CHD made its debut with programs on the health of women and children and broadened out to other sectors with shifting global focus on sectors that impact on health. It enlarged its programs in the last quarter of the 1990s to include community based development projects defined as priorities by its subjects of research. Among these are urban micro credit programs for poor women, youth skill development programs, rehabilitation of disadvantaged groups (young mothers, school drop-outs, victims of drug abuse, HIV/AIDS, and trafficking). Because of the overriding impact of Nigeria’s democratization on CHD’s priority areas, the organization embarked on a good governance program that assesses the impact of globalization on local development, the threats of ethnicity, and promotes the involvement of civil society in democratization and development. In reinforcing sustainable development, CHD organises a capacity building program on participatory methodologies, mainstreaming gender and social development and sensitizes large sections of the populace on human rights, reproductive health problems, HIV/AIDS, and positive values for good governance.
CHD is governed and managedby a Board of Trustees and a Management Board comprising distinguished scholars and experienced members of the public and private sectors who formulate policies and design programs. The programs are directed by the Executive Director and implemented by Program Officers and a multi-disciplinary body of Fellows, Researchers and Development Analysts from the universities, government and the private sector.