AKRSP-India

What AKRSP-India does

Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (India) — AKRSP-India — is a non-denominational, non-profit development organization founded in 1983 under the vision of His Highness the Aga Khan and operating as a programme of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). The organization works as a catalyst for the betterment of rural communities by organizing them into self-reliant community-based institutions and providing direct professional support across four Indian states: Gujarat (15 districts, 2,380 villages), Madhya Pradesh (6 districts, 399 villages), Bihar (5 districts, 456 villages), and Maharashtra (1 district, 20 villages). It has impacted over 3.5 million lives, with more than 80% of households drawn from marginalized communities (tribals, dalits, minorities) and over 60% women beneficiaries.

AKRSP-India's programme architecture rests on three pillars: Agriculture and Climate Resilience (irrigation, renewable energy, livestock, sustainable agriculture, natural resource management), Work and Enterprise under the "Yuva Junction" brand (NSDC-certified vocational skills training and placements for rural youth), and Community Institutions (SHGs, FPOs, Panchayat capacity-building, financial inclusion). Its methodological portfolio includes several award-recognized innovations: the Amrit Krishi conservation-farming approach (organic compost and bio-pesticide inputs, World Bank Development Marketplace Award 2012), the Miyawaki-method Micro-Forests programme (dense native plantations, 10x faster growth), the Community Owned Mini Drinking Water Supply System (COMDWSS) for ultra-poor hamlets, and a participatory Mangrove Restoration model targeting ~200 Mg CO2e per hectare of blue carbon sequestration. Distribution is community-led via 37,882 village institutions and 15,999 women's institutions.

The organization employs more than 400 development professionals and is funded by a diversified base of 50+ national and international donors including the Aga Khan Foundation, Gates Foundation, Tata Trusts, NABARD, CIFF, Ford Foundation, European Commission, WaterAid, and UNICEF. AKRSP-India does not charge beneficiaries for its core services; revenue mechanics rest on grant funding, government resource leveraging, community contributions, and an internal endowment fund. No commercial revenue, equity structure, or stock exchange listing applies, and the entity is governed by a professional Indian board under the AKDN umbrella.

Name

AKRSP-India

Legal name

Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (India)

Website

https://akrspindia.org.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (India) is a non-profit rural development organization operating across Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Maharashtra. It organizes marginalized rural communities into self-reliant institutions and delivers agriculture, water, renewable energy, and vocational skills programs reaching over 3.5 million people.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural Development Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Crop Production (11511), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Irrigation, Water & Energy Efficiency Operations Advisory (AFACAJAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Rights, Permitting & Compliance Services (Allocations, Reporting) (AFACAFAM), Supply Chain, Marketing & Contracting Advisory (Grain/Livestock Marketing) (AFACAJAH)

Keywords

• Rural development programs
• Community empowerment services
• Sustainable agriculture support
• Watershed management services
• Vocational skills training

Headquarters

HQ city

Ahmadabad, Gujarat

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donor Funding: AKRSP(I) receives funding from national and international development funding agencies. The organisation has long-term partnerships with over 50 donor organisations including Aga Khan Foundation, Gates Foundation, Tata Trusts, NABARD, and various corporate foundations.
2. Government Partnerships and Resource Leveraging: Strong partnerships with national and state government agencies; leveraging large-scale government resources available for poorest communities. Communities are encouraged to generate their own resources in the form of savings and contributions in kind and cash.
3. Endowment Fund: AKRSP(I) has established an endowment fund. Returns from this fund are used for strengthening systems and processes, meeting core costs of institution, and piloting innovations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AKRSP-India (Aga Khan Rural Support Programme India) is a non-denominational, non-government development organization that delivers community development programs to rural households across Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Maharashtra. Its portfolio centers on three pillars — Agriculture Development (climate-resilient farming, irrigation, renewable energy, natural resources), Work and Enterprise (Yuva Junction skills and livelihoods program for rural youth), and Community Institutions (SHGs, village organizations, Panchayat capacity building) — alongside innovations such as Amrit Krishi, Miyawaki micro-forests, Mangrove Ecosystem Regeneration, and Community Owned Drinking Water Supply Systems.

Product overview

AKRSP-India operates as a non-technology NGO offering community development programs organized around three core pillars: Agriculture and Climate Resilience, Work and Enterprise, and Community Institutions. The program portfolio includes direct interventions (Agriculture Development, Yuva Junction skills program, Natural Resources Management, Irrigation, Renewable Energy, Livestock Development, Education, Drinking Water, Financial Inclusion, Hygiene and Nutrition) alongside innovative approaches (Micro-Forests using Miyawaki technique, Mangrove Ecosystem Regeneration, Amrit Krishi organic farming, Participatory Irrigation Management, Community Owned Drinking Water Schemes, and Participatory Rural Appraisal). These programs work in concert—agricultural interventions integrate with water management and renewable energy, skills development feeds into enterprise creation, and community institution-building underpins all program sustainability. Programs are delivered through village-level community-based organizations with professional field staff support across Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Maharashtra.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Yuva Junction: Work and enterprise programme empowering rural youth through non-farm employment opportunities including vocational skills training, job placement, and entrepreneurship development. Courses certified by NSDC.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3.5 million people impacted from marginalised sections of society
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Government of India and State GovernmentscoreOthersPartnerships with national and state government agencies for leveraging large-scale government resources for rural communities. Strong belief in partnering with government agencies.
• Aga Khan Development NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAKRSP(I) is a programme of AKDN which works in over 30 countries. Provides institutional framework, brand identity, and strategic guidance.
• Saline Area Vitalization Enterprise Limited (SAVE)majorTechnology or IntegrationTechnical partner for mangrove plantation and restoration providing expertise and capacity building for mangrove plantation, restoration, protection, and management.
• National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertifying body for Yuva Junction vocational skills training programmes covering Retail, BPO, Computer Hardware, Nursing, Beauty and Wellness, and sewing.
• Gramya Vikas TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal NGO connecting AKRSP(I) with women's SHGs for mangrove plantation activities in Gujarat.
• Development Support Centre (DSC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Participatory Irrigation Management initiatives in Gujarat and contributed to PIM Act of 2004/2007.
• Water and Sanitation Management Organization (WASMO)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment organisation in Gujarat creating special purpose vehicles for drinking water management.
• Small Farmers Agri-business Consortium (SFAC)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGovernment consortium for supporting Farmer Producer Organisations.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SRIJAN (Self-Reliant Initiatives through Joint Action): Central Indian rural livelihoods NGO working with smallholder farmers, tribal communities, and women's groups on sustainable agriculture and value-chain interventions. Comparable in community institution-building, FPO promotion, and tribal-focused programming.
• WOTR (Watershed Organisation Trust): India-based non-profit specializing in watershed development, climate-resilient agriculture, and participatory natural resource management across drought-prone regions. Strong overlap with AKRSP-I's irrigation, watershed, and climate adaptation work.
• PRADAN: Professional Assistance for Development Action is one of India's leading livelihoods-focused NGOs operating across multiple states with similar community mobilization, women's SHG promotion, and sustainable agriculture interventions. Directly comparable in target population (rural poor), approach (participatory), and program mix.
• BAIF Development Research Foundation: Pioneer Indian development foundation working on livestock development, sustainable agriculture, and watershed management with similar pan-Indian geographic reach. Highly comparable in livestock (goat, dairy), agriculture, and natural resource management program design.
• Seva Mandir: Rajasthan-based rural development NGO working with tribal communities on natural resource management, livelihoods, education, and women's empowerment. Comparable methodology (participatory), target population (tribal/remote), and program portfolio (NRM, agriculture, community institutions).
• SEWA (Self Employed Women's Association): Large women's empowerment organization with deep rural presence organizing women into cooperatives, SHGs, and producer groups for livelihood improvement. Comparable focus on women's economic empowerment, financial inclusion, and rural enterprise development.

Others

• National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC): Public-private partnership organization under Ministry of Skill Development that certifies Yuva Junction's vocational training programs. Ecosystem enabler and partner in AKRSP-I's skill development vertical rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Aga Khan Foundation (India): Sister organization within the Aga Khan Development Network operating with broader mandate (health, education, culture) in addition to rural development. Directly comparable donor ecosystem and operational philosophy though wider portfolio.
• Collectives for Integrated Livelihood Initiatives (CInI): Tata Trusts-supported livelihood initiative working across tribal belts of eastern and central India on similar themes (agriculture, NRM, women's empowerment). Sister-ecosystem peer with similar donor backing and program philosophy.

Regional players

• Welthungerhilfe (India office): German development NGO implementing rural livelihoods, food security, and WASH programs in India through local partners. Comparable program mix and donor-funded operating model; differs as a foreign-headquartered NGO with localized execution.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/AkrspIndia
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCbYFnwIhNt1O6IldigmYQ1g
• Facebookfacebook.com/AKRSPIndia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/akrsp-india
• Instagraminstagram.com/akrspindia

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about AKRSP-India