Community Support Association of Nepal (COSAN) is a non-political, non-religious, non-profit making, non-governmental development organization. Founded in 1990 with its first programme at Phakhel, Makwanpur Nepal, it was officially registered in 1991 in the District Administration Office, Kathmandu and got affiliated with the Social Welfare Council of Nepal. Health and development professionals with diverse experiences initiated the organization with the aim of empowering poor and socially excluded people living in rural villages of Nepal. We have been working from the eastern to western parts of Nepal. Our major project components are: Women and Child Health, Education, Disability, Water Sanitation and Hygiene, and Women Empowerment, Good Governance and Gender & Social Inclusion. Recently we have started working in the field of Environment, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction.

An inclusive and equitable society in which the excluded and deprived can exercise their rights and realize their full potential with dignity

COSAN works with deprived, marginalized and vulnerable groups of people to create a self-reliant and just society where all individuals are empowered, healthy and prosperous.

Social Mobilization
COSAN entrusts social mobilization primarily as a mechanism of empowerment that enables people for action. We believe in working with community members to develop social structures based on government policies and to capacitate them so that they run independently beyond the project tenure.

Community Participation
COSAN has learned that community participation and contribution are essential for successful implementation of projects and for sustainable development. It therefore ensures active involvement of community members, women’s groups and other relevant community organizations while implementing projects and its activities at the local level.

Gender and Social Inclusion
COSAN believes that development can be possible by including marginalized people in the mainstream development process. It strives to create an environment conducive for the inclusion of excluded groups in political, social and economic process of the country.

Partnership and Collaboration
COSAN works with a wide variety of partners and advocates for excellence and quality services by all partners. We believe in meaningful and responsible partnership with development partners, government agencies, civil society organizations and different community based user groups. Similarly, COSAN prioritizes partnership with corporate organizations for sustainable development by means of corporate social responsibility.

Rights Based Approach
COSAN adopts rights-based approach to respond to identified problems.