Centre of Excellence for Rural Development (CERD) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization registered with Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) under section 42 of the Companies’ Ordinance 1984. CERD is also Pakistan Centre of Philanthropy certified CSO and registered with Economic Affair Division (EAD) government of Pakistan. CERD is amongst the leading not for profit organizations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Newly merged Districts (Ex-FATA) with diverse range of portfolios and partnerships in number of sectors.


CERD at a glance


CERD Geographical Coverage

CERD has extensive experience of working in districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including Hangu, Bannu, Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Malakand, Swabi, Mardan, Charsadda, Nowshera, Peshawar, Kohat, D.I Khan, Karak, Laki Marwat, all the three districts of Kohistan, Tribal Districts (NW, SW, Kurram, Orakzai, Khyber and Mohmand), Frontier Regions and Islamabad Capital Terratory (ICT).


Since its inception, CERD has emerged as one of the major and key humanitarian partner to UN Agencies and international organizations. It has been implementing Gender and Human Rights Protection, Community Services, Water Sanitation and Hygiene, Community Physical Infrastructure, Livelihood, Child Protection, Food Security, Health, Nutrition, Education, Disaster Management, Human Resource Development, Agriculture and Livestock Programs across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and newly merged Tribal Districts.

With the financial delivery of more than US$ 29 million in the last decade, CERD is managing qualified and experienced managerial and support staff and has a network of its offices in Islamabad, across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and newly merged Tribal Districts. We enjoy excellent working relationship with the GoP, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at provincial as well as district level.

CERD is also an active member of:

1. Human Resource Development Network (HRDN) and participates in all its activities and forums.
2. Pakistan Centre of Philanthropy (PCP).
3. Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) Islamabad.
4. Trainers Network, Islamabad.
5. All humanitarian clusters KPK and TDs (Ex-FATA).


COVID-19 Pandemic Response

CERD, in an effort to effectively cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, took the following steps:

  • Rapid Need Assessment and food assistance to 4156 Families at district Swabi. 
  • Designing Printing and dissemination of IEC material for awareness raising and prevention measures in current pandemic for Merged Districts.
  • Awareness and Prevention drives through CERD official Social Media Pages, Website and SMSs.
  • Psycho Social Support initiative for All over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including newly merges districts.
    • Hiring of an experienced Psychiatrist
    • Establishment of advisory Help line.

Humanitarian workers are expected to uphold the highest standards of personal and professional conduct at all times to protect beneficiaries of assistance1. Sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) by humanitarian aid workers directly contradicts the principles upon which humanitarian action is based and represents a protection failure on the part of the aid community. SEA inflicts harm on those whom the humanitarian community is obligated to protect, as well as jeopardizes the credibility of all assistance agencies.

CERD SEA policy sets minimum standards to be followed to protect beneficiaries and members of the community from sexual exploitation and abuse. The policy is principally addressed to all CERD employees and related personnel.