On 12 September 2026, the Catholic Network for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Persons (le Réseau Catholique de Protection des enfants et des personnes vulnérables-RECAP) organised a half-day session for sharing and exchange among its members. The meeting followed the thematic groups meeting held on 18 July and formed part of the network’s ongoing efforts to progressively strengthen collaboration among its members.

Bringing together 26 participants from 15 member organisations, the meeting aimed to help organisations get to know one another better, share their experiences and resources, and, above all, identify concrete opportunities for collaboration. Beyond presenting each organisation’s areas of intervention, the discussions encouraged participants to reflect on existing complementarities and how their respective expertise could contribute to joint initiatives.

The participating organisations bring diverse experiences and expertise in protection, health, social support, family services, the promotion of rights and violence prevention. The meeting therefore provided an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the resources available within the network and explore how these could be mobilised in complementary ways.

The discussions generated several potential areas of collaboration among members, which could take different forms, including pooling expertise, organising joint activities, referring individuals to appropriate services, sharing tools and resources, and implementing joint initiatives. This dynamic reflects a desire to move progressively from simply getting to know one another towards more action-oriented cooperation.

One of the meeting’s main outcomes was the identification of several opportunities for collaboration among member organisations. These initial ideas provide a foundation for further work, allowing the organisations concerned to continue their discussions, clarify their objectives and approaches, and identify the first actions to be implemented.

The discussions also yielded important lessons for the future of RECAP. The network’s diversity of expertise is a valuable resource, but making the most of it requires creating opportunities for members to better identify their complementary strengths. Furthermore, collaboration does not necessarily require the participation of the entire network. Some initiatives can be developed by a few organisations with shared interests or common areas of intervention, with support from RECAP.

The meeting has therefore opened up new possibilities. The members concerned are now encouraged to continue discussions around the identified areas of collaboration and gradually turn these initial ideas into concrete actions. RECAP, for its part, will continue to facilitate connections among organisations, encourage follow-up on initiatives, and highlight experiences of cooperation developed within the network.

By, Communications Team,

Centre Arrupe-Madagascar.