About EAC – EACRD

Our Story

Who We Are

EACRD (EAC Relief & Development) is an independent rural development organisation headquartered in Churachandpur, Manipur. Established in 2004, EACRD works with tribal and marginalised communities across Manipur’s hill districts — and in other parts of Northeast India — on sustainable livelihoods, natural resource governance, climate resilience, peacebuilding, and humanitarian response.

Over two decades, EACRD has implemented more than thirty development projects in partnership with national and international donors, government agencies, and civil society organisations. Its work has benefited thousands of tribal households, small and marginal farmers, women, children, youth, landless labourers, and vulnerable communities in remote and underserved areas.

EACRD serves all communities regardless of faith or ethnicity. Its programmes are designed and delivered on development principles — participation, equity, accountability — and are open to every household in the villages where it works.

Our Roots and Legal Status

EACRD was established in 2004 as the relief and development wing of the Evangelical Assembly Church (EAC), a society registered in Manipur on 6 February 1986 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. EAC is registered with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), which enables EACRD to receive international funding and partner with global development agencies.

While it operates under EAC’s legal registration, EACRD functions as an autonomous, professional development organisation — with its own leadership, staff, programme systems, and donor accountability. What began as a relief department has grown into a full-fledged development agency whose partnerships include Bread for the World (Germany), NABARD, and other national and international institutions.

Vision

To build a society where fairness, equity, and security are upheld for all, empowering every individual to live with dignity, equality, and hope.

Mission

To advance social justice, equity, and inclusive development, ensuring that every person is treated with dignity, respect, and equal opportunity.
To collaborate with like-minded institutions, community groups, and other stakeholders in addressing issues of common concern for the betterment of society.
To work towards the holistic development and transformation of communities, ensuring inclusive growth, well-being, and empowerment for all.

Core Values

EACRD’s work is guided by four core values, which inform all policies, programmes, partnerships, and interactions with communities:

Equity and Inclusion — every programme is open to all, with priority for those most excluded.
Community Ownership — villages lead their own development; EACRD facilitates.
Integrity and Stewardship — transparent, accountable use of every rupee entrusted to us.
Peace and Reconciliation — development as a foundation for cohesion among diverse communities.

Strategic Goals

Empower poor and vulnerable communities by promoting equitable access to sustainable livelihoods and economic opportunities.
Enhance access to essential needs such as nutritious food, adequate shelter, clean water, sanitation, and quality healthcare.
Improve quality of life through inclusive education, skills development, and promotion of cultural and human values.
Support inclusive and equitable development that promotes dignity, respect, and equal opportunities for all.
Expand opportunities for women, youth, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups through targeted programmes.
Safeguard and regenerate natural ecosystems through environmental conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable resource management.
Foster peace, social cohesion, dialogue, and mutual understanding among diverse communities.

Areas of Work

Since 2004, EACRD has implemented programmes across these sectors:

Sustainable Livelihoods and Food Security

EACRD supports vulnerable households in improving food security and income through sustainable agriculture, agroecological practices, horticulture, livestock promotion, irrigation, farmer capacity building, and market linkages. Projects have included the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), watershed development, orchard-based livelihoods (WADI), food security enhancement, and integrated tribal development — helping communities raise productivity, diversify income, and withstand economic and environmental shocks.

Natural Resource Governance and Environmental Conservation

EACRD promotes community-led management of land, forests, and water. With partners such as Bread for the World (Germany), it has supported village land-use planning, land governance systems, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable forest management — with communities themselves as the stewards.

Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience

EACRD integrates climate resilience across its programming: climate-smart agriculture, sustainable land use, water conservation, agroforestry, and community-based adaptation strategies that reduce vulnerability to climate-related risks.

Health and Nutrition

Community-based initiatives to improve access to healthcare, promote preventive health practices, and enhance nutrition outcomes — with particular attention to women, children, and remote rural communities.

Education and Capacity Building

Educational support, leadership development, community awareness, skills training, and institutional strengthening — because empowered individuals and institutions are the engine of lasting change.

Peacebuilding and Social Cohesion

Manipur has experienced prolonged social and ethnic tensions. EACRD promotes peace, reconciliation, dialogue, and social cohesion through community engagement, confidence-building, and inclusive development processes — recognising peace as a prerequisite for development.

Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response

EACRD has responded to conflict-induced displacement, natural disasters, and food crises with relief distribution, shelter support, recovery initiatives, psychosocial support, and resilience-building — bridging emergency assistance with long-term, locally led recovery.

Current Programmes

Improved Ecosystem Governance for Resilient Local Livelihoods and Sustainable Development

Supported by Bread for the World, Germany · Pherzawl District, Manipur · 2026–2029 · Annual budget approx. INR 97 lakhs

The programme strengthens community-led ecosystem governance, promotes sustainable management of land and natural resources, improves access to sustainable livelihoods, enhances food security and social services, and supports inclusive community development processes.

Integrated Tribal Development Project (WADI)

Supported by NABARD · Pherzawl District, Manipur · 2022–2026 (extended to 2027) · Budget approx. INR 125 lakhs

The project improves agricultural productivity, diversifies livelihoods, promotes horticulture and natural resource management, strengthens health and nutrition outcomes, and builds community institutions and self-reliance.

Governance and Management

EACRD operates through a structured governance system that ensures accountability, transparency, and effective oversight. Day-to-day management and programme implementation are led by the Director/Secretary, supported by a governing body that provides strategic guidance, policy oversight, and programme monitoring. EACRD maintains systems for financial management, project monitoring, reporting, compliance, and stakeholder engagement to ensure effective use of resources.

(Recommended addition when ready: names and affiliations of governing body members — institutional donors look for this.)

Looking Ahead

EACRD aims to deepen its engagement with rural and vulnerable communities through integrated approaches that address poverty, inequality, environmental degradation, climate change, and social exclusion — expanding its work in sustainable livelihoods, climate-resilient agriculture and ecosystem restoration, community-led land and resource governance, women’s empowerment and youth leadership, health, nutrition and education, peacebuilding, and humanitarian preparedness.

EACRD remains committed to building resilient, inclusive, peaceful, and environmentally sustainable communities where all people can live with dignity, security, and hope.

Transparency and Accountability

EACRD publishes its audited accounts and statutory filings. All registrations and foreign contributions are held under our parent society, the Evangelical Assembly Church, and are applied to EACRD’s development and relief programmes.

Audit Reports: 2023 · 2024 · 2025
FCRA Annual Returns (FC-4): 2023 · 2024 · 2025

Registrations: