International Institute of Rural Reconstruction - HQ

IIRR (International Institute of Rural Reconstruction) is a nonprofit international development organization that has operated for 65 years, focusing exclusively on empowering rural communities worldwide. The organization works with marginalized rural populations including smallholder farmers, fishermen, pastoralists, Indigenous peoples, and forest-dependent communities—over 500 million people who rely on minimal resources for survival. IIRR's vision is an equitable world where rural people achieve their full potential, and it has impacted over 68 million lives across 49 countries through its programs. The organization employs approximately 300 staff members and operates through five key pillars: Economic Empowerment, Health, Food Systems, Environment, and Education. IIRR uses a human-centered design approach that builds capacity within communities to create their own solutions. Notable initiatives include the Climate Smart Village Model, which uses an integrated five-pronged approach to help smallholder farmers improve livelihoods, and the Mission Net Zero program targeting carbon neutrality with rural communities. The organization publishes regular impact reports, strategic plans, and research through its Rural Insights platform.