Our History

The INAFI network consists of various legal entities, each with specific membership and governance structures that own and control the network. Originally, all member organizations were part of the same institution founded under Peruvian law in 1995.

As the association expanded, the members decided in 1998 to regionalize INAFI, resulting in the formation of INAFI Africa, INAFI Asia, and INAFI Latin America.

Each regional INAFI has a general assembly that elects the regional boards, which in turn appoint the regional secretariats. The regional networks are responsible for the implementation of region-specific programs based on their expertise and experience, and specifically aimed at linking and learning at the international level, outside their own region.

The regional secretariatsare located in Nairobi, Kenya; San Jose, Costa Rica; and Dhaka, Bangladesh. In addition,Asia has four country-level networks with secretariats in Dhaka; Madurai, India; Katmandu, Nepal; and Manila, Philippines.

In 2002, the three regional INAFIs registered INAFI International as a foundation in the Netherlands. The INAFI International board has six members, two per continent, elected for a three-year term by their respective chapters. Based in Dakar, Senegal since 2005, INAFI International acts as a coordinating body responsible for the network’s advocacy, fundraising, research, and development.

Since inception, INAFI has built global partnership and collaboration with various like-minded organizations and individuals in empowering and transforming the lives of vulnerable people. INAFI is an accredited member of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). ECOSOC serves as “the central forum for discussing international economic and social issues, and for formulating policy recommendations addressed to Member States and the United Nations system.”