Established in 2000, IRC aims to be a key player providing replicable models for integrated social and economic development in Pakistan. Over that past nearly one decade, it has grown from being a one person entrepreneur oriented set up to being a modest but effective organization with over 300 people, several offices and formal systems in place. Its activities have grown, from an initial focus on training for community organisations and education for girls to a more integrated approach including income generation, empowerment of the rural and marginalised poor and advocacy support.

IRC’s work contributes directly towards all seven MDGs : Eradicate Extreme Hunger and Poverty; Achieve Universal Primary Education; Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women; Reduce Child Mortality; Improve Maternal Health; Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases and Ensure Environmental Sustainability. However, its primary focus is on the first three MDGs.

Recognising that an integrated and holistic approach is necessary if sustainable positive change is sought, IRC has developed a set of programmes which feed into each other and have initially been implemented within the same geographic areas and set of communities. IRC’s main work areas are as follows

Education and Literacy with focus on education primarily for girls, but increasingly now on boys, adult literacy and provision of a learning environment; Participatory Governance, stresses on civil society mobilization and local institutions, human rights and strengthening of democratic processes;  Sustainable Livelihoods promotes simple home grown technologies for sustainable use of natural resources and provides micro-credit for poor entrepreneurs. Under this programme IRC also works with local artisans especially women to improve their skills and provide access to marketing handicrafts and local products. Disaster Risk Management provides capacity building of local communities for disaster preparedness and risk mitigation.