visited the Jesuit Safeguarding Office’s Listening Centre at Hekima University College in Nairobi. The facility offers psychosocial services to students and the wider community. Staff members noted that the Listening Centre’s structure and management could serve as a model for future Memorare-supported centres across the region. 

The Memorare Initiative is part of the Commission’s broader mission to promote a culture of safeguarding globally by supporting the development of sustainable, locally-led child protection frameworks.