What CapaCare does

CapaCare is a non-profit humanitarian organization founded in 2007 in Trondheim, Norway, by doctors Håkon Bolkan and Brynulf Ystgaard. It delivers medical education and training programs designed to address critical shortages of surgical and obstetric personnel in the Global South, with primary operations in Sierra Leone and Liberia and a secondary European footprint in Norway and the Netherlands through four country chapters. The organization's core product is the Surgical Training Programme (STP), a two-year postgraduate program that trains Medical Doctors and Community Health Officers to perform basic lifesaving surgery at district hospital level, supplemented by a Bachelor of Science Clinical Officer degree with specialist tracks in Surgery & Obstetrics (CapaCare), Paediatrics (German Doctors), and Internal Medicine (Partners In Health), plus Continuing Professional Development courses delivered via the Netherlands chapter.

CapaCare operates on a donations-and-grants revenue model, drawing funding from individuals, fundraising campaigns (e.g., Vipps 80762 for vehicles), and institutional donors including NORAD, UNFPA, WHO, St. Olavs Hospital, W Initiative, German Doctors, and Partners In Health. It does not sell products or services commercially; there is no pricing model. The organization distributes its programs directly through Memoranda of Understanding with national health ministries (Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation; Liberia Ministry of Health) and collaborates with academic institutions including NTNU, the University of Amsterdam, Utrecht University, and the Liberia College of Physicians and Surgeons for research, curriculum, and postgraduate training.

The technology stack is minimal: CapaCare's value is built on curriculum, clinical training methodologies, and an institutional network rather than software or digital platforms. In December 2025, the School of Clinical Sciences in Makeni produced its first cohort of 52 BSc Clinical Officers, marking a milestone in scaling credentialed non-physician surgical capacity. The organization is governed by volunteer boards in each chapter, has approximately 16 employees, and relies on its co-founders and senior clinicians for leadership, with no parent company or external investment.

Name

CapaCare

Legal name

Capacare NGO

Website

https://capacare.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CapaCare is a non-profit humanitarian organization that delivers postgraduate medical and surgical training programs to doctors and clinical officers in Sierra Leone and Liberia, funded by donations and institutional grants, and operating through four country chapters across West Africa and Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Training and Surgical Workforce Capacity Building

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Technical and Trade Schools (61151)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Healthcare Clinical Professions (CME/CE for Nurses, Allied Health, Pharmacy) (EDAAALAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Healthcare & Life Sciences (EDAAAPAA)

Keywords

• Surgical training programs
• Medical education services
• Global health training
• District hospital training
• Postgraduate medical education

Headquarters

HQ city

Trondheim

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: CapaCare generates revenue through donations from individuals, organizations, and fundraising campaigns such as the Vipps 80762 campaign for vehicle purchases. The organization also receives support from institutional donors like NORAD.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CapaCare delivers postgraduate medical education and training programmes that build surgical and obstetric capacity at district hospitals in the Global South. Its flagship Surgical Training Programme is a two-year course training Medical Doctors and Community Health Officers to perform basic lifesaving surgery, complemented by a BSc Clinical Officer program (Surgery & Obstetrics, Paediatrics, Internal Medicine), Continuing Professional Development courses, and partner-supported training in Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Product overview

CapaCare is a non-profit humanitarian organization offering a comprehensive medical education and training ecosystem focused on the Global South. The core offering is the Surgical Training Programme (STP), a two-year postgraduate program that trains Medical Doctors and Community Health Officers in lifesaving surgical procedures at district hospital level. This is complemented by the BSc Clinical Officer Training program with specialist tracks in Surgery & Obstetrics, Paediatrics, and Internal Medicine. Regional programs operate in Sierra Leone and Liberia, with support from Netherlands-based CPD courses. The organization also runs a trainer recruitment program to build capacity through experienced medical professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Surgical Training Programme (STP) Two-year postgraduate programme that trains Medical Doctors and Community Health Officers to perform basic lifesaving surgery at district hospital level, delivering accessible and affordable surgical care in collaboration with ministries of health in Sierra Leone and Liberia.
• BSc Clinical Officer Training Bachelor of Science programme for Clinical Officers delivered at the School of Clinical Sciences in Makeni, comprising a Surgery & Obstetrics track (CapaCare), a Paediatrics track (German Doctors) and an Internal Medicine track (Partners In Health); first cohort of 52 students graduated in December 2025.
• Liberia Postgraduate Training Programme Postgraduate surgical and obstetrics & gynaecology (OBGYN) training programme in Liberia, including rural rotations and skills-based training courses, delivered with the Liberia College of Physicians and Surgeons.
• Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Courses Yearly Continuing Professional Development courses for postgraduates on advanced medical subjects such as vascular surgery, alongside paramedical subjects including evidence-based medicine and academic development.
• Trainer/Instructor Recruitment Program Recruitment programme that matches experienced medical professionals with CapaCare's training sites, offering professional growth, a collaborative environment, and cultural exchange opportunities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 52 BSc Clinical Officers graduated in first cohort December 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNFPA is a UN agency established in 1969 focusing on reproductive health, gender equality, and population and development strategies. UNFPA collaborates with CapaCare on health initiatives.
• St. Olavs HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSt. Olavs Hospital is a university hospital located in Trondheim, Norway, and is one of Norway's biggest healthcare institutions. The hospital serves as CapaCare International's headquarters location and provides clinical expertise and support.
• WHO (World Health Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHO is a United Nations agency connecting nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable. WHO collaborates with CapaCare on health initiatives and standards.
• W InitiativesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerW Initiative is a humanitarian foundation that contributes to the improvement of education programmes, better health, and more equitable access to opportunities worldwide.
• German DoctorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman Doctors partnered with CapaCare and Partners In Health in 2021 to support the School of Clinical Sciences in Makeni. German Doctors provides the Paediatrics training track for the BSc Clinical Officer program.
• Partners In HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners In Health collaborated with CapaCare and German Doctors in 2021 to support the School of Clinical Sciences. Partners In Health provides the Internal Medicine training track.
• NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNTNU in Trondheim partners with CapaCare for research collaboration, particularly with CapaCare Liberia. NTNU works closely with CapaCare Norway on research and development across the organization.
• Liberia College of Physicians and SurgeonscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCapaCare Liberia collaborates closely with the Liberia College of Physicians and Surgeons to support postgraduate training programmes in Surgery and OBGYN, including rural rotations and focused training courses.
• University of AmsterdamsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCapaCare Netherlands maintains networking connections with the University of Amsterdam as part of its bridging function between West African and European members of the CapaCare community.
• Utrecht UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCapaCare Netherlands has connections with Utrecht University as part of its international networking function, contributing to global health education and research.
• Dutch Society of SurgerysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Dutch Society of Surgery, through CapaCare NL, hosts sustainable training on specialised surgical subjects for surgical residents in Liberia.
• Netherlands Society for International SurgerysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCapaCare NL maintains networking connections with the Netherlands Society for International Surgery as part of its Dutch stakeholder relationships.
• Safe Motherhood GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCapaCare NL connects with the Safe Motherhood Group as part of its Dutch-based global health movement partnerships, supporting maternal health initiatives.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Jhpiego: Jhpiego is a global health nonprofit affiliated with Johns Hopkins that builds healthcare workforce capacity in low- and middle-income countries through training and education programs. Directly comparable in its focus on health professional training in underserved settings.
• AMREF Health Africa: AMREF Health Africa is an African-led health development organization focused on training community health workers and clinical staff across the continent. Highly comparable as a regionally-rooted NGO training healthcare workers in underserved African settings.
• Seed Global Health: Seed Global Health pairs trained physicians and nurses with local counterparts to strengthen clinical care and health professional training in resource-limited settings. Comparable in its physician-led, in-country training model for healthcare workforce capacity building.
• Partners In Health: Partners In Health is a global health NGO delivering healthcare and training in underserved countries including Sierra Leone and Liberia — it is also an active partner of CapaCare, co-delivering the Internal Medicine training track at the School of Clinical Sciences. Directly comparable in mission and operational geography.
• Global Surgery Foundation: Global Surgery Foundation is dedicated to expanding access to safe, affordable surgical care worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Directly comparable mission aligned with CapaCare's task-shifting and surgical workforce capacity building.
• IntraHealth International: IntraHealth International works to strengthen health workforce performance and availability in low- and middle-income countries through training, advocacy, and system strengthening. Directly comparable as a health workforce training organization.

Emerging players

• Last Mile Health: Last Mile Health recruits, trains, and equips community health workers in remote regions including Liberia. Comparable mission in workforce capacity building for underserved regions, though focused on community-level rather than surgical care delivery.
• Lifebox: Lifebox is a global nonprofit focused on safer surgery and anesthesia in low-resource settings through training, equipment provision, and clinical guidance. Partial overlap with CapaCare's focus on building surgical capacity in low-income countries.

Regional players

• West African College of Surgeons: WACS is the regional professional body for surgeon training and certification across West Africa; CapaCare actively participates in its annual conference. Comparable as a surgical training organization operating in the same regional geographies.

Broad incumbents

• Médecins Sans Frontières: MSF is a large international humanitarian medical organization providing direct clinical care and training in crisis and underserved settings across the Global South. Operates in the same geographies and mission space but delivers direct patient care at much greater scale rather than a training-focused model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/capacare

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CapaCare