- The Poverty Alleviation Action Fund (PAAF), sponsored by the Government and funded by the World Bank and other donors, targets vulnerable rural and urban communities, with an emphasis on the empowerment of women. PAAF focuses on improving the lives of women by ensuring that community projects and loans respond to their priorities. As of 2005, PAAF was working with 56 partner organizations in 96 districts. Over 100 000 community members and staff of partner organizations have participated in trainings facilitated by the PAAF (25).

- The Institute of Rural Management (IRM) of the National Rural Support Programme (NRSP) serves as the training wing of all the Rural Support Programmes (RSPs). The outreach of the Institute extends to almost 76 Districts. The IRM carries out training programmes which include natural resource management, vocational and occupational training and community management skills training. IRM training programmes are also conducted for the staff of the Rural Support Programmes RSPs, of government departments and for elected government officials (26).