The Groupe de Recherche d'Action et de Formation en Epidémiologie et en Développement (GRAFED) was formed in 1997 by the holding of the Constitutive General Assembly. Its aim is to improve the living conditions of disadvantaged populations at the grassroots level.

In this perspective, it has set itself the objective of promoting sustainable development at the grassroots level.

Its specific objectives are

• to develop and promote any public health research program;
• to promote and create all the necessary conditions to encourage the emergence of training in public health and the conduct of medical actions for sustainable development;
• Aiming at the sustainable reduction of poverty by undertaking studies and actions contributing to the improvement of the living environment and conditions of the populations.

• Sustainable Development;
• Reproductive health;
• Family Planning;
• Food and nutrition;
• Parasitic epidemiology;
• Vaccinology;
• STD/AIDS;
• Malaria;
• Tuberculosis.

To effectively achieve its objectives, GRAFED has strengthened its basic institutional architecture by creating a steering body called the Board of Directors (BD) responsible for managing the NGO between two sessions of the General Assembly and an Executive Directorate, responsible for the animation and technical and financial execution of the policy and programs.

Analysis and definition of the organs of GRAFED

GRAFED's organizational chart can be analyzed from two angles that determine two categories of bodies, namely the political body and the management body.

The political body

The political body of GRAFED is composed of the following bodies :

• General Assembly (GA)
• Board of Directors (BoD)
• Control Commission (CC)

GRAFED is a framework for reflection and action, constituted by a multidisciplinary team of professionals and experts who are sufficiently available and well versed in the evolution of the relationship between health and poverty and their impact on living conditions.

The organization has a vocation of research, training, intervention in Public Health and promotion of Sustainable Development at the grassroots level.

Its specific objectives are

• To promote all reproductive health programs.
• To implement or support any research program in Public Health and Development.
• Undertake training in Public Health and Development.
• Promote medical and health actions for sustainable development.
• Contribute to the sustainable reduction of poverty by undertaking studies and actions in the economic, social and cultural fields.

GRAFED is a non-profit and apolitical organization governed by the law of July 1, 1901 and its subsequent texts. It is registered under the number 08/152/MISAT/DAI/SAAP-ASSOC of June 9, 1998.

It is based on the optimal use of available human resources through the articulation of several ranges of actions of which the most important are:

• The identification and animation of organized structures (cooperative, mutual or community groups, community relays);
• The CAB in the area of public health
• The initiation and execution of micro-projects of community interest;
• The exchange of experiences through the organization of workshops.
• Development research (thematic studies, specialized research, monographs, identification, feasibility studies, project execution and evaluation, action research, impact studies etc...).
• Development of consulting services, expertise and technical assistance to other institutions (public or private, national or foreign)

The development of this strategy is ensured by GRAFED staff reinforced by a powerful network of researchers and experts in health and development engineering.