Accessibility
All of Karuna Foundation Nepal’s projects and activities contribute to its mission of preventing avoidable disabilities, improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities, and strengthening inclusive health and rehabilitation systems. To achieve lasting and sustainable impact, the organization places strong emphasis on evidence-based planning, continuous monitoring, and results measurement.
By regularly collecting and analyzing data on both implementation processes and outcomes, Karuna Foundation Nepal ensures that its interventions remain effective, accountable, and responsive to the needs of communities. The evidence generated is used to inform decision-making, improve program quality, and strengthen the sustainability of its health, rehabilitation, and inclusion initiatives.
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Originally launched as Inspire2Care, the initiative has evolved into the Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Program (DPRP), a government-led, community-based model that has been institutionalized within Nepal’s public system. Through strong partnerships with provincial and local governments, DPRP has expanded from a pilot initiative to a large-scale program, now implemented across all 137 local governments in Koshi Province. The program continues to strengthen government systems, promote disability-inclusive development, and ensure sustainable prevention, rehabilitation, and inclusion services at the community level.
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500 children with disabilities experienced an improved quality of life through rehabilitation, healthcare, education, and community support.
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The project contributed to an average 40% improvement in key maternal and child health indicators across the intervention areas.
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Through the project, 13,250 people (25% of the total population) gained access to the Community-Based Health Insurance (CBHI) scheme, reducing financial barriers to essential healthcare services and strengthening protection against health-related financial risks.
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Around 35,000 people across seven communities in three districts, representing approximately 60% of the total population, gained access to improved healthcare services through the project.
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Based on program estimates, approximately 750 children were protected from preventable birth defects and avoidable disabilities through improved maternal and newborn health interventions.
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75% of the participating communities established sustainable systems and local ownership, enabling them to continue key activities both financially and socially.
Karuna Foundation Nepal has been recognized as a pioneer in advancing Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) and Disability Inclusive Development (DID) in Nepal. Through strategic partnerships with organizations including the Liliane Foundation and the Netherlands Leprosy Relief (NLR), the organization successfully expanded its community-based rehabilitation model across multiple districts, demonstrating the effectiveness of a government-led and community-driven approach.
The Inspire2Care model, now institutionalized as the Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Program (DPRP)—was recognized by the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD) as one of the region’s five best practices in Community-Based Inclusive Development (CBID) following an assessment of programs across 37 Asian countries. This international recognition highlighted the model’s innovation, sustainability, and measurable impact in promoting disability inclusion and strengthening community-based systems.
Building on this recognition, Karuna Foundation Nepal was invited to present the model and its achievements at an international conference in Tokyo, Japan, showcasing Nepal’s experience in community-based rehabilitation and disability-inclusive development to a global audience.
Inspire2Care is highly cost-effective
Independent evaluations have demonstrated the effectiveness and sustainability of Karuna Foundation Nepal’s community-based rehabilitation approach. An economic evaluation conducted by a health economist from the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT), the Netherlands, assessed the Inspire2Care model and concluded that the program was highly cost-effective, even during its pilot phase when additional investments were required.
The evaluation found that the program compared favorably against the World Health Organization’s cost-effectiveness benchmarks and highlighted its strong potential for long-term sustainability through community ownership. It also recognized the model’s high potential for replication in other geographic areas, providing a strong foundation for its subsequent institutionalization and scale-up.
Building on this evidence, the Inspire2Care model evolved into the Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Program (DPRP), which has since been integrated into government systems and expanded through partnerships with provincial and local governments, demonstrating the long-term viability of a community-led and government-owned approach to disability prevention and rehabilitation.
