(International Community for the Relief of Starvation & Suffering)
is an international NGO with a long history working in partnership with
civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, governments
and bilateral agencies, including the Global Fund, the European Union,
the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, and other local communities.
Our goal is to reduce disease, suffering and poverty among the poorest of the poor.
Our projects are implemented through the values and beliefs of the people themselves.
Together we create self-reliance and work through long-term positive change towards
sustainable self-supporting programmes.
ICROSS began its work among pastoral communities in East Africa in 1979.
For over 37 years, we gradually extended the coverage of our work from central Kenya
to vulnerable communities in the Western counties of Kenya, particularly in the areas of HIV/AIDS.
We have worked in Samburu, Kajiado, Nakuru, Bungoma, Nzoia, Siaya, Bondo, Buret and Mumias in Kenya
and Arusha, Dodoma and Monduli in Tanzania.
In addition, we have provided technical and material support
to an extensive network of partner National local NGOs and faith-based projects in 7 African countries
and 5 in Asia. This has included the first series of global health courses in Nepal lectures in international
development in Cambodia as well as program evaluations in other Southeast Asian countries.
Our core focus
remains endangered pastoral communities across Kenya’s Rift Valley.
We are proud that since 2001 all ICROSS programmes were completely managed by Africans. All project managers, supervisors, trainers, field teams and community staff are African. While these teams provide learning opportunities for intern and volunteer partnerships, the Africanisation of all projects has been a vital component of the success and continuity of the programmes.
ICROSS is an equal opportunity employer. As part of our Gender policy, we have actively recruited women into senior management positions. The majority of project managers and field coordinators are women, and the great majority of field staff are women. ICROSS focuses all its core programme development on gender.
Programmes are not owned or driven by donors but by local communities.
As part of corporate accountability ICROSS places the beliefs, values, cultural structures and hopes of the local people at the centre of planning, decision making and planning. With a strong inclusion policy and partnership in local language, we work towards programmes that have their roots in local communities.
As part of our policy of accountability to our donors ICROSS continually strives to improve its financial systems and procedures. With rural projects scattered across geographical areas larger than Ireland, there are challenges to ensure best practices and accountability of resources in Africa. ICROSS and our donors undertake frequent internal and external audits with annual external audits of all programmes.
As part of continual improvements and strengthening of the organization, we conducted external organization and management reviews and have recently commissioned Ernst and Young to carry out a comprehensive financial review of all financial systems, structures procedures and operations. Our commitment is to best practices of transparency and collective accountability. ICROSS insists on the highest standards from its entire staff as well as ensuring due diligence and the highest work ethics. Our code of conduct is based upon international gold standards and ensures not only equality and ethics, but transparency and integrity.
We are currently extending the Global fund accounting system into all new programmes being implemented.
External audits and comprehensive financial records are available to partners including Governments through our national offices.
Apart from corporate governance, ICROSS continues to profesionalise and strengthen its management teams. All management of field programmes is executed by senior staff with at least 10 years operational field experience. We are in the process of reviewing management structures in the face of recent expansion of all programmes.
We have a staff policy based upon the local regulations, laws and norms. ICROSS is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on any grounds.
ICROSS has a team of advisors and skilled specialists that it regularly consults on specific areas of International development. All advisors have at least a decade of experience working in underdeveloped countries, while most are currently in operational settings. All ICROSS advisors are highly qualified specialists in their field of expertise with the latest knowledge and information. This helps ICROSS in its strategic planning and evidence-based strategic development.
As part of its international collaboration and teamwork, ICROSS designs all its international research in close partnership with peer review collaborators.
In developing our corporate policies we seek to create a dynamic forward-looking organisation that will be able to respond to emerging challenges and needs in a rapidly changing world. Together with our partners, we are moving forward embracing new ideas and innovative approaches, learning from the wisdom and experience of the past. We are building on evidence and introducing fresh, exciting ideas and directions. Our vision of a better world inspires us, our mission focuses us, and our shared goals unite us. With effective planning, transparency, and clear direction, we will be able to really create lasting change.
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