In News:

The 21st AARDO Conference recently concluded in New Delhi, reaffirming the commitment to community-led rural development, local knowledge sharing, and South-South cooperation.

About AARDO

• Full Form: African-Asian Rural Development Organization
• Nature: Intergovernmental, autonomous organization
• Established:March 31, 1962
• Headquarters:New Delhi, India
• Origin:
  • Conceptualized at the 1955 East Asian Rural Reconstruction Conference (Tokyo)
  • Formalized after the 1961 Afro-Asian Conference on Rural Reconstruction (New Delhi)
  • Permanent HQ established in 1966 in India

Membership

• Full Members:32 countries from Asia and Africa (e.g., India, Bangladesh, Egypt, Zambia, Malaysia)
• Associate Members:3 entities (e.g., Korea Rural Community Corporation, Agricultural Bank of Sudan)
• Eligibility: Open to Afro-Asian countries that are full or associate members of the UN or its specialized agencies focused on rural development

Observer Status with International Organizations

AARDO has observer status with:

• FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization
• IFAD – International Fund for Agricultural Development
• UNDP – United Nations Development Programme
• UNESCO – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
• UNCTAD – United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

Objectives & Aims

• South-South Cooperation: Enhance technical and economic collaboration in rural development between Asia and Africa
• Sustainable Rural Development: Promote poverty alleviation, food security, and climate-resilient agriculture
• Capacity Building & Knowledge Sharing: Encourage exchange of best practices, innovations, and research

Functions

• Policy & Dialogue Platform: Facilitates discussions among member countries on rural development strategies
• Training & Capacity Building: Organizes international, regional, and national training programs to strengthen rural institutions
• Research & Action Studies: Initiates and disseminates research on shared challenges in agriculture and rural livelihoods
• Pilot Projects: Offers technical and financial assistance for pilot projects to serve as replicable models
• International Collaboration: Partners with UN agencies, regional bodies, and NGOs for integrated rural development
• Data Sharing: Provides members with disaggregated statistics and information for informed decision-making