Financing of development pilot projects is one of the major activities undertaken by AARDO in its member countries. AARDO lays emphasis on encouraging the member countries to undertake such projects which would make significant contribution in the development of their rural areas and contribute effectively in alleviation of poverty, providing good living conditions, income and employment generation, etc. Under this programme, AARDO provides financial assistance up to a maximum of US$ 50,000 (US Dollars fifty thousand) per project as approved by the Fourteenth (14th) General Session of AARDO Conference held at Cairo, Egypt during 16-17 September 2002. Although, the projects are undertaken on a limited scale, they help the member countries to introduce new technologies, replicate proven technologies, develop infrastructure, promote micro-enterprises, skill enhancement and generate employment for the rural people to alleviate poverty.

AARDO had introduced 'micro-credit' model in the year 2000 to help its member countries in their efforts towards alleviation of rural poverty. Under this model, beneficiaries of the project are given loan on "no-interest, no-collateral" basis. The beneficiaries are required to repay the interest-free loan to the implementing agency over a period of time. This loan is, thus, treated as a revolving fund and deposited in a bank. Recipient country hence gets an opportunity to replicate the project either in the same location or elsewhere. AARDO has successfully financed some projects based on micro-credit as a significant component. These projects have yielded good results.

During the triennium 2021-2023 and extended year 2024, the implementation of a development pilot project would incorporate a suitable mechanism of monitoring and evaluation; for which, a suitable amount would be allocated in the budget of the pilot project. The AARDO’s development pilot projects would be implemented in partnership with concerned government, community/beneficiaries as well the financial institutions.

Considering the importance of the activity, AARDO proposes to finance a maximum of Six (06) development pilot projects in the member countries during the triennium 2021-2023 and extended year 2024. Besides, AARDO continues to make efforts collaborating with economically sound member countries and exploring possible funding from various agencies to finance/implement some of the projects.

x During the triennium 2021-2023 and extended year 2024, AARDO will give priority to the financing of development projects focusing on the following core areas:

Capacity Building of the Rural Poor

Assets Creation for Landless, Agricultural Labour and Artisans

AARDO will also consider the project proposals on the following areas:

Agricultural and Rural Development to increase Productivity and Improve Environment through:

Transfer of Technology

Farm Mechanization

Prevention and Control of Pre-and Post-harvest Losses

Irrigation Facilities

Warehousing and Transportation

Land Reclamation and Agricultural Development

Soil Erosion

Change in Local Land Management Plans

Conservation of Water Resources, and

Range and Pasture Management.

Development of Physical and Social Infrastructure:

Rural Roads and Transport

Communication System

Electricity Generation especially from Renewable Sources of Energy such as Solar Wind and Biogas and

Schools and Health Centres.

Promotion of off-farm micro-enterprise through:

Value Addition in Agricultural Produce

Employment and Income Generating Activities

Micro-credit Enterprises

Handicraft and Cottage Industry

Mobile Repairing and

Computer Courses

Social Development:

Health: Sanitation and Immunization against Diseases

Family Welfare

Education including Non-formal and Adult Education and

Safe Drinking Water Supply

Miscellaneous:

Rural Livelihoods

Application of Information Technology

Impact of IEC Programme

Skills and Placement

Capacity Building of the Rural Poor

Assets Creation for Landless,Agricultural Labour and Artisans, and

Any other Innovative Action Research-based project

x GUIDELINES FOR FORMULATING A PROJECT PROPOSAL
The member countries may avail the financial support from AARDO. The project proposals should be designed as per the guidelines given below and forwarded to the AARDO Secretariat through their respective Nodal Ministries which deal with AARDO affairs. The technical and financial viabilities of the project proposals are examined by the AARDO's Technical Committee prior to their approval.

TECHNICAL VIABILITY

a)	Background of the project
b)	Justification for taking up the project
c)	Aim and objectives
d)	Scope
e)	Methodology
f)	Location
g)	Duration: date of commencement and completion
h)	Available resources: human and material
i)	Implementing agency: organisational set-up and experience of the project personnel in the relevant field
j)	Sponsoring agencies

FINANCIAL VIABILITY

A)	Financial Outlay (Year-wise break-up)
	i)   Non-recurring (fixed assets) expenditure
a)   Plant and machinery
	b)   Equipments and accessories
	c)   Installation charges
	d)   Land and building
	e)   Cost of civil construction
	f)   Cost of inputs
	g)   Other costs, if any
	ii)  Recurring expenditure
a)   Salaries and wages of project personnel
	b)  Travelling expenses
	c)   Raw materials
	d)   Operation and maintenance cost
Grand Total (i + ii)
B)	Financial Liability (US $)
Source	Capital Cost	Maintenance Cost
i)  Local contribution Sponsoring Government/ Agency Contribution by Implementing Agency Contribution by Beneficiaries
ii)  AARDO's contribution In Kind In cash
C)	Benefits to be accrued :
	a)  Economical
b)  Social
	c)  Other, please specify
D)	Name of Agency/Organisation responsible for implementation of the project.
E)	Name of Agency/Organization in whose favour AARDO's contribution is to be remitted.

x AARDO has provided financial assistance for 64 development projects in 21 member countries since 1991 as per following details :

AARDO has provided financial assistance for 64 development projects in 21 member countries since 1991 as per the following details :
Sl.No.	Name of the Project	Country
1	Productive Employment and Development Programme for Rural Women (2003)	Bangladesh
2	Productive Employment & Awareness Raising Programme for Rural Women (2007)	Bangladesh
3	Milk Collection and Milk Products (1991)	Egypt
4	Canning Factory of Juices, Fruits and Agricultural Products (1992)	Egypt
5	Training Centre and Production of Readymade Clothes (1994)	Egypt
6	Carpentry Training and Production Centre (1997)	Egypt
7	Processing of Rice Straw and Turning it into Use Full Highly Nutritious Low Cost Forage (2004)	Egypt
8	Palm Oil Processing and Soap Making (1993)	Ghana
9	Women's Fish Smoking (1996)	Ghana
10	Construction of Day Care Centre (2002)	Ghana
11	Cottage Industry & Small/Medium Enterprise Support Programme (2003)	Ghana
12	Empowering Chilli Producers in the South Tongu District to Meet Export Standards through Capacity Building and Supply of Inputs (2010)	Ghana
13	Grameen Mahila Vikas Nidhi (1993)	India
14	Achieving Sustainable Livelihood through Improves Agricultural Practices for better Yield and Post-harvesting Technology (2006)	India
15	A Self Help Agricultural Development Programme (2011)	India
16	Batteer Health Centre (1991-1993)	Jordan
17	Water Harvesting (1993)	Jordan
18	Medicinal Herbs Agri-Enterprises, Phase II (1999)	Jordan
19	Medicinal Herbs Agri-Enterprises, Phase  III (1999)	Jordan
20	Home Gardens (1999)	Jordan
21	Poultry Raising (2002)	Jordan
22	Revolving Micro-Credit  to Enhance Productivity of Rural Women and Integrating them in Sustainable Development (2007)	Jordan
23	Rural Women Empowerment Revolving Fund (2021)	Jordan
24	Nkiito Water Harvesting (1992)	Kenya
25	Supply of Safe Drinking Water to Aora Abongo Group (1993)	Kenya
26	Improvement of Irrigation Water Use Efficiency (2007)	Lebanon
27	Tools for Sustainable Management and Conservation of Oak Biodiversity (2010)	Lebanon
28	Poultry Production for Rural Female Headed Households (2008)	Malawi
29	Coffee Processing Centre (1997)	Malaysia
30	Upgrading Tissue Culture Laboratory at Crop Production Centre to Accommodate AARDO Participants  (2001)	Malaysia
31	Micro-credit Component of Poverty Alleviation in Rodrigues (2002)	Mauritius
32	Women Entrepreneruship Development (2007) i) Empowerment of Rural Women; ii) Setting-up of a Food Processing Unit; and iii) Child Day Care Centre	Mauritius
33	Development of Dairy Cooperative Logistics System (2017)	Mauritius
34	Supply of Potable Water (1994)	Morocco
35	Water Resource Rehabilitation for Livestock Watering  (1996)	Morocco
36	Strengthening of Textile Cooperative in Ain-Alloh  (2001)	Morocco
37	Procurement of Cows for Milk Production (2006)	Morocco
38	Setting-up of three Farms for Training and Information Dissemination on Grass cutter Rearing (2007)	Nigeria
39	Production of Farm Yard Manure (1994)	Oman
40	Bee-keeping and Honey Production (2001)	Oman
41	Poultry Production for Rural Families (2005)	Oman
42	Capacity Building Programme for Women on Textile Colours and Design Development (2007)	Oman
43	Provision of Micro-credit Facility and Enhancement of Local  Level Savings for Poverty Alleviation (1999)	Pakistan
44	Establishment of Rural Health Centre (2010)	Pakistan
45	Establishment of E-Learning Centre at AHKNCRD (2016)	Pakistan
46	Barangay Solar Electrification (1994)	Philippines
47	Feedlot Cattle Fattening and Dispersal (2001)	Philippines
48	Lembema Farm (1992)	Sierra Leone
49	Initiatives for Commercial Breadfruit Production (2017)	Sri Lanka
50	Solar and other Renewable Energy Sources (1998)	Sudan
51	Water and Energy Needs : Solar Electrification for Water Pumping and Lighting Facilities (2003)	Sudan
52	Renewable Energy for Nomads in  Greater Darfur (2006)	Sudan
53	Artificial Insemination  for Goats (2007)	Sudan
54	Water Network of Elsireef Town (2008)	Sudan
55	Farm Mushroom Production (2002)	Syria
56	Bee-keeping and Honey Production (2002)	Syria
57	Enabling Female Agricultural Guides to Work in the Integrated Rural Development (2007)	Syria
58	Development of Sericulture in Syria (2010)	Syria
59	Establishment of Laboratory for Analyzing the Agricultural Fertilizer (2010)	Yemen
60	Improvement of Kwambwe Mulwe Gravel Road (1999)	Zambia
61	Empower Youth with Entrepreneurship Skills (2005)	Zambia
62	Construction of Basic School at Kalenga Village, Shangombo District, Western Province (2007)	Zambia
63	Empowering Vulnerable Communities with Opportunities to Undertake Income Generating Ventures Intended to Mitigate Poverty and Food Insecurity (2011)	Zambia
64	Kafues Youth Resource Centre-Aquaculture Development (2020)	Zambia