COVA (Confederation of Voluntary Associations), is a network working for social harmony and community empowerment in India and peace in South Asia.
Members and partners of COVA comprise of community groups working at grassroots to national and international organisations and networks.
COVA engages with state and national governments & multilateral bodies for structural transformations to make society more equitable & peaceful.
How we are changing the world
COVA is a national network of voluntary organisations working for communal harmony in India and Peace in South Asia. COVA’s initiatives for peace involve prevention of Communal Riots at the grassroots; state, national and international networking to Promote Communal Harmony. COVA has also started COFI Network and CHECKIT Programs to secure Cyberspace for Peace
To sensitize school and college students to social issues to make them compassionate human being and enlist their commitment to address social problems to make society humane and just. SCERT of The Government of Telangana has accepted to incorporate the Compassionate Citizenship Program in the curriculum for the schools as a Pilot from academic year 2020-21.
For Exponential Impact of Individual Donations to enable the poor and middle classes to recognize their entitlements as citizens and also facilitate them to apply and access a wide range of schemes and programs of Central & State Governments and funds from the Corporate Social Responsibility resources running into lakhs of cores. This could indeed Make Poverty History
COVA is engaged in relief operations since announcement of Lockdown and has also started engaging in restoration work to enable people to come back to their lives and livelihoods with ease and dignity.
We serve: Migrant Workers, Refugees, Teachers of Private Schools, Service Providers and
poor communities.
Partner with Us
COVA works with 5000 Refugees and Asylum Seekers from 12 countries living in Hyderabad. COVA provides support to refugees for livelihoods, health, recreation, and education along with Monthly Rations for the most destitute families. COVA was an implementing Partner of UNHCR(United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) from 2010 till 2018 and facilitated registration of Refugees as per UNHCR Norms.
A 3rd Generation Philanthropy Program to enable citizens of Hyderabad and Secunderabad to access 56 Services without corruption and in a time bound manner from Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), Water Works and Electricity Department as guaranteed by their Citizens Charters
As part of 3rd Generation Philanthropy, COVA facilitates students of minority, SC, ST and BC communities to access Pre Matric Scholarships.
A unique contribution of COVA is the advocacy for setting up of proper systems and procedures to enable SC,ST and BC students to access the Pre Matric scholarships that was extremely difficult earlier
Government of India has accepted 9 of the 12 Recommendations for Financial Inclusion proposed by COVA in 2014. MUDRA incorporates 5 of these. The eMUDRA Scheme announced by the Government in Oct 2019 was proposed by COVA.
COVA also provides grants to petty businesses and facilitates micro entrepreneurs to access loans from the banks.
COVA in Figures
Making a Mark
10 Game Changers from COVA
Mega Moments
Use of Development as a Strategy for Social Integration and Harmony
The Board, Staff and Beneficiaries of all development programs of COVA belong to all
religions and communities facilitating social integration and contribute to prevention of communal violence.
Our Initiatives
Community Empowerment
Empowerment Programs
INTERNATIONAL IN THE LOCAL: WORK WITH REFUGEES SNAPSHOT OF PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES As Partner of UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees), COVA works with 5000 Refugees and Asylum Seekers from 12 countries living in Hyderabad. As part of its range of services for the Refugees and Asylum Seekers COVAWorks for enrolment of refugee children in schools. Facilitates support for medical care. Mobilises grants for livelihood activities. Provides capacity building through training and counselling for their Empowerment Organises cultural programs and sports events for Recreations Finally, provides [...]
Networking & Campaigns
Networking & Campaigns
Policy Intervention
Policy Intervention
Telangana StateHyderabadAndhra PradeshNationalOther StatesInternationalFinance Bill CampaignRetrospective Taxation Advocacy Success in Financial Inclusion: Critical Review of Financial Inclusion in G 20 Countries with Focus on India COVA had undertaken a Study titled “Critical Review of Financial Inclusion in G 20 Countries with Focus on India that was published in October 2013 with Dr. Mazher Hussain, Executive Director of COVA and Director of State Bank of Hyderabad as the Research and Advocacy Lead and with support from VANI and Heinrich Boll Stiftung. The Study can [...]
Disasters & Refugees
Disasters & Refugee
Disasters EarthquakesFloodsDisasters Disasters Kashmir Earthquake ReliefRetrofitting and ReconstructionCommunity EmpowermentAdvocacyTestimonialsKashmir Earthquake Kashmir Kashmir Kashmir Kashmir Refugees kashmir23Refugees Refugees Refugees
Any organisation seeking to become a member of COVA is also required to work across communities.
Resource Center
Endorsements
COVA-The Magnificent Coalition of South Asia
South Asian Coalitions, are not easy to come by and coming together on a rainbow of issues is welcome. I have the privilege of cooperating with COVA on issues concerning Peace, Justice, Human Rights & good neighborly relations. The contribution of Dr. Mazhar Hussain has been simply outstanding. One can only wish them well.
I loved the overall concept and the approach. Learned so many things which I can implement back home. I can confidently say that I have become so tech savvy after attending this TechCamp. Probably the best camp/conference that I have attended so far. Thank you COVA and other organizers for this amazing opportunity.
We were very much impressed with the commitment and passion showed by you and your colleagues and partners to nurture Peace and Community Harmony. We were impressed by the stories that were shared with us and especially the confident and optimistic nature of your young people. May I take this opportunity on behalf of General Sir David Bill and my fellow members to wish you all good fortune in future.
COVA deserves full credit for promoting a broad alliance of voluntary associations for securing rights and promoting peace. The Peace Now Campaign launched by COVA in July 2017 is a timely campaign that must continue to enable peace activists and people throughout South Asia and the world to strengthen the movement for tolerance, sanity, and love.
In our visit to Hyderabad, we were impressed with the practical ways in which COVA helps a wide variety of peoples’ organizations to bridge boundaries of faith, caste and wealth to work together for peace and justice in their own area of influence.
I joined COVA as a Link Volunteer in 1996 that completely transformed my life. We were able to carry out campaigns for education, women’s empowerment, health & bank loans for the poor. The high point of our lives came when I, along with other Link Volunteers formed a Human Chain near Charminar in 2002 to prevent a communal riot in Hyderabad.
