For more than 40 years, CPAR has worked alongside communities in sub-Saharan Africa to support locally driven solutions that improve health and strengthen livelihoods for current and future generations. 

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CPAR was founded in 1984 by Dr. Mark Doidge, Henry Gold, and Simcha Jacobovici in response to the severe famine affecting Ethiopian refugees in Sudan. What began as an emergency relief effort – providing food and medical support – quickly grew into a long-term commitment to improving community health across sub-Saharan Africa. 

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As communities began to rebuild, CPAR’s work evolved from emergency response to a sustainable development approach focused on strengthening health systems and addressing the broader factors that influence health and wellbeing. 

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Over time, CPAR expanded its programs beyond Ethiopia to Malawi (1991), Uganda (1992), and Tanzania (2001), working alongside communities to improve access to healthcare, clean water, nutrition, and sustainable livelihoods. Today, CPAR focuses its efforts in Ethiopia, Malawi, and Tanzania, strengthening health systems by training frontline health workers, supporting health infrastructure, and partnering with local leaders to improve health outcomes and build more resilient communities. 

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CPAR’s work is supported by a growing network of Canadian supporters and international partners, including Global Affairs Canada, UNICEF, UNDP, and the World Food Programme.