Corus International

Corus International is the parent of a family of long-serving, faith-based organizations committed to ending poverty and building healthy communities in the world’s most challenging places.  

Drawing on a heritage of nearly 150 years, Corus connects and catalyzes non-profit and for-profit subsidiaries that include Lutheran World Relief, IMA World Health, Charlie Goldsmith Associates, Ground Up Investing and LWR Farmers Market Coffee. Alongside communities in fragile settings, their dedicated experts integrate disciplines, approaches and people to grow local economies, eliminate extreme poverty, ensure access to quality healthcare, mitigate climate change and respond to humanitarian crises.

What They Do

Health 

Corus builds the capacities of local partners and governments and develops with them the resources to respond to the health needs of people affected by poverty, conflict, and other hardships.  

• Health systems strengthening 
• Disease prevention and treatment 
• Maternal and child health 
• Nutrition 
• WASH 
• Sexual and gender-based violence response 
• Global health security 

Rural economic development 

Corus collaborates with local partners and enterprises to help rural communities develop productive, resilient and stable economies that benefit them. 

• Market systems analysis 
• Agriculture value chain strengthening 
• Livelihood diversification 
• Climate smart and improved agriculture practices 
• Water and land management 
• Enterprise capacity building 
• Rural financing 

Impact investing 

Corus invests in enterprises that have the potential to help small-scale farmers capture more value from their crops. Profits beyond what goes to farmers and company growth are reinvested in complementary development programming for local communities.  

• Equity investments 
• Technical assistance 
• Organizational management training 
• Complementary social services 
• Marketing

Humanitarian Assistance 

Corus works closely with local communities when a disaster hits over months and years – whether it’s a drought, earthquake or civil war – to help them recover and adjust to new realities, ensuring that they are prepared to withstand the next unexpected challenge. 

• Cash transfers and vouchers 
• Non-food items and material resources 
• Shelter 
• WASH 
• Emergency health response 
• Early recovery and livelihood rehabilitation 
• Disaster risk reduction

Technology for Development 

Corus harnesses the growing accessibility of smartphones and other technologies to improve the rapidity, effectiveness and cost-efficiency of our humanitarian assistance and development programming.  

• Mobile banking and cash transfers 
• Mobile data collection and management 
• Information sharing and education via SMS  
• Digital learning platforms 
• Digital administrative systems  
• Geospatial satellite imagery  

Cross-Cutting Themes 

Corus promotes gender equity, positive youth development, and resilience in our work. They continually assess the gender constraints, youth needs, and shocks and stressors that are affecting these communities’ ability to thrive. They design programming that addresses the specific needs of women and young people and ensures communities can maintain development gains when difficult times arise.