The inspiration behind the establishment of the organization is the affiliation of some of its founding members with the then Pak/Swiss Kalam Integrated Development Project (KIDP) in early eighties; one of the first ever initiatives in the province working through peoples’ participation in the development process and resource mobilization. After the winding up of the project in late 1990s, the ex-staff members introduced the idea to other like-minded social workers and development professionals across the province to launch an organization that would not only continue their efforts to invest in the already created social capital of KIDP but also to extend the same approach and efforts to other backward areas of the province. The outcome of these deliberations was the creation of CARAVAN in the year 1998.

As is clear from the name, CARAVAN means traveling together for safety. It is a voluntary not for profit organization, dedicated to promoting social & economic development with due regard for ecological conservation, with more focus on marginalized, ignored and backward areas.
 

The founding members have got rich experience in social engineering, participatory development, gender & poverty alleviation initiatives through resource management in a systematic approach. The NGO has mandate to focus on ignored and marginalized segments of the society like the poor, women and people living in remote mountainous regions, thus empowering and enabling them to bring them into the mainstream of the development process from the grassroots level.

Majority of its members of the board and executive and general body have rich experience of working in reputable National and International organizations like IUCN, SUNGI, SRSP, SPO, SDC/Inter-Cooperation, Pak/ Swiss KIDP, Dir Area Development Project, Swiss Horticulture promotion project, WWF, AKRSP, EIROP, DFID, IRC, FAO and ADB etc.
The NGO has got a pool of experienced and dedicated workers with specialization in social mobilization and community development & empowerment. This multi-disciplinary team of professionals is governed by a Board of Governors as the policy making forum for the organization. An Executive Director, supported by District Coordinators and sector specialists and support staff, is responsible for programme planning, implementation and monitoring under the guidance of the Board Of Governors (BOG).