Who We Are

KARUCAN was established in 1997 in response to the significant disparity in healthcare access between rural and urban communities. At the time, there was no dedicated organization providing advisory services on nutrition, particularly for vulnerable groups such as mothers, children, and adolescents. Recognizing these gaps, KARUCAN was founded to identify and address the structural barriers limiting access to healthcare and nutrition.

The organization's primary mission is to generate evidence on community health needs and use this data to design and implement programs that promote equitable and affordable healthcare solutions. By focusing on nutrition education, maternal and child health, and sustainable healthcare interventions, KARUCAN works to improve overall community well-being. Through partnerships with stakeholders, advocacy efforts, and community-based initiatives, the organization strives to create lasting, impactful change in healthcare accessibility and nutritional awareness for underserved populations.

Organisation Values

• Professionalism
• Accountability & Transparency
• Mutual Partnership
• Team work

Our Vision

‘To have a Healthy and Empowered Community with Improved Livelihood’

Our Mission

"To facilitate communities to attain good health and livelihood through strengthened community-facilities linkage frameworks."

Strategic Objectives

• To Promote and strengthen Community Based /Primary Health Care programmes for the delivery of holistic health care Services.
• To Support and Promote poverty Alleviation Programme [PAP] activities.
• To Promote Water /Natural resources and environmental Management/ Protection [WANEMA] programme activities/Services.
• To support and promote Human [Women & Children] Especially the Most At Risk Children [MARCH] /Orphaned & Vulnerable Children [OVC] programmes.
• To Promote Food Security and Nutrition initiatives through Community Agricultural extension programme [CAP] services /Activities.

Program Areas

• Health: [Maternal, New-born, Child and Adolescent Health, including, Prevention and Management of Diseases, like -HIV/AIDS, TB & Malaria].
• Social Economic Empowerment [SEE]
• Human [Women & Children] Rights and Advocacy [Esp. Most At Risk Children [MARCH] / Orphaned & Vulnerable Children, [OVC].
• Water, Natural Resources & Environmental Management [WANEMA]
• Agricultural Extension Services [Food Security and Nutrition]

Our Approaches

• Advocacy
• Capacity building
• Knowledge Management [Research and Documentation]
• Partnerships, collaboration and strategic linkages

KARUCAN Governance and Management

3.1. Annual General Assembly

This is the highest decision-making organ comprising of all members organizations of KARUCAN. It sets the strategic direction of the organization, approves annual financial and program and forms a critical mass for advocacy.

3.2. Board of Directors (BOD) and BOD Sectoral Committees

The BOD provides overall policy direction and oversight to the management. It ensures that organizational policies are adhered to and the programs are aligned to KARUCAN mission. The BOD exercises its oversight through its technical, finance, administration and audit committees. It ensures that the organization is held accountable to its stakeholders through the AGM.

3.3. Senior Management Team (SMAT)

Led by the Executive Director, the SMAT oversees the implementation of KARUCAN programs and policies. It’s also responsible for resources management and accountability.

3.4. Financial Management

The above structures, that is, AGM, BOD and SMAT work together to ensure that KARUCAN financial, budgeting and accountability procedures conform to acceptable standards. KARUCAN has institutional policies in place that guide the above process. They include Human Resource policy, Finance Management policy, Anti-fraud Policy and Risk Management Policy. KARUCAN uses QUICKBOOKS® accounting package for easy tracking, storage, analysis and reporting of financial information. Annual financial audits are conducted by an independent firm agreed upon by the AGM.