WHO WE ARE
Foundation for Community Support Services (FOCUS) is a non-political, not for profit making non-governmental
organization that was formed in January 2000. FOCUS got registered with Trustee Incorporation Act (1962) in September
2001; and with National Youth Council of Malawi under the National Youth Council (1996) Act in 2005. FOCUS is a paid
up member of several networks like Council for NGOs in Malawi (CONGOMA), NGO Board of Malawi, Malawi Network of AIDs
Service Organizations (MANASO); Natural Resource Justice Network (NRJN) in Malawi; and also the local NGO Forum which
is mandated to provide a coordinated technical role amongst all local CSOs response as far as HIV/AIDS work is concerned
in Malawi. Among others, FOCUS currently actively compose to Council for NGOs in Malawi (CONGOMA), Resource Mobilization
Committee for Girls Not Brides (GNB) Malawi; Karonga District AIDS Coordinating Committee (DACC), the Natural Resource
Justice Network (NRJN), Karonga and Mzimba District Nutrition Coordinating Committee (DNCC), Karonga and Mzimba District
Agriculture Extension Coordinating Committee (DAEC), Karonga and Mzimba Disaster Risk Management Committee (DRMC) as well
as the Local NGO Forum. FOCUS is also the deputy chair for the National Social Protection Platform for CSOs; board member of
Malawi Network of AIDS Service Organizations (MANASO); a member of the Council for Non-Governmental Organizations’ (CONGOMA’s)
Governing Council and sits on the Malawi Partnership Forum (MPF).
VISION
FOCUS envisages a self-reliant, healthy and resilient communities with improved quality of life that is aware and able to
participate, demand and access their rights, information and services for meaningful development.
MISSION
FOCUS is committed towards facilitating, advocating and implementing programs in Community Health; Youth Development;
Gender and Women Empowerment; Good Governance; Human Rights; Sustainable Livelihood and Disaster Risk Reduction & Management
targeting vulnerable Malawian communities.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
FOCUS aims to make significant contributions toward achieving the following strategic objective which directly feed into the
attainment of organizational vision:
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To improve self-sustained livelihoods of Malawian communities through promotion of effective partnerships and
empowerment of individual households.
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To promote self-resilient communities through the implementation of Disaster Risks Reduction and Management, Natural
Resource Management and Governance and Functional Landscape Approach.
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To influence greater access and knowledge of Community health services including MNCH/HIV/AIDS/SRH/WASH/Non-Communicable
Diseases i.e. Diabetes, Blood Pressure etc.
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To enhance community empowerment and social justice to demand services and rights especially for vulnerable groups such
as children/youths, OVCs, women, sex workers, and poor communities.
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To promote ownership and participation of citizens in social and economic programs by fostering effective engagement by
policy holders and stakeholders at all levels more especially the affected communities.
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To strengthen organizational cohesion and effectiveness.
