Sustainable Rural Community Development Organisation | SURCOD

Sustainable Rural Community Development (SURCOD) is a local Non-Governmental Organisation creating opportunities for lasting improvement in peoples’ lives.

VISION STATEMENT

Our vision is a country, Malawi, where rural communities are self-sustained, where the population is healthy and fully empowered, and where all people are equal, know their rights and take their own development initiatives.

MISSION STATEMENT

To improve the livelihoods of rural communities by generating economic, agricultural, educational and cultural empowerment, and by promoting health and gender equality through the mobilization, training, education and entertainment of all women, men and children.

CORE PRINCIPLES

SURCOD’s projects can only have an in-depth and far-reaching impact through community participation. Without an active participation from the community members – in the planning, implementation, evaluation and sustainability – in our programmes, our efforts are vain.

We strive to design projects in total open-mindedness for external ideas and suggestions. We always consider working with other actors – government offices, local and international volunteers, NGOs – in order to benefit from a combined expertise.

SURCOD monitors and guides, but our programmes are thought of with and for the people we wish to serve. The importance of local ownership is felt throughout all stages of preparation and implementation where we make sure that people understand that the projects and their benefits are theirs.

We constantly strive for gender equality both externally and internally. Our gender empowerment work through projects is sustained within SURCOD as we attempt to show the right example. We see women and men as equal and thus endeavour to suppress the inequalities faced by women.

It is only through perseverance that we can achieve our goals. With an optimistic commitment to our ideals, we never give up or stop believing in our principles. SURCOD has a vision for Malawi and it will do everything it can to get there.

OBJECTIVES

Empower women, girls and the youth and enhance gender equality

Objective 1 – Provide women with tools and knowledge that will enable them to become economically independent
Objective 2 – Inform women about their rights as regards gender-based violence and guide them through rehabilitation
Objective 3 – Create space for the youth, especially girls, to express themselves, be creative and acquire new knowledge and skills
Objective 4 – Specifically integrate women in all our development initiatives. Gender empowerment is a cross-cutting goal

Prompt food security through improved agricultural practices

Objective 1 – Increase agricultural yields by advocating for, demonstrating and monitoring the use of organic techniques and of methods of conservation agriculture
Objective 2 – Boost livestock production as a means to diversify food and increase incomes
Objective 3 – Promote cooperatives, specialisation of products and the creation of markets
Objective 4 – Advocate for and stimulate afforestation

Improve water, sanitation, health and hygiene indicators

Objective 1 – Campaign and inform on various diseases and advocate for suitable prevention mechanisms
Objective 2 – Make available diverse instruments and medicines which boost people’s life quality
Objective 3 – Increase access to clean, safe and drinkable water

Generate a conducive environment for cultural growth and exchange

Objective 1 – Integrate international volunteers in most projects
Objective 2 – Promote cultural diversity, creativity and development at local level

Establish SURCOD as a leading development actor in Malawi (internal)

Objective 1 – Gain recognition by always working closely with other development actors such as government departments, NGOs, private companies
Objective 2 – Instigate development initiatives in several districts of the country
Objective 3 – Rely on a larger team working with diverse projects thanks to the procurement of new funds
Objective 4 – Always make sure of the necessity and impact of our interventions through thorough needs assessments and evaluations

To download a PDF copy of SURCOD’s strategic direction here. 

The organisation was incorporated on 17th May, 2010 as a Limited private company with the registration number 10522. SURCOD is a member of Council for Non-Governmental Organisation in Malawi CONGOMA since its inception in 2011 and our registration number is C564/2011. A member of NGO Board Malawi since April, 2015 and our registration number is NGO/L/15/014. On 1st August 2013 Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) at its Substantive Session of July 2013 adopted the recommendation of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to grant special consultative status to Sustainable Rural Community Development Organisation (SURCOD). In Malawi we work in Nsanje and Chikwawa Districts in collaboration with District Council and communities to implement development interventions reaching over the rural people.