ORGANISATION

UNDERSTANDING
AGA KHAN RURAL SUPPORT
PROGRAMME (INDIA)

Presented by:
Byomkesh Mishra
Institute of Rural Management Anand
History
 1983: Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Shia
Ismaili Muslims, marked the Silver Jubilee of his
Imamat with the announcement of a rural
development programme for India during his visit to
Gujarat
 1984: Aga khan Rural Support Programme (India)
was registered under the section 25 of Companies
Act as a non-profit making company and started its
activities in the state of Gujarat
Vision statement of Aga Khan

AKRSP (I) can contribute in India to the

creation of an enabling environment in which
rural people can identify their needs and
priorities and with professional support,
organize themselves to improve the quality of
their lives
Mission of AKRSP (I)

AKRSP (I) exists to enable the empowerment

of rural communities and groups, particularly
the underprivileged and women, to take
control over their lives and manage their
environment to create a better and more
equitable society
Basic Philosophy
 Not a Funding Organisation but provide direct support to
Village Institutions
 Rural Livelihood Enhancement- Better management of
Natural Resources
 Development activity routed through Village Institutions-
Empowering rural communities
 Poorest communities require the best quality inputs-
Professionals of multiple disciplines
 Learning Process Approach
 Two pronged approach (Micro & Macro)- To create an
Enabling Environment to improve livelihoods
Approaches for Rural
Development
Micro: Field Macro: Research,
Implementation Training & Policy
and Community Advocacy
Development

SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Values
 Equity
 Equal opportunities for Access and Control
 Participation/Team Work
 Equal opportunities for Input
 Environmental Concern
 Natural and Human Resources
 Professionalism
 Effectiveness and Efficiency in Performance
 Excellence
 Quality, Precision, Efficiency, Growth
 Sustainability
 People’s acquired ability
Organisation Structure
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
(Chairman)

CENTRAL OFFICE (CEO)

DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT TEAM ORGANISATION SUPPORT TEAM

Field support Policy Research & Functional

Services Finance Administration HRD
association advocacy Monitoring & Logistics

SPEARHEAD TEAMS (Area Managers)

Finance &
Research & Monitoring Programme Specialists
Administration

CLUSTER OFFICES (Cluster Managers)

Programme Assistant Community Organizers

VILLAGE COMMUNITIES
Programme Areas
 Bharuch- Surat- Narmada : (Netrang )
 Rain fed
 Socially homogeneous tribal society
 Poorest blocks in state
 Good but under managed natural resource base
 Junagadh : (Gadu)
 Coastal
 Multi caste society
 Large number of commercial farmers
 Over exploitation of rich natural resources
 Surendranagar : (Sayla)
 Drought prone
 Feudal, conflict-ridden, multi caste society
 Poor natural resource base
Contd…
 Kutch
 Training and Capacity Building Unit
 Capacity building needs of small NGOs
 Drought Proofing Projects
 Anjar
 Health and Education
 Along with other AKDN agencies
 Drought Proofing Projects
 Madhya Pradesh
 Began operations in 2004
 Dhar and Nimar districts
Sources of Funds

Others
Governme
nt 13% 4%

People EC 50%
23%
AKRSP (I)
10%
EC Funded Programs
 Community Management of Natural
Resources (CMNR): 1994-2001
 Sustainable Community based Approaches
for Livelihood Enhancement (SCALE): 2002-
2011
 Field implementation (theme based approach)
 SIP,RBM, GPAM, DWM, Drought Proofing, PIM, WDP, MED
 Outreach (collaborative effort)
 DSC, ARAVALI, Research/Academic Institutions
 Policy Advocacy
 Research and Capacity Building
Organising Processes for
Development*
Collective Awareness

Collective Consciousness

Collective Action Collective Reflection

Mobilisation for Movement

Motivational needs Motivational components

Diversities
Diversities
within
Sensitivity Creativity in
Organisation
Environment
Impact
Future Plans and Challenges
 Field implementation and Outreach activities
 Intensive work in the new area
 More emphasis on class equity issue
 AKRSP(I) has a vision that over the period it will
enhance the livelihoods of about 1,00,000
households in about 1000 villages
 It will also reduce its role in older village institutions
so that without staff expansion , new villages and
themes can be taken up
 Facilitative rather than interventionist approach
(federal structure of VIs, promoting new local NGOs)
Thank You