Lok Sabha Question No. 1586 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-24
Subject: MoU between India and African-Asian Rural Development Organisation
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: DHARMENDRA YADAV, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, Shrirang Appa Barne, ANANDRAO  ADSUL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO .1586

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.11.2016

## MOU BETWEEN INDIA AND AFRICAN - ASIAN RURAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION

## 1586. SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:

SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL :

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  African - Asian  Rural Development  Organization  (AARDO)  is an  autonomous, inter - governmentalorganization formed to promote cooperation among the countries of theAfrican - Asian region to eradicate thirst, hunger, illiteracy and poverty in the region and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether any Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Indi a and AARDO for capacitybuilding programmes in the rural deve opment sector and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the names of institutions identified for organizing the capacity building programmes in the country; and
- (d) the extent  to  which  the  aforesaid MoU  is  likely  to  promote  cooperation among  the countries of the African - Asian region to eradicate thirst, hunger, illiteracy, disease and poverty?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT ( SHRI RAM KRIPA L YADAV )

- (a) : Yes Sir. The details are as per Annexure I
- (b) : A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the African - Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO) and the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD)  for the  capacity  building  programmes in  India,  for  the  triennium  2015 - 2017  for    AARDO sponsored candidates from its member countries,  is under process for signature. Th of the MoU are as per Annexure II.
- (c) : The  following  institutions  have  been  identified  for  organizing  the  ca pacity  building programmes in the country:
1. Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute (IASRI), New Delhi.
2. Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Lucknow.
3. Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering (CIAE), Bhopal.
4. Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi.
5. Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI), Karnal.

(d) : AARDO  is  one  of  the  earliest  examples  of  South - South  cooperation  in  rural development  in  the  African - Asian  region.  The  Organization  was  set  up  with  a  view  t promote coordinated efforts, exchange of experts for cooperative action for furth objectives of development of the rural areas in the member countries of Asia and A also  promotes  collaboration  with  various  international  organisations  for  t he  economic  and social welfare of the rural community.

The MoU with AARDO, recognizing the importance of Human Resource Development  for  AARDO  member  countries  helps  in  increasing  the  scope  of  capaci building programmes of AARDO for poverty reduction and rural development in its member countries.  The capacity building /training programmes carried out under the MoU equipping the candidates with knowledge and techniques   on eradication of poverty a development.

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## Briefon African - Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO)

AARDO formed in 1962, is an Inter -Governmental, International Organization comprising 31 members from Africa and Asia with headquarters at New Delhi.

India  is  a  key  founder  member  and  contributed significantly  in  the  conceptualization  and formation of AARDO.

## Organs of the organization:

- (i) Conference -the highest policy - making Body represented by Ministers
- (iii) Liaison  Committee - repres ented  by  the  Ambassadors  of  the  member  countries and Joint Secretary (IC), MoRD
- (ii) Committee -represented by the Permanent Secretaries/ Secretaries
- (iv) Secretariat -headed by the Secretary General and six (6) Regional Offices

the

- (v) Technical Programme Committee represented by the Heads of Institutions etc.

Secretary Gen eral:

H.E.Eng. Wassfi Hassan El

-Sreihin from Jordan.

Asstt. Secretary General:

Dr. Manoj Nardeosingh from Mauritius

## Regional Offices:

1. Seoul for the Far - East
2. Amman for Middle East
3. Accra for Western Africa
4. Cairo for the North Eastern Africa
5. Lusakafor Southern Africa
6. Islamabad, Pakistan

## Objectives:

- To provide assistance in evolving an integrated approach to rural developme more effective and speedier reconstruction of African - Asian societies and economies;
- To facilitate exchange of successfu l experiences in the field of rural development a flow of technical assistance among its members; and
- To  take  up  relevant  pilot  projects  to  demonstrate  the  feasibility  of propositions.

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## ANNEXURE I

## Programme priorities:

- i . To develop understanding among members for promoting welfare, eradication of thirst, hunger, illiteracy, disease and poverty among rural people.
- ii . To  assist  member  countries  in  obtaining  financial  and  technical  assistan rural development programmes.
- iii . To  collaborate  with  appropr iate  International  and  Regional  Organizations  fo accelerating the pace of rural development in member countries.
- iv . To assist in the formation and development of organizations of farmers and rural people.
- v. To  promote  cooperative  activities  in  various  as pects  of  life  of  the  rural communities.
- vi . To promote exchange of visits of farmers and experts from one country to an
- vii . To organize international and regional meetings, seminars, exhibitions and fairs and produce literature and undertake pub licity.

## Activities:

- Human Resource Development -through training, Participative Cooperation among Members.

conferen

Technical

- Participatory  Technical  Assistance  Programme -Ministerial - level  visits  and  study visits by Experts/Specialists.
- International Workshop/ Seminars.
- Development of Pilot Projects and their financing.
- Dissemination of Information.
- Collaboration  with  other  International  Organizations  and  International  Coope Alliance.

Member - countries of AARDO:-

(As per list attached)

The present membership of the organization is 31.

## List of Member - countries of AARDO

1. Bangladesh
3. Egypt
2. Burkina Faso
4. Ethiopia
6. Gambia
5. Ghana
7. India
9. Jordan
8. Iraq
10. Kenya
12. Liberia
11. South Korea
13. Lebanon
15. Malaysia
14. Libya
16. Malawi
18. Mauritius
17. Morocco
19. Oman
21. Philippines
20. Pakistan
22. Taiwan (Republic of China)
24. Syria
23. Sri Lanka
25. Sierra Leone
27. Yemen
26. Sudan
28. Zambia
30. Kenya
29. Nigeria and the Institute of Rural Development
31. Palestine

## ANNEXURE   II

DETAILS OF THE MOU BETWEEN THE AFRICAN -ASIAN RURAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION  (AARDO)  AND  THE  MINISTRY  OF  RURAL  DEVELOPMENT (MORD)    FOR  THE  CAPACITY  BUILDING  PROGRAMMES  IN  INDIA  FOR  THE TRIENNIUM  2015 - 2017  FOR    AARDO  SPONSORED  CANDIDATES  FROM  ITS MEMBER COUNTRIES

- a. The  capacity  building  p rogrammes  for  the  AARDO  nominees  shall  be organized every year during the triennium 2015 - 2017 at various Institutions of Excellence  in  India  such  as  National  Institute  of  Rural  Development Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR), institutions governed by the Indian C ouncil of Agricultural  Research  (ICAR),  Indian  Institute  of  Management  (IIM)  a others.
- b. The  duration  of  each  training  programme  shall  be  of  two  (2)  to  thre weeks.
- c. The  identified  Centres  of  Excellence  in  India  shall  be  requested  to available  s lots  for  the  training  programmes/workshops  etc  for  the  AARDO sponsored nominees for the triennium (2015 - 2017).  The  number  of  training slots and institutions shall be revised on yearly basis in view of the d member countries within the allocated fun ds. Diversification of activities by including new programmes shall be allowed as far as the same are organ at the Centres of Excellence in India.
- d. Five  (5)  slots  annually  shall  be  offered  for  AARDO  sponsored  candida from the member countries for th e PGDRDM programme of one year duration at the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati (NIRD&PR), Hyderabad, India during the triennium (2015 - 2017).
- e. MoRD shall ensure the availability of allocated funds in time, as and required.
6. f . MoRD  shall  facilitate  for  the  organization  of  programmes  as  proposed AARDO at the identified Centres of Excellence.
- g. Should  MoRD  or  host  institution  make  any  changes  or  amendments  to  th timetable  of  any  of  its  training  programmes,  PGDRDM  Programme or  to change any of the training contents, AARDO shall be duly notified of change(s)  at  least  four  (4)  months  prior  to  the  commencement  of programmes  to  enable  AARDO  to  plan  its  programmes  accordingly  and provide sufficient time to member countri es to fulfill the necessary formalities
- h. MoRD or host institutions shall, in due time, notify AARDO of the acce candidates.
9. i . Fellowships granted to AARDO sponsored candidates by MoRD shall cover tuition fees, expenses on boarding, lodging, domestic transportations during the period of capacity building programmes, round - trip  air - tickets  and  daily out of pocket allowances, etc.
10. j . An amount of Rupees four hundred and fifty (Rs. 450) per participant pe shall be paid as subsistence allowance to the p articipants attending the short term courses/programmes.
- k. Payment of US dollars one thousand ($1000) for course/workshop/programme shall be paid to AARDO to meet administrative expenditure.

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- l . Since AARDO shall assist MoRD in issuing the internati onal air tickets for the participants  of  various  capacity  building  programmes,  MoRD  shall  tim reimburse the amount so incurred to AARDO.

m.   The Memorandum of Understanding shall enter into force from the date o signature  and  shall  remain  valid for  a  period  of  three  (3)  years.  In  case,  f unavoidable reasons any programme is not implemented as scheduled, the Mo can be modified so that the programme can be carried forward for the foll year.