Caritas Nairobi

What Caritas Nairobi does

Caritas Nairobi is the official aid and development agency of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi, registered as a charitable trust under the legal name "Archdiocese of Nairobi Social Promotion Registered Trustees." Founded in 1981 and headquartered at Cardinal Otunga Plaza on Kaunda Street in Nairobi, the organization operates under the jurisdictional mandate of the Archbishop of Nairobi across Nairobi and Kiambu counties, organized into 14 deaneries and 120 parishes. It is part of the global Caritas Internationalis confederation and coordinates with Catholic Relief Services (CRS), UNHCR, and Missio Munchen for international funding and programme support. Governance is structured through Trustees and a non-executive Board of Directors, with the Archbishop serving as Chairman.

The organization runs an integrated portfolio of programmes spanning food security and livelihoods, socio-economic empowerment, gender and youth development, relief and charitable services, and capacity building. Operational programmes include the Self Help Programme (microfinance via self-help groups), PROMIC (micro-enterprise promotion for women), the Beacon Boys Programme (boys' mentorship across 46 parishes, reaching 3,500+ boys), the Social Development Programme, the Milky Project (dairy sector support in Kiambu), and relief services through Rescue Dada, Boys Town, and Joy Children's Village. Caritas Microfinance Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary launched in 2015, extends financial inclusion through savings platforms and credit access at a 1% interest rate on declining balance with repayment terms up to 60 months. Donation appeals are run through the website covering disaster preparedness, urban refugees intervention (serving 74,750 refugees/asylum seekers), youth peacebuilding and governance, and COVID-19 food relief (Baskets of Hope).

Revenue inflows come from individual donations (via M-Pesa, card, bank transfer, PayPal), institutional grants from UNHCR, Missio Munchen, Caritas Internationalis, and CRS, and microfinance interest income through Caritas Microfinance Bank. The organization employs 11-50 staff, is led by Director Fr. Peter Kiarie (since 10 January 2024), and reported no financial figures are publicly disclosed. Its core distribution channels are the parish network, online donation platform, community-based self-help groups, and charitable centres; it markets through its website, social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp), annual reports, and earned media.

Name

Caritas Nairobi

Legal name

Archdiocese of Nairobi Social Promotion Registered Trustees

Website

https://caritasnairobi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Caritas Nairobi is the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi's charitable aid and development agency, delivering food security, microfinance, refugee support, and youth programmes across 120 parishes in Nairobi and Kiambu counties, Kenya.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian and Development Aid Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Humanitarian Aid & Relief Ministries (BPAGAJAF)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• Community development programs
• Microfinance services
• Disaster response programs
• Refugee support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Caritas Nairobi operates primarily through donations from individuals, organizations, and partners. The organization runs multiple donation appeals through its website including disaster preparedness, urban refugees intervention, youth peacebuilding, and COVID-19 response. Donations are accepted via M-Pesa, credit card, bank transfer, and PayPal through their online platform.
2. Microfinance Services: Through the Self Help Programme and PROMIC, Caritas Nairobi provides microfinance services including savings platforms and credit access to members. The organization offers loans with friendly repayment periods of up to 60 months and 1% interest rate on declining balance.
3. Social-Economic Development Programmes: Caritas Nairobi coordinates and implements aid and social-economic development programmes funded by institutional partners and donors, including food security, gender empowerment, capacity building, and refugee support services.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Caritas Nairobi is the aid and development agency of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi, coordinating and implementing socio-economic development and humanitarian programmes including food security, microfinance, refugee support, gender and youth empowerment, and child protection. Services are delivered free to beneficiaries and funded through donations, grants, and institutional partners. The organization operates within 120 parishes across 14 deaneries in Nairobi and Kiambu counties and runs Caritas Microfinance Bank as a financial inclusion subsidiary.

Product overview

Caritas Nairobi operates as a multi-program charitable organization offering donation-based support across multiple initiatives. The portfolio consists of distinct donation appeals (Disaster Preparedness Response, Nairobi Urban Refugees Intervention, Youths Peacebuilding and Governance, Baskets of Hope) and operational programs (Social Development Program, Beacon Boys Program, PROMIC, Self Help Programme, Milky Project, ACMA). These programs work together within the organization's thematic areas covering food security, socio-economic empowerment, gender and youth development, and relief services. The organization also operates Caritas Microfinance Bank and partners with international Catholic organizations for funding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Disaster Preparedness Response Appeal A disaster relief donation appeal that prepares food supplies for emergency distribution, creates a food database for immediate response during emergencies, and establishes a disaster rapid response team. It targets 100,000 beneficiaries across Nairobi and surrounding areas.
• Nairobi Urban Refugees Intervention Appeal A donation appeal supporting 74,750 refugees and asylum seekers in Nairobi and nearby urban areas through interventions including the Refugees Economic Solidarity Initiative (RESI) and the Artist for Refugees project for youth livelihood development.
• Youths, Peacebuilding and Governance Program Appeal A youth empowerment donation appeal targeting 50,000 youths in the Archdiocese of Nairobi to develop peacebuilding and governance campaigns and establish sustainable livelihood sources.
• Baskets of Hope A COVID-19 emergency response donation program providing food and non-food items including maize, porridge flour, cooking oil, rice, beans, salt, milk, and bar soaps to vulnerable households in Nairobi and Kiambu Counties.
• Social Development Program (SDP) A program for Catholic men launched in 2014, focusing on economic empowerment, social empowerment, and research and advocacy through savings, credit, and training.
• Beacon Boys Program (BBP) A program for boys and young males that started as a pilot with 14 parishes and has grown to 46 parishes across all 13 deaneries, impacting more than 3,500 boys. It focuses on spiritual connection, cultural values, life skills, and social empowerment, bringing fathers and sons together.
• PROMIC (Promotion of Micro-enterprises) A micro-enterprise promotion project targeting vulnerable women in informal settlements and poor areas of Kiambu, offering capacity building, affordable financial services, and skills development for integral development.
• Milky Project A dairy sector development project targeting 2,000 micro-enterprises in Kiambu to promote quality dairy chains sensitive to climate change through credit access and local micro-entrepreneurship support.
• Self Help Programme A microfinance program providing savings and credit platforms, audit services, capacity building, and risk management for self-help groups, supporting affordable financial access across Nairobi and Kiambu.
• Relief and Charitable Centres Support services operating through Rescue Dada, Boys Town, and Joy Children's Village, providing humanitarian assistance, shelter, and social amenities to vulnerable beneficiaries including orphans and abandoned children.
• Caritas Microfinance Bank A wholly-owned subsidiary of Caritas Nairobi that provides microfinance banking services, including savings, credit access, and banking services for self-help groups and households in Nairobi and Kiambu counties.

Quantifiable outcome

• 74,750 refugees and asylum seekers reached in Nairobi urban areas
• +4 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and major.

• Caritas Microfinance BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCaritas Nairobi's financial inclusion arm launched in 2015 as part of the 2014-2018 Strategic Plan to improve access to affordable financial services to households in Nairobi and Kiambu. The microfinance bank supports the Self Help Programme by providing banking services and credit access to self-help groups.
• Archdiocese of NairobicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization and governance structure. The Archbishop of Nairobi serves as Chairman. Caritas Nairobi is the official social and aid development agency mandated to coordinate and implement aid and socio-economic development programmes within the Archdiocese's jurisdiction.
• Pacis Insurance Company LTDsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInsurance partner providing risk management and compliance support for microfinance operations and development programmes.
• Caritas InternationalismajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal confederation of Catholic institutions to which Caritas Nairobi belongs. Provides international coordination for humanitarian emergencies and development initiatives worldwide.
• Catholic Relief Services (CRS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Catholic relief and development organization operating as part of the Caritas network. Partners on development programmes and humanitarian response within the global Caritas confederation.
• Catholic Relief Services (CRS)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTrusted partner for US government humanitarian aid distribution in Venezuela context. CRS collaborates with Caritas Nairobi on development initiatives, serving as an implementing partner for international humanitarian assistance programmes.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• CBM (Christian Blind Mission): CBM is an international faith-based disability inclusion organization operating in Kenya with overlapping interest in disability programming and HIV/AIDS support. As a peer faith-based international organization, it represents an adjacent ecosystem participant with shared values and potentially complementary programming.

Broad incumbents

• Caritas Internationalis: Caritas Internationalis is the global Catholic confederation coordinating 160+ member organizations worldwide. As the parent network of which Caritas Nairobi is a member, it provides strategic, funding, and coordination context and represents the broader institutional framework within which Caritas Nairobi operates.

Direct peers

• ActionAid Kenya: ActionAid Kenya is an international anti-poverty NGO with strong overlap in women's empowerment, food security, and youth programming in informal settlements. Both organizations serve similar urban poor populations in Nairobi with comparable community-led development approaches, making it a relevant direct peer.
• World Vision Kenya: World Vision Kenya is a major faith-based humanitarian and child-focused NGO operating across Kenya with comparable programmes in food security, livelihoods, child protection, and community empowerment. Both organizations operate through community-based networks and target vulnerable children and families in similar geographies, making it a strong direct peer.
• Plan International Kenya: Plan International Kenya is a child rights and youth-focused humanitarian NGO operating across Kenya with overlapping programmes in child protection, gender equality, youth empowerment, and disaster response. It serves similar beneficiary populations (children, youth, vulnerable families) in comparable geographies.
• Catholic Relief Services: Catholic Relief Services is the US affiliate of the Caritas confederation and a direct peer in faith-based humanitarian aid and integral human development. Both organizations share Gospel-value foundations, Caritas network membership, and overlapping programme areas including food security, refugee support, and women's empowerment, making them the closest functional comparison for Caritas Nairobi.
• Kenya Red Cross Society: The Kenya Red Cross Society is the country's primary humanitarian aid organization, operating disaster response, food distribution, refugee support, and community health programmes nationwide. It directly overlaps with Caritas Nairobi's disaster preparedness response, refugee intervention, and food security mandates, particularly through its urban Nairobi operations.

Regional players

• Caritas Uganda: Caritas Uganda is a sibling diocesan Caritas organization operating under the same global Catholic Caritas framework in neighboring Uganda. It offers comparable faith-based humanitarian, microfinance, and community development programming in East Africa, making it a strong regional peer for benchmarking operational model and programme design.

Emerging players

• Haki na Sheria Initiative: Haki na Sheria is a Kenyan refugee rights NGO focused on legal aid, protection, and economic empowerment for urban refugees and asylum seekers in Nairobi. It directly overlaps with Caritas Nairobi's urban refugee intervention programming and shares the same beneficiary population of 74,750+ refugees in Nairobi.
• Habitat for Humanity Kenya: Habitat for Humanity Kenya addresses housing, water and sanitation, and community livelihoods in low-income Kenyan communities. It overlaps with Caritas Nairobi's community development and water/sanitation programmes and serves comparable populations in informal settlements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/caritasnairobi
• Xx.com/caritasnairobi
• Instagraminstagram.com/CaritasNairobi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Caritas Nairobi