The National Catholic Secretariat has launched the Medium Term Programme Critical Pathways (2012-2016) of the Department of Human Development. The programme seeks to provide a framework towards achieving the objective of integration of the church’s development effort. It hopes to establish a blue print for internal and external communication, partnerships, resource mobilization, networking etc. The Department of Human Development encompasses a number of directorates namely Heath, Education, Social Development and Governance, Justice and Peace. Launching the programme, the Executive Secretary of the Department of Human Development of the National Catholic Secretariat, Mr. Samuel Zan Akologo said the Programme Critical Pathways (CP) are intended to be broad plan of actions not prescriptions and therefore not activities to be implemented. However, he said they will guide their activities and help define the department’s ultimate results to be achieved. Mr. Akologo said the term Critical Pathways is a careful programmed plan of action for the medical management of any given illness. ‘‘There are jointly developed by medical and nursing staff to identify the most efficient and effective care possible. Its relevance in programme development lies in the participatory approaches, collective management processes and accountability for results,’’ he added. He said through this effort, they hope to support the Catholic Bishop’s Conference to be more efficient in ongoing traditional services delivery and livelihood approaches to development while making a deliberate transition to a more policy focused development work. The Executive Secretary said the programme critical pathways 2012-2016 defines eight key areas which includes support for good governance, protecting and improving livelihoods of the poor, effective delivery of complementary social services and youth self employment and empowerment. The rest are emergency and crises response, promoting justice and peace, protecting the vulnerable and the excluded and organizational effectiveness. Mr. Akologo said the role of the Department of Human Development will be coordination, facilitation and capacity building of the church’s constituent bodies for development. It will engage in participatory processes to establish effective linkages, defining areas of synergies and gaps so that the full spiritual energies and material resources of the church are fully mobilized and deployed in building up the common good.