Latest Members

Australian Lutheran World Service joins HAP International as Full Member (December 2011)

Australian Lutheran World Service is the overseas aid and resettlement agency of the Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA). Its mission is to "reach out in love… for justice". The organisation seeks to bring people together in partnership to ensure the voices of the poor are heard, and God’s gift of grace is shared in its serving. It strives for life-changing programs that restore human dignity, alleviate poverty and build just and sustainable communities.

Australian Lutheran World Service provides funding and support to international development and relief programs, with an emphasis on programs that have the capacity to assist disadvantaged and vulnerable households and communities, with specific regard to women, children, those affected by HIV & AIDS, people with disabilities, as well as refugees or displaced persons because of disasters both natural and of human origin.

Australian Lutheran World Service prioritises countries in the Asia Pacific and sub-Saharan Africa where:

High vulnerability to disaster is evident and significant concentrations of poverty and disadvantage are found
There is demonstrated capacity to respond to the identified need
Collaboration and coordination with partners will facilitate programmatic objectives

Australian Lutheran World Service's primary operational partner is the Lutheran World Federation’s Department for World Service (LWF/DWS), a member of the ACT Alliance. As an ACT Alliance member, Australian Lutheran World Service works multilaterally through this network in emergency responses and is actively involved in its governance, forums and working groups.

For more information, visit Australian Lutheran World Service's website.

New Associate Member at HAP International (December 2011)

Pooravanchal Gramin Vikas Sansthan (PGVS) is a voluntary development organisation headquartered in Gorakhpur, India. It is actively engaged with community development issues across Eastern Uttar Pradesh.

PGVS started as an initiative for providing medical assistance to the poorest within the community. Later, with exposure and experiential learning, the organisation included education, governance, public health, agri-livelihoods, literacy and disaster management as themes of intervention. Today Pooravanchal Gramin Vikas Sansthan focuses on disaster preparedness, and in particular on:

Planning and implementation of disaster preparedness programmes
Facilitating community mobilisation
Capacity building of community and other civil society organisations
Conducting research studies

Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum joins the partnership (November 2011)

The Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) is a non-governmental organisation based in Karachi, Pakistan, which works to advance social, economic, cultural and political rights of fishermen and fishing communities in Pakistan. The body came into establishment as a social welfare organisation on 5 May 1998. Since its inception, it has gathered 60,000 volunteers. The stated objectives of the group target a wide array of issues which are directly or indirectly associated with about 4 million fishers in Pakistan. Some of these are:

Socioeconomic and political rights of fishermen
Bringing sustainable fishery policies
Advocating a ban on sea trawlers
Stopping depletion of natural resources in the sea and the use of destructive nets
Preserving the Indus Delta from degradation
Abolishing contract systems and bringing license systems in inland water bodies
Supporting the release and rehabilitation of detained Pakistani fishers in Indian jails and Indian fishers in Pakistani jails
Bringing general sustainability in the usage of water resources
Immediate humanitarian response particularly evacuation during floods and cyclones
Recovery and rehabilitation of disaster-affected communities
WASH, shelter, education and emergency food security and livelihoods in emergencies
Building the capacities of communities in disaster risk reduction and climate change

For more information, visit Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum's website.

Rural Development Project as a new Full Member of HAP International (November 2011)

Rural Development Project (RDP) is a non-profit and non-governmental organisation working for the empowerment of poor and vulnerable communities in Pakistan. Established in 1992 by a set of highly motivated, socially committed and like-minded individuals, the organisation was registered under societies Act of 1860 in December 1993. RDP started its activities in 1992 on mutual help basis by mobilising and organising the masses for disaster management, poverty alleviation, gender-discrimination and protection of human rights. Currently RDP is a national level humanitarian organisation working in Khyber Pukhtoonkhawa and Sindh provinces. Its operational districts are Haripur, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi, Buner and Peshawar in KPK and Jamshoro, Dadu, Mirpur and Sanghar in Sindh.

For more information, visit Rural Development Project Pakistan's website.

Welcome to Keeping Children Safe in the partnership (November 2011)

Keeping Children Safe is a membership network of organisations working together to increase safeguards offered to children. Membership is open to all agencies who commit to achieving the highest level of protection for children with whom they come into contact. It was formed in 2001 by some of the leading international development agencies in response to incidences of abuse and exploitation of children that were arising as a result of organisations work with vulnerable communities.

For more information, visit Keeping Children Safe’s website.

ActionAid joins HAP International (November 2011)

ActionAid was founded in 1972 in the UK as a child sponsorship charity when 88 UK supporters sponsored 88 children in India and Kenya, the focus primarily being to provide children with an education. Since then, ActionAid has grown into an international anti-poverty non-governmental organisation whose primary aim is to fight poverty worldwide. Headquartered in South Africa, the organisation today supports millions of impoverished and disadvantaged people every year across 43 countries worldwide. ActionAid’s vision "is a world without poverty and injustice in which every person enjoys their right to a life with dignity." ActionAid’s mission is "to work with poor and excluded people to eradicate poverty and injustice."

A human rights-based approach underpins the organisation’s work across a number of different areas, including emergencies and conflict, education, women’s rights, governance, food rights and HIV/AIDs. As well as addressing the immediate conditions of poverty, ActionAid seeks to address the causes of poverty and change the policies and practices which keep people in poverty at local, national and international levels.

For more information, go to ActionAid’s website.

Christian Children's Fund of Canada joins the partnership (August 2011)

Christian Children's Fund of Canada is a registered Canadian charity that has been contributing significantly to the fight against poverty for more than fifty years. The organisation works hand in hand with local NGO partners operating in 53 child-focused community development programs in eight countries: Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Tanzania, Ghana, Nicaragua, Paraguay, India, and Sri Lanka.

Christian Children's Fund of Canada is also a member of the ChildFund Alliance, a network of 12 child development organisations whose work encompasses more than 15 million children and their families in 55 countries throughout Asia, Latin America, and Africa.

Christian Children's Fund of Canada is committed to protecting the fundamental rights of children to attend school, and ensuring they have access to clean water, basic healthcare, and adequate nutrition, as well as social services, shelter, and psychosocial support.

In addition to helping communities build a strong development foundation, Christian Children's Fund of Canada has many years of experience providing emergency humanitarian assistance, both individually and jointly with other members of the ChildFund Alliance. The primary concern of the organisation during times of crisis is protecting children, as they are most vulnerable to abuse and neglect in times of disaster.

For more information, visit Christian Children's Fund of Canada’s website.

The National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH) is now a Full Member (July 2011)

The National Human Rights Defense Network (Réseau National de Défense des Droits Humains, RNDDH), a non-governmental, non-profit organisation working in Haiti, joined HAP International in September 2010 as an Associate Member. The organisation has now moved to full membership.

Created in New York in 1982 under the original name of “National Coalition for Refugees” (NCHR), NCHR was initially engaged in training activities, as well as lobbying for an end to the deportation of Haitian refugees fleeing the Duvalier dictatorship and guaranteeing them a legal status within the United States.

Over the years, NCHR expanded its mandate to include involvement in grassroots-level issues concerning the flow of refugees and displaced persons in Haiti’s provinces, with a particular focus on the tyranny and the violent acts of the dictatorship.

For more information visit The National Human Rights Defense Network website.

Habitat for Humanity International joins HAP (July 2011)

HAP International is pleased to announce Habitat for Humanity International as a new Associate Member.

Habitat for Humanity International is a non-profit, Christian organisation that seeks to bring people together to build homes, communities and hope, working to create a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates houses alongside its partner families. Habitat houses are then sold to partner families at no profit and financed with affordable loans. The homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments are used to build or renovate still more Habitat houses.

Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has helped more than 400,000 families to build, rehabilitate, repair or improve their houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 2 million people.

For more information visit www.habitat.org

Dwip Unnayan Songstha (DUS) joins HAP International (June 2011)

HAP International is pleased to welcome Dwip Unnayan Songstha (DUS) as a new Full Member in the partnership.

Dwip Unnayan Songstha (DUS), which means Island Development Association, was established as a result of a series of disasters in Bangladesh around 1970. With over 200 staff and 500 volunteers, DUS works for the poor and marginalised communities on coastal areas of Bangladesh. DUS is a volunteering organisation, totally independent from politics.

The main objectives of DUS are to alleviate poverty, enhance empowerment of the poor, establish human rights, promote essential health care and respond to major natural and manmade disasters in Bangladesh.

DUS is a member of the Asian Disaster Risk reduction Network (ADRRN), the Coastal Fisherman Folk Community Network (COFCON), the Network for Information, Response and Preparedness Activities on Disaster (NIRAPAD). The Executive Director of DUS was recently elected as Vice Chairperson of the Association of Development Agencies in Bangladesh (ADAB) and Chairperson of the Bangladesh NGOs Networking for Radio & Communication (BNNRC).

For more information visit the Dwip Unnayan Songstha (DUS) website.

The Society for Training and Rehabilitation (STAR) joins HAP International (June 2011)

HAP International is pleased to announce the Society for Training and Rehabilitation (STAR) as a new Associate Member.

The Society for Training and Rehabilitation (STAR) is a non-governmental, socio economic development organisation. It was established in 1994 in Bangladesh by social workers. STAR aspires for a society free from poverty, exploitation, injustice and insecurity, where there is equality among citizens irrespective of religion, sex, caste and creeds. In particular, a society where all citizens enjoy equal rights and can actively participate in democratic processes.

STAR's mission is to establish social justice and human rights for poor people, especially women and children. This can be achieved by raising awareness skills and resources of the poorest and neglected communities, by removing factors responsible for poverty, ignorance and deprivation in society and by creating conditions for the poor people to build up and lead a self-supporting life with due rights and dignity in society.

Welcome to Plan International in the partnership (June 2011)

HAP International is pleased to announce Plan International as a new Full Member.

Plan International is a child-centered community development organisation. Founded over 70 years ago, child sponsorship is the basic foundation of the organisation. Plan works with children and communities in 48 developing countries with supporters and funders in 20 countries. Plan strives to achieve lasting improvements in the quality of life of deprived children in developing countries through a process that unites people across cultures and adds meaning and value to their lives by:

enabling deprived children, their families, and their communities to meet their basic needs and to increase their ability to participate in and benefit from their societies;
building relationships to increase understanding and unity among peoples of different cultures and countries; and
promoting the rights and interests of the world’s children.

Plan’s vision is of a world in which all children realise their full potential in societies which respect people’s rights and dignity.

For more information visit Plan International's website.

Islamic Relief Worldwide joins HAP International (June 2011)

HAP International is pleased to announce Islamic Relief Worldwide as a new Full Member.

Islamic Relief Worldwide is an international relief and development charity which envisages a caring world where people unite to respond to the suffering of others, empowering them to fulfil their potential. It was founded in the United Kingdom in 1984 by Dr Hany El Banna. Islamic Relief is working in over 25 countries, promoting sustainable economic and social development by working with local communities to eradicate poverty, illiteracy and disease. The organisation provides support regardless of religion, ethnicity or gender.

Islamic Relief works in six main sectors:

Sustainable livelihoods
Education
Health and nutrition
Orphans and child welfare
Water and sanitation
Emergency relief & disaster preparedness

For more information visit the Islamic Relief Worldwide website.

HAP International welcomes Lutheran World Service India Trust (LWSIT) to the partnership (May 2011)

HAP International is pleased to announce LWSIT as a new Full Member.

LWSIT is a Christian ecumenical organisation that was originally the country programme of the Lutheran World Federation, Department for World Service (LWF/DWS) Geneva. LWS India Trust commenced its operations in 1974 with refugee relief and rehabilitation projects in the state of West Bengal in the aftermath of the Bangladesh War of independence. Since then it has expanded its operations to other states of India and continued to work with the poor and those affected by disasters. LWS India Trust has provided disaster relief in West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadhu, Maharashtra and Gujarat. The organisation employs 245 full time staff with 18 offices in India.

For more information visit the Lutheran World Service India Trust (LWSIT) website.

HAP International welcomes Trócaire to the partnership (May 2011)

HAP International is pleased to announce Trócaire as a new Full Member.

Trócaire is the official overseas development agency of the Catholic Church in Ireland. Trócaire was established in 1973 to express the concern of the Irish Catholic Church for any form of human need, but particularly the needs and problems of under developed communities by the relief of poverty and the advancement of education. Trócaire key areas of intervention include: emergencies, livelihoods, HIV/AIDS, gender equality, climate change, human rights, corporate accountability, trade and governance, environmental justice, disaster risk reduction and building peace. The organisation currently works in 96 programme sites in 27 countries, together with local partners.

For more information visit the Trócaire website.

Welcome to the National Society for Earthquake Technology Nepal (NSET) to HAP International (April 2011)

HAP International is pleased to announce the National Society for Earthquake Technology Nepal (NSET) as a new Associate Member.

The National Society for Earthquake Technology Nepal (NSET) was established in 1993. Its vision is to create "earthquake safe communities by 2020". NSET mission is to assist all communities in Nepal to become earthquake-safer by developing and implementing organised approaches to managing and minimising earthquake risks.

NSET has several objectives:

to raise public awareness in order to reduce loss of lives and damages caused by earthquakes;
to contribute towards the development and use of science and technology related to earthquakes;
to play an active role in safeguarding the country against earthquakes and to reduce earthquake risk by developing and implementing scientific measures;
to encourage professionalism and scientific ethics in the sector;
to further the objectives and policies of the International Association for Earthquake Engineering as applicable to Nepal, and
to provide emergency assistance to communities impacted by an earthquake.

For more information visit the National Society for Earthquake Technology Nepal (NSET) website.

The Evangelical Fellowship of India Commission on Relief (EFICOR) joins HAP International (March 2011)

HAP International is pleased to announce a new Full Member in the partnership: The Evangelical Fellowship of India Commission on Relief (EFICOR).

EFICOR is a national relief and development agency in India based in New Delhi. The organisation was founded in 1967 as the relief and development arm of the Evangelical Fellowship of India. In 1980, EFICOR was registered as a separate society under Karnataka Societies Registration Act, 1960. The registration number is 70/80-81. EFICOR is registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 1976 and the registration number is 231650411. EFICOR seeks to serve the poor and marginalised irrespective of caste, creed or religion in situations of poverty, injustice and disaster. The organisation is a Christian organisation with the mission to establish nations' sensitivity to God’s concern on social issues, to partner with the church in addressing kingdom concerns and to facilitate communities towards a holistic transformation.

For more information visit the Evangelical Fellowship of India Commission on Relief (EFICOR) website.

Welcome to Rupantar in the partnership (March 2011)

HAP International is pleased to announce Rupantar as a Full member.

Rupantar (which means transformation in Bengali) was founded in 1992 to promote social welfare in Bangladesh. The organisation employs 620 full time staff and has approximately 2000 volunteers. Projects in 2009 covered a variety of issues, including – but not limited to – improving local level governance, women empowerment, reducing vulnerability to climate change, disaster management, water resources management, prevention of human trafficking, promotion of child theatre educational projects. In 2007 and 2009 Rupantar played a vital role in the relief and rehabilitation efforts after cyclone Sidr and Cyclone Aila respectively. The organisation provided relief to tens of thousands of disaster affected people.

For more information visit Rupantar's website at www.rupantar.org

Welcome to International Medical Corps (March 2011)

HAP International is pleased to announce International Medical Corps as a new Full Member.

International Medical Corps is a global, humanitarian, nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training and relief and development programs. Established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and nurses, International Medical Corps is a private, voluntary, nonpolitical, nonsectarian organisation. Its mission is to improve the quality of life through health interventions and related activities that build local capacity in underserved communities worldwide. By offering training and health care to local populations and medical assistance to people at highest risk, and with the flexibility to respond rapidly to emergency situations, International Medical Corps rehabilitates devastated health care systems and helps bring them back to self-reliance.

Under the umbrella of primary healthcare, the International Medical Corps has seven priority programme areas: emergency response, health capacity building, women and children health and well-being, mental health, and clean water, sanitation and hygiene.

For more information visit International Medical Corps' website.

ZOA Refugee Care joins HAP International (March 2011)

HAP International is pleased to announce ZOA Refugee Care as a new Full Member.

ZOA Refugee Care is a Dutch international relief and rehabilitation organisation that predominately works in Africa and Asia with people affected by conflict or natural disaster. The organisation currently operates in Afghanistan, Cambodia, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Liberia, Myanmar (through CDN), North Sudan, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Thailand and Uganda.

The long-term effect of conflict and violence on physical and social capacity is the impetus for ZOA remaining in target countries for extended periods. This involves working in conjunction with local authorities and civil organisations to help develop capacity.

ZOA’s projects include livelihoods, agriculture, food security and basic subsistence; water and sanitation; education; strengthening local organisations and governments; construction and repair of infrastructure.

For more information visit the ZOA Refugee Care website.

Welcome to Church of Sweden (December 2010)

HAP International is pleased to announce Church of Sweden as a new Full Member.

The Church of Sweden has almost seven million members (equivalent to 71 % of the population) and is made up of 1,782 parishes in Sweden and 45 parishes abroad (2009). The work at the national level is mainly carried out at the central Church Office in Uppsala. The General Synod is the Church of Sweden’s highest decision making body and its responsibilities include coordinating the international cooperation work.

The Church of Sweden is also part of the global fellowship of churches and with strong bilateral and ecumenical ties to other churches. It is active in the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran world Federation, the Conference of European churches and the Christian Council of Sweden. It is also an active member of the ACT alliance.

In its international cooperation, The Church of Sweden supports partners in disaster relief, long-term development and advocacy work on issues covering sustainable development, food security, peace and conflict transformation, human rights, HIV and food. In addition, the Church of Sweden is also involved in strengthening church-to-church relations and in sharing resources for theological education and reflection.

Learn more on Church of Sweden’s website: www.svenskakyrkan.se

RedR UK joins HAP International (December 2010)

HAP International is pleased to announce RedR UK as a new Full Member.

RedR is an international charity that improves the effectiveness of disaster relief, helping save and rebuild the lives of people affected by disaster worldwide. RedR delivers a wide range of high quality training programmes for the humanitarian sector, from introductory courses to credit-rated specialist courses. RedR maintains an active register of carefully selected and trained professionals who are available to work for humanitarian agencies worldwide.

RedR is based in London, with programmes in Pakistan and Sudan, and delivers bespoke training and consultancy worldwide. RedR’s work enables both local and international relief workers to react to the needs of those affected by disaster, efficiently and safely.

RedR UK is a member of RedR International and merged with International Health Exchange (IHE) in 2003. It adheres to the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement/NGO Code of Conduct, is a member of People in Aid and committed to the principles of RedR International.

To learn more about the organisation, visit RedR UK website.

Welcome to HelpAge International (December 2010)

HAP International is pleased to announce a new member in the partnership: HelpAge International has joined in December 2010.

HelpAge International, based in London, supports older people claim their rights, challenge discrimination and overcome poverty, so they can lead dignified, secure, active and healthy lives. It is the secretariat of a network of affiliates. In 1983, five organisations in Canada, Colombia, Kenya, India and UK came together to create HelpAge International. Now, 80 organisations in 57 countries are affiliated with the organisation.

HelpAge International’s overall goal is to work with partners "to ensure that people everywhere understand how much older people contribute to society and that they must enjoy their right to healthcare, social services and economic and physical security".

For more information visit HelpAge International website.

Children First joins HAP International (September 2010)

HAP International is pleased to welcome Children First, Pakistan, as a Full Member.

Children First, Pakistan, formally Save the Children-UK Kashmir Programme, has been operating as a national NGO since 1 November 2008.

The mission of Children First is to contribute towards realisation of child rights by engaging key stakeholders in multiple ways. The organisation works to build the capacity of institutions and communities to safeguard children from potential abuse, exploitation and neglect; improve access and quality of education and health for children; poverty alleviation through micro-enterprise development and income generation activities; increase disaster preparedness and risk reduction; and promote gender equality.

To learn more about the organisation, visit Children First website.

HAP International welcomes The National Human Rights Defense Network (September 2010)

The National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH) joined HAP as Associate Member.

The National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH), formerly known as the National Coalition for Haitian Rights (NCHR-Haiti), is a non-governmental, non-profit organization. Created in New York in 1982 under the original name of “National Coalition for Refugees” (NCHR), NCHR was initially engaged in training activities, as well as lobbying for an end to the deportation of Haitian refugees fleeing the Duvalier dictatorship and guaranteeing them a legal status within the United States.

Over the years, NCHR expanded its mandate to include involvement in grassroots-level issues concerning the flow of refugees and displaced persons in Haiti’s provinces, with a particular focus on the tyranny and the violent acts of the dictatorship.

For more information visit The National Human Rights Defense Network website.

Welcome to Church's Auxiliary for Social Action's (CASA) to HAP International (September 2010)

The Church's Auxiliary for Social Action's (CASA) has joined HAP International as Full Member.

The Church's Auxiliary for Social Action's (CASA) is a relief and development membership organisation located in New Delhi, India. The 24 CASA members are Protestant and Orthodox Churches and are all members of National Council of Churches. CASA has a presence in 26 states and union territories in India.

CASA's mission is to "actively support and work for a just and sustainable society by creating opportunities for the participation of socially and economically marginalised sections in the development process through networking, alliance building and strengthening of their organizations". CASA's mission is also to support local self-governance, peace and reconciliation, as well as provide humanitarian assistance.

The aim of the organisation is to "undertake, promote and assist in carrying forward the mandate aimed at empowerment / socio-economic amelioration of the poor and marginalised irrespective of religion, caste, and political considerations". CASA aims to achieve this through 14 objectives, one of which is "to undertake and assist in emergency relief and rehabilitation work for victims of floods, fire, famine, earthquake and other natural and human induced disasters, which adversely affect development".

CASA has over 400 national and international partners from the Mountain Forum Himalayas in India to the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the ACT Alliance.

Visit CASA website to learn more about the organisation.

The International Rescue Committee UK joins HAP International (September 2010)

Welcome to the International Rescue Committee (IRC-UK) as Full Member of HAP International.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is based in London, England and currently supports programmes in 42 countries. IRC-UK provides emergency relief, protection of human rights, post conflict reconstruction, resettlement assistance and advocacy to those uprooted or affected by violent conflict or oppression in Africa (Great Lakes, Horn and West Africa), Asia and Caucasus.

IRC was established in 1997 to meet the following two objectives:

1. To relieve poverty, distress and suffering in any part of the world, in particular for the benefit of refugees and victims of oppression or violent conflict and to administer such relief without regard to the race, nationality or religion of the beneficiaries; and

2. To carry out programmes in global emergency relief so as to assist the victims of oppression and violent conflict and to administer such assistance without regard to the race, nationality or religion of the beneficiaries.

The organisation is affiliated with the International Rescue Committee Inc. (including the Women’s Refugee Commission, a HAP member), a not-for-profit organisation based in New York USA, as well as other associated IRC organisations and offices worldwide.

To learn more about IRC-UK and its work visit the International Rescue Committee website.

HAP International welcomes Khwendo Kor as Full Member (September 2010)

Khwendo Kor, meaning "Sister’s Home", is a national Pakistani NGO working for the improvement of the financial and social status of women and children through education, health and women’s enterprise. The organisation was founded in 1993 and is registered under the Societies Act 1860 and as charitable trust in the UK (under registration number 1223).

Khwendo Kor is a "participatory development initiative, drawing its strength from the active involvement of the communities with which it works to meet their needs." Furthermore, as a value-based organisation, Khwendo Kor operates under a value system, which is "needed by any organisation that wants to work with communities rather than simply for them". Khwendo Kor’s core values are: participation, mutual respect, gender sensitivity, honesty & integrity, impartiality, transparency, and accountability.

To learn more about the organisation, visit Khwendo Kor website.

Welcome to Lutheran World Relief (LWR) as Associate Member of HAP International (May 2010)

Lutheran World Relief (LWR) is an active member of the ACT Alliance and works in partnership with a number of existing HAP members from the ACT family. Lutheran World Relief operates on behalf of U.S. Lutheran churches to provide aid and assistance to those in need around the globe. LWR provides more than relief supplies; working with over 100 local partners (ranging from small village groups to nationwide project teams), their combined efforts allow for improved methods of harvesting, the delivery of health and education services, and the development of deep partnerships.

LWR and its partners have been training farmers to produce locally sustainable foods, access sufficient water, and protect and restore their environments. For over 60 years, LWR has worked directly with women, as a major focus of activities, to improve communities. As an agency, they believe that effective development programs can lessen or even prevent the effects of disasters. When disasters do occur, LWR takes action quickly and effectively through its network of local partners.

Find out more about Lutheran World Relief, their partners and their focus countries.

Welcome to Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) as Associate Member of HAP International (May 2010)

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) was formed in 1963 and is a fund raising umbrella organisation for 13 humanitarian aid agencies who are UK registered humanitarian charities (NGOs). These are: ActionAid, Age UK, British Red Cross, CAFOD, Care International UK, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, , Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Save the Children, Tearfund, and World Vision. Nine of the DEC members are also members of HAP.

The DEC brings together an alliance of the UK's aid, corporate, public and broadcasting sectors to rally support in the UK for emergency response and ensure that funds raised go to DEC agencies best placed to deliver effective and timely relief to people most in need. The DEC describes its remit as uniting agency efforts in times of disaster - such as flood, earthquake or famine - wherever it happens in the world’s poorest countries with a view to maximising funds raised and ensuring that money is spent in an effective and fully accountable way. The organisation’s memorandum and articles of association describe its objects as:

creating an efficient appeal mechanism through the media for national fundraising and public response
ensuring that funds raised are used in an effective, timely and fully accountable way
facilitating agency co-operation, co-ordination and communication (in the UK)
raising standards in the implementation of Humanitarian responses

Recent appeals have covered the Gaza Crisis Appeal, Myanmar Cyclone Appeal, Bangladesh Cyclone Appeal, and most recently the Haiti Earthquake Appeal.

Find out more about the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC).

Welcome to Christian World Service Aotearoa, New Zealand as Associate Member of HAP International (May 2010)

Christian World Service Aotearoa (CWS) is a registered New Zealand based charity and a member of the ACT Alliance. The organisation maintains a focus on supporting communities with livelihood programmes, humanitarian relief and campaigning against the causes of global poverty. Working in partnership with communities in 20 countries, all CWS programmes are initiated and run by local communities with organisational and capacity building support being provided by CWS staff. Current programmes in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and the Pacific region include humanitarian and development work on areas such as economic sustainability, women’s rights, HIV/AIDS, environmental protection and peace and reconciliation.

Over the past year CWS supported 29 overseas partner groups as well as regional programmes in Asia and the Pacific and peace and justice programmes in collaboration with the World Council of Churches (WCC).; some of these programmes have included acting as a public witness in conflict areas, promoting reconciliation, working for a nuclear weapon free zone in Africa and engaging churches to protect the earth’s atmosphere and rights to water.

For more information, visit Christian World Service Aotearoa, New Zealand website.

Welcome to the Saibaan Development Organisation as Full Member of HAP International (March 2010)

Saibaan Development Organisation was established in May 1999 when it launched its first formal project to train people in livelihood skills. The success of their early projects helped establish the credibility of Saibaan which expanded its capacity to meet the needs of affected communities during the tragic October 2005 earthquake in Pakistan. As a local organisation, Saibaan was able to immediately respond to the needs of the survivors. Following on from the emergency phase, Saibaan operated projects to support long-term, sustainable change. Since the earthquake, Saibaan has worked hard to address the community issues of livelihood, women’s empowerment, infra-structure development, education, water, sanitation, and livestock/poultry development.

Currently, Saibaan is the implementing partner for a number of international agencies, including: CARE International in Pakistan, Oxfam Novib, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam US, Oxfam Germany, UNWFP, UNICEF, UNFPA, ILO, JBIC, NGI, CRS, IOM, TVO and UNFPA.

For more information, go to the Saibaan Development Organisation website.

Welcome to Act for Peace as Full Member of HAP International (March 2010)

Established in 1948, Act for Peace, the international aid agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia, empowers war-torn communities to protect refugees, reduce poverty, prevent conflicts and manage disasters.

Currently their project partners are assisting over one million people in 15 conflict areas, including active programmes in Sudan, Horn of Africa, Zimbabwe, the Middle East, Burma and Sri Lanka. For example in 2009, Act for Peace partners in Sudan assisted communities to: protect and assist around 300,000 internally displaced people in Darfur; reduce poverty by building and running schools, water programs and health clinics; running peace processes in the regions of Kurdufan and Central Equatoria.

Act for Peace is involved in programmes in DRC, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Chad, Zimbabwe, Burma and its border, East Timor, Philippines, Sri Lanka, West Papua, Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, Pakistan, Australia, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu. Act for Peace works directly and in close partnership with the local organisations to increase sustainability, long-term impact, reach, and effectiveness. It provides support to these partners in areas of governance, finance, administration, protection and with project management. Local organisations working with Act for Peace include: indigenous NGOs, Community Based Organisations (CBOs), church councils and church-based associations/groups.

For more information, visit Act for Peace website.

Welcome to Diakonia (Sweden) as Full Member (December 2009)

Diakonia is a Swedish NGO with 40 years of experience in international development and relief work. It was originally founded in 1966 as “Frikyrkan Hjälper” (“Free Church Aid”). At present, Diakonia is made up of five Swedish church organisations. Diakonia describes its vision as “a fair and sustainable world, free from poverty, where all women and men can live their lives under dignified circumstances. This vision is based both on a theological foundation and on respect for the universally recognised Human Rights. As a consequence, their international work follows a rights based approach. Their overall objective is: “to change unfair political, economical, social and cultural structures that hinder women and men from living their lives in dignified circumstances.”

Diakonia works with approximately 400 implementing partner organisations in 30 countries. The work is based on the principle of a long-term commitment to the partnerships and the goal is a lasting change for the most oppressed, vulnerable or exposed people. Diakonia focuses with local partners around the five key themes: Human Rights; Democratisation; Social and Economic Justice; Gender Equality; and Peace and Reconciliation.

Currently Diakonia has emergency operations in Burma, DRC, Iraq, Lebanon, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Somalia, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

For more information, visit the Diakonia website.

Welcome to International Aid Services (IAS), Sweden as Full Member of HAP International (December 2009)

International Aid Services is a Christian non-political and non-profit humanitarian relief and development organisation. It was founded in 1989 with the purpose of assisting people in need. IAS describes its mission as: to save lives, promote self-reliance and dignity through human transformation, going beyond relief and development.

The main areas of activity for IAS are:

Emergency Response - Provision of emergency relief supplies.

Water and Sanitation - Protection of springs, digging of shallow wells, drilling of deep boreholes and maintenance of hand pumps including community training.
Agriculture - Distribution of tools and seeds, training of extension workers and equipping and training of local farmers.
Education - Nursery school education, primary school education, secondary school education, adult literacy education, education for children with special needs (mentally handicapped), teacher training and community training.
Health - Primary health, prevention and treatment of eye diseases and training of traditional birth attendants and community health workers.
Community empowerment - Awareness and sensitization campaigns on cross-cutting issues mainly gender, HIV/AIDS, environment, peace building and human rights; support (financial, material and technical) to local grass-root organisations and community groups.

IAS programme offices are located in Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Puntland, Somalia, Somaliland, Sudan and Uganda as the project implementing countries. IAS is also involved in countries by supporting projects through local implementing partners in Nigeria, Paraguay and Tanzania. IAS has head offices in Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden (headquarters) and USA carrying out support roles including donor liaison, resource mobilization and advocacy for programme countries.

IAS works closely with local partner organisations to increase sustainability, long-term impact, reach, and effectiveness, by providing support to these partners organisationally, financially, administratively, and through project and human resources.

For more information, go to the International Aid Services website.

Welcome to YAKKUM Emergency Unit – “YEU” as Full Member of HAP International (December 2009)

YAKKUM Emergency Unit (Yayasan Kristen untuk Kesehatan Umum / Christian Foundation for Public Health), is the emergency group of Community Development Bethesda, a Presbyterian, non-profit organization organisation based in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. It was officially established in 2001 in order to strengthen the effectiveness of Community Development Bethesda’s responses to emergencies while still retaining its focus on community development work. Its goal is to provide rapid and efficient emergency health care.

YEU has three main areas of work:

Responding to environmental disasters with relief-recovery plans along with a long-term development strategy;
Responding to victims of conflict along with peace building across communities;
Protecting the rights and dignity of the victims.

From 2001 to 2007, YEU responded to emergencies in Indonesia, including medical assistance to the victims of the conflict between the Dayak and Madura; the floods in Kebumen Central Java; the extensive floods in East and Central Java, the influx of migrant workers in Nunukan and East Kalimantan; the sectarian conflict in Poso, the religious-ethnic conflicts in the Maluku Islands, and an intervention to those indirectly affected by the Bali bombing. After providing successful emergency health care in Indonesia, YAKKUM is now responding to international emergencies: most recently in Timor Leste, Myanmar (cyclone Nargis) and Gaza Palestine.

For more information, visit the YAKKUM Emergency Unit website.

Welcome to the African Network for the Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN), Liberia as Associate Member of HAP International (December 2009)

The African Network for the Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN) Liberia is a member of the pan African network promoting child rights and child protection in 22 countries in Africa. In partnership with others, it operates under the mission statement to enhance the prevention and protection of children from all forms of maltreatment, thus, ensuring that the rights of children are realised.

ANPPCAN Liberia’s activities are tailored in responding to the specific needs of children by developing appropriate programme interventions. One of the most celebrated early achievements of ANPPCAN Liberia is the role it played in developing, lobbying and pushing for the ratification and adoption of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. Today the Charter remains the benchmark for child protection and support policies of governments across the continent.

For more information, go to the African Network for the Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN), Liberia website.

Welcome to KinderUSA as Full Member of HAP International (November 2009)

Founded in 2002, by a group of American physicians and relief workers, KinderUSA is an international humanitarian organisation based in Dallas, United States, with a subsidiary office in Brussels, Belgium. It has a focus on the rights of children and the importance of alleviating human suffering and the fostering of charity, kindness, and justice.

With the mission to alleviate the suffering of children and their families - regardless of ethnicity or religious beliefs - by bringing material goods into war zones and areas of disaster, to provide material support to those living in refugee camps, to initiate educational, health, and rehabilitation programs, and to dynamically reverse the psychological damage caused by conflict and natural disasters, KinderUSA provides assistance to children and their families living in conflict and disasters without regard to race, religion, or political affiliation; and, with complete impartiality and neutrality irrespective of political and economic realities.

Currently, KinderUSA is focussed on the children in the West Bank, Gaza and the Palestinian refugees living in refugee camps in Lebanon.

For more information, visit KinderUSA website.

Welcome to Kohsar Welfare & Educational Society (KWES) as Associate Member of HAP International (November 2009)

Kohsar Welfare & Educational Society (KWES) was founded in 1997 as a humanitarian, non-political organisation in Pakistan and is certified by the Pakistan Centre of Philanthropy. KWES takes a community development approach which focuses on the prioritisation of needs being set by the community and the implementation of projects coming from these priorities. Aligning with HAP principles of accountability, its vision is to enable socially excluded people to actively participate in decision-making, programme development and monitoring.

KWES works to reduce the vulnerability of the most marginalised, promote voluntarism and effective partnership between the organisation and marginalised groups across the state, through dialogue, building a common perspective and activities for improved health, livelihoods, social services, rehabilitation and education.

For more information, go to the Kohsar Welfare & Educational Society (KWES) website.

Transparency International joins as Associate Member (November 2009)

Transparency International, the global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption, brings people together in a powerful worldwide coalition to end the devastating impact of corruption on men, women and children around the world. With a global network including more than 90 locally established national chapters and chapters-in-formation, these bodies fight corruption in the national arena in a number of ways. They bring together relevant players from government, civil society, business and the media to promote transparency in elections, in public administration, in procurement and in business. TI’s global network of chapters and contacts also use advocacy campaigns to lobby governments to implement anti-corruption reforms.

Since its founding in 1993, TI has played a lead role in improving the lives of millions around the world by building momentum for the anti-corruption movement. TI raises awareness and diminishes apathy and tolerance of corruption, and devises and implements practical actions to address it.

Find out more about Transparency International.

Sustainable Environment & Ecological Development Society (SEEDS) joins HAP International's as Full member in July 2009

As the first Indian full member of HAP International, we welcome SEEDS to the partnership. SEEDS describes itself as adopting a locally based approach to addressing risk and seeks to empower communities through awareness, training and education. Operating its programmes either directly or through partnership arrangements primarily in India, the agency provides resource support on disaster management to agencies outside the country. In 2008 and 2009, SEEDS constructed emergency shelters and sanitation units for victims of recurring floods in Balasore district of North Orissa and upgraded 5 school buildings into refugee centres equipped with emergency kits, reconstructed houses in Barmer, Rajasthan and in Bihar assumed the responsibility for rehabilitation of villages destroyed in the 2008 floods.

Read more about the humanitarian programming and development work being conducted by the Sustainable Environment & Ecological Development Society (SEEDS).

Welcome to PMU Interlife as Full Member of HAP International in July 2009

PMU Interlife becomes the first Swedish full member of HAP International. The agency is the humanitarian relief and development arm of the Swedish Pentecostal mission, which has a membership of approximately 350 Swedish Pentecostal churches. The main areas of focus are fighting poverty and corruption while promoting gender equality, peace & reconciliation, human rights and democracy. PMU Interlife supports and works in 60 countries most of which are long-term development projects. Although, increasingly as natural disasters and conflicts affect poorer areas humanitarian projects have been undertaken with local partners.

Find out more about PMU Interlife and their international humanitarian and development programmes.

HAP International welcomes Norwegian Church Aid as Full Member in July 2009

NCA is an independent faith-based agency commissioned by Christian Churches in Norway to provide assistance to refugees, victims of disaster and others in need of relief assistance. The agency is committed to participate in programmes aimed at improving living conditions for those in developing countries and to advocate on the underlying causes of need. NCA operates programmes directly and through partnerships by offering support to local agencies.

Read more about the activities and programmes delivered by Norwegian Church Aid.

Welcome to the Association Najdeh (July 2009)

As HAP's third Lebanese member, Association Najdeh is dedicated to the empowerment of Palestinian women and children refugees living in Lebanon by assisting in securing employment opportunities, enterprise development and decreasing illiteracy rates, poverty and health care issues. During the conflicts in 2006, 2007 and 2008, Najdeh provided emergency food and drinking water to refugees fleeing the fighting as well as providing psychosocial support.

Take the opportunity to visit Najdeh's website and learn more about their porgrammes and activities.

Welcome to Amel Association as Full Member of HAP International (July 2009)

Amel Association is a Lebanese NGO established to assist displaced persons, promote equality and human rights, and to provide assistance and quality service in the areas of health, education and rural development. Amel has recently provided emergency health care services to refugees and displaced persons as a result of conflicts in the region.

Find out more about Amel Association.

Welcome to Society for Safe Environment & Welfare of Agrarian’s in Pakistan (SSEWA-Pak) as Full Member of HAP International (March 2009)

The Society for Safe Environment and Welfare Agrarians in Pakistan (SSEWA-Pak) formerly the Lower Sindh Rural Development Association (LSRDA) was founded in 1975.

SSEWA-Pak is based in Rattanabad Mirpurkhas where it operates a training resource centre, a health centre and a research centre. At the end of 2008, SSEWA-Pak had two field offices one in Pithoro District Umerkot and the other in Roshanabad, Naukot District Mirpurkhas. SSEWA-Pak has a team of 175 who are working with over 200 communities of District Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Badin, Tandoalayar and Tharparkar. SSEWA-Pak has an integrated rural community development programme that it implements with community participation.

SSEWA operate a total of twelve programmes including their emergency relief and rehabilitation programme. While the majority of their activities focus on community capacity building, livelihood development and education for women and children, the emergency programme was originally established to work as a local partner for Tearfund UK and ICCO Netherlands. SSEWA acts only in cases of emergency after natural disasters with food and shelter requirements. If the situation necessitates they will also participate in rehabilitation of affected communities. In 2007-2008 their emergency relief programme was focused on the construction and provision of low cost shelter projects.

Find out more about the Society for Safe Environment & Welfare of Agrarian’s in Pakistan.

Welcome to Community and Family Services International (CFSI) as Full Member of HAP International as of March 2009

The purpose of CFSI is rebuilding lives. Its mission is to vigorously protect and promote human security—specifically the lives, well being, and dignity of people uprooted by persecution, armed conflict, disaster, and other exceptionally difficult circumstances.

Established in 1981 and based in the Philippines, this humanitarian organization is focused on the Asia and Pacific Region and presently assisting refugees, internally displaced persons, and stateless persons in the Philippines, Myanmar, and Timor-Leste.

CFSI has two goals. The first is to empower and equip uprooted people to address and prevent social and health problems. The second is to prevent children, women, and men from becoming uprooted by promoting peace, respect for human rights, and the equitable distribution of resources.

Read more about the Community and Family Services International.

Welcome to Community Development Centre (CODEC) as Full Member of HAP International as of March 2009

Since 1985 CODEC has operated along the coastal belt of Bangladesh; its organisational aim is poverty alleviation through supporting and empowering vulnerable communities (particularly fishing communities) through a number of needs-based development activities based upon building socio-economic infrastructure and improving community self-reliance. CODEC has approached its programming in partnership with beneficiary communities, stating - the key (to) development is in the hands of the communities. While not explicitly describing itself as a humanitarian or emergency response agency, CODEC began responding to emergency need after a cyclone hit Bangladesh in 1991. More recently, the agency distributed aid and health care support to survivors of cyclone Sidr and continues to work with the affected-communities on livelihood and rehabilitation projects. In 2006 CODEC opened two training centres (Patuakhali and Chittagong) supporting beneficiaries through economic & vocational training financed through a micro-credit programme.

For the period of 2007-2012, the governance of CODEC has identified three main programme components: (i) socio-cultural focusing on rights-based approach to community participation, (ii) economic development via income generating activities and training, and (iii) national advocacy with the aim to include the marginalised coastal communities in the main stream of development processes.

Find out more about Community Development Center (CODEC).

Welcome to the Women’s Rights Association (WRA), Multan Pakistan as Associate Member in March 2009

Established in 1999, the Women’s Rights Association (WRA) is registered as a Pakistani not-for-profit agency working in Multan and its neighbouring districts with the majority of its activities focused on capacity building, education and psychosocial support. Although WRA concentrates on projects designed to assist the social mobility and wellbeing of women, they also provide educational services and supportive rehabilitation projects for men, the elderly and children across five districts (Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran Muzaffargarh and Rajanpur) of Southern part of Punjab province of Pakistan.

Recent capacity building programmes include educational and organisational initiatives, such as cooperatives and microenterprise support for farmers & labourers; developing local economic and social opportunities to enhance access and promotion of democratic institutions; and the establishment of collective networks.

Read more about Women’s Rights Association (WRA).

Welcome to Focus Humanitarian Assistance as Full Member of HAP International as of March 2009

Focus Humanitarian Assistance is the humanitarian arm and affiliate of the Aga Khan Development Network [AKDN], a group of international development agencies with mandates ranging from health and education to architecture, culture, microfinance, rural development, disaster reduction, the promotion of private-sector enterprise and the revitalisation of historic cities. The AKDN agencies are dedicated to improving living conditions and opportunities for the poor, without regard to their faith, origin or gender.

Focus Humanitarian Assistance works with vulnerable communities in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East to reduce risk through disaster awareness, preparedness and mitigation activities. In addition, FOCUS provides humanitarian aid and emergency support to communities in the event of natural and manmade disasters.

Over the past 18 months FOCUS’ emergency programmes have been active in Kenya (following the post election violence), in Afghanistan (responding to various in country emergencies among other longer term community based programmes), India (in response to various emergencies as well as the implementation of community based disaster risk reduction activities) Bangladesh (distribution of aid and support to those affected by Cyclone Sidr), Pakistan (various mitigation projects and continual support across the country in response to various emergencies), and Tajikistan (risk reduction and mitigation projects, and responses to various in country emergencies. The majority of these responses are followed by long-term development projects through the Aga Khan Development Network agencies such as the Aga Khan Planning & Building Services, the Aga Khan Health Services, the Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance, the Aga Khan Foundation.

Find out more about Focus Humanitarian Assistance.

Welcome to Coordination of Afghan Relief as Full Member as of November 2008

HAP International is delighted to announce it’s first Afghan member. The Coordination of Afghan Relief (CoAR) was established in 1989 with a mandate to service the Afghan community, with particular emphasis on the marginalised and underprivileged. CoAR provides agriculture and irrigation support, food security, support to health, education and welfare needs for the rural poor, emphasising women and children as primary recipients. Recent activities, have also involved emergency relief and DRR management and training across 20 provinces.

Find out more about The Coordination of Afghan Relief (CoAR).

Welcome to Merlin as Full Member (November 2008)

Merlin specialises in health, saving lives in times of crises and rebuilding shattered health systems. From Afghanistan to Somalia, Merlin works within existing health systems to create lasting change and realise everyone’s right to accessible, appropriate, affordable health care.

Founded in 1993, Merlin has responded to some of the world’s most serious humanitarian emergencies and chronic health care crises including the Rwandan genocide, the Asian tsunami and Darfur as well as Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar. It has also had long term involvement in strengthening health systems in a number of countries such as Liberia and DR Congo.

Find out more about Merlin's work in emergency medical response and health system rebuilding.

Welcome to The Lutheran World Federation – World Service as Full Member (October 2008)

World Service is the internationally recognised Humanitarian and development arm of the Lutheran World federation (LWF) and works with marginalised and disadvantaged communities in areas of greatest vulnerability and endemic need. World Service provides humanitarian aid and assists in rehabilitation and development in more than 30 countries. With programmes in Africa, Asia, Latin America/Caribbean, and Europe, World Service has a distinguished record of linking compassionate and professional emergency response with competence in rehabilitation programmes and effective long-term development efforts. World Service reaches out to marginalised and vulnerable poor people whose livelihoods are threatened by the effects of natural and human-made disaster, with special regard to internally displaced persons and refugees. World Service staff are committed to building people’s capacity and competence to make informed decisions about their own lives. World Service works with the stated mission: “people of the world living in just societies in peace and dignity, united in diversity, and empowered to achieve their universal rights, to met basic needs and quality of life”.

Read more about the Lutheran World Federation.

Welcome to ACT International as Full Member of HAP International as of October 2008

Action by Churches Together (ACT) International is a global faith-based alliance that provides assistance to people caught in natural and environmental disasters, as well as in emergencies caused by war and civil conflict. Striving to reach communities in crises across front lines, national borders, and other ethnic, political or religious divides, ACT through its members provides assistance irrespective of race, gender, belief, nationality, ethnic origin or political persuasion.

Started in 1995, the ACT International alliance is present in more than 75 countries and made up of 132 member churches and related agencies, drawn from the membership of the World Council of Churches and the Lutheran World Federation. Since 2005, ACT has mobilised more than US$287.7 million in coordinated humanitarian assistance appeals.

ACT members work in partnership with the UN Refugee Agency, the UN World Food Programme, UNICEF, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and other non-governmental organisations. In addition, ACT is significantly engaged as a member of the wider humanitarian community. ACT's director represents the WCC and ACT on the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response at the principals level. ACT also participates actively as a member of the International Council of Voluntary Agencies, engages in the Global Humanitarian Platform and is a board member of The Sphere Project.

Find out more about Action by Churches Together (ACT).

Welcome to Naba'a as Full Member (October 2008)

Naba'a is a Lebanese agency working direclty with Palestinian communities in the camps and gatherings in Lebanon and with disadvantaged Lebanese communities. Naba'a uses a holistic and integrated approach, involving a wide range of partners (both individuals and organizations within the community) to build a shared understanding and action plan to achieve their vision, mission and aims.

They hold four strategic objectives at the core of all activities:

Aim to support young children who are most at risk of violence and neglect in the communities to provide them with opportunities to develop their confidence and to grow up in a safer, more inclusive environment.
Aim to support children and youth who are at risk of dropping out from school and living in particularly hard circumstances, and to help them realize their potential.
Aim to work with local communities, to build the capacity of those communities to take a more co-ordinated and inclusive approach to participatory decision-making and service provision.
Aim to influence the decisions of key policy makers and service providers who are responsible towards the Palestinian communities living in Lebanon to uphold the rights of Palestinian children, and to be accountable for providing appropriate services.

To find out more visit the Naba website.

Welcome to People In Aid as Associate Member of HAP International (October 2008)

People In Aid is a global network of development and humanitarian assistance agencies. We help organisations whose goal is the relief of poverty and suffering to enhance the impact they make through better management and support of staff and volunteers. We respond to the needs of our members and the sector by acting as an information exchange on good human resources and people management practice, by facilitating networking, by providing resources, by undertaking research and by answering queries. The People In Aid Code of Good Practice is one of the sector’s quality and accountability mechanisms, offering benchmarking, certification (through social audit) and a firm base for our members’ continuous improvement. People In Aid firmly supports the ideal that effective relief and development operations depend on the quality of staff and volunteers and the support an agency gives them. Our very practical output can help agencies enhance that quality.

Find out more about People in Aid.

Welcome to Centre for Peace and Development Intiatives, Pakistan (CPDI) as Associate Member (October 2008)

The Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives, Pakistan (CPDI-Pakistan) is an independent, non-partisan and a not-for-profit civil society organization working on issues of peace and development across Pakistan. Originally established in 2003 by a group of concerned citizens wanting to approach the issues of peace and development in an integrated manner. Being the first of its kind in Pakistan, it seeks to inform and influence public policies and civil society initiatives through research-based advocacy and capacity building with the goal of promoting citizenship, peace building and achieving inclusive and sustainable development.

Areas of special focus include promotion of peace and tolerance, rule of law, transparency and access to information, budget watch and Legislative Watch and Development. CPDI envisions a world that guarantees rule of law, protects human and civil rights, embraces diversity of views, supports vulnerable people and provides optimum conditions in which each individual can realise his or her full potential.

Learn more about CPDI-Pakistan.

Welcome to Church World Service - Pakistan/Afghanistan as Full Member (April 2008)

Church World Service-Pakistan/Afghanistan (CWS-P/A) is an INGO which implements humanitarian and development activities across Pakistan and Afghanistan through the following three programs: Disaster Response (DRP), Capacity Building (CBP), and Social Development (SDP). Globally, CWS-P/A is part of Church World Service International (U.S.A.) while locally its advisory board and regional networks give it roots. Since 1954, CWS-P/A has worked for the development and relief of marginalized communities on the basis that all individuals irrespective of race, faith, color, sex, economic status, political stands have the right to choose how to live. CWS-P/A assists marginalized communities to achieve economic prosperity and improve human and social capital through participatory endeavors, which liberate people and enhances their capacities to take control over their lives.

From our first office in Karachi, CWS-P/A quickly diversified from running solely SDP projects to encompassing CBP and DRP initiatives. Currently, CWS-P/A operates offices in Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Mansehra, and Quetta in Pakistan and Jalalabad and Kabul in Afghanistan. It also runs a training center in Murree, Pakistan.

Learn more about Church World Service-Pakistan/Afghanistan (CWS-P/A).

Welcome to Muslim Aid as Full Member of HAP (January 2008)

Muslim Aid is a UK based NGO founded in 1985 to promote a vision "of a world of peace, compassion and justice where all people achieve fulfilment". Muslim Aid's mission is "to tackle poverty by developing innovative and sustainable solutions enabling people and their communities to live in dignity and independence."

"Having gained a wealth of experience in the field of international relief and development work, we focus on working in partnership with local community-based organisations. This approach has proven to be most cost-effective in poverty relief and eradication and is also instrumental in building the capacity of local people to help themselves and regain their dignity."

In a number of crisis areas Muslim Aid also runs offices to directly implement relief and development projects. So far Muslim Aid has field offices in 10 strategic locations including Sudan, Iraq, Bangladesh and Somalia.

Learn more about Muslim Aid.