International Institute of Rural Reconstruction

The International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) is a global development organization with more than 95 years of experience working with communities to overcome poverty. Since its formal establishment in the Philippines in 1960, IIRR has supported rural communities across Asia, Africa, and Latin America through integrated, people-centered development approaches. IIRR works with communities to strengthen local capacity, improve livelihoods, and build resilience. Rather than providing short-term assistance, the organization focuses on education, skills development, and community leadership so that local people and institutions can drive their own development. This approach reflects IIRR’s long-standing belief that sustainable solutions to poverty are built with communities, not for them. Today, IIRR operates programs in eight countries in Southeast Asia and Eastern and Southern Africa, including the Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, South Sudan, and Zimbabwe. Across these regions, IIRR collaborates with more than 125 local partners, and its team of over 140 staff members are primarily nationals of the countries where they work, ensuring strong local leadership and contextual expertise. IIRR is a U.S.-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a small office in New York City, while its operational headquarters are based in the Philippines. This structure reflects IIRR’s commitment to operating close to the communities it serves. Recognizing that poverty is complex and interconnected, IIRR implements integrated programs across four core areas: • Food Security and Resilient Livelihoods • Education for Marginalized Communities • Community-Driven Disaster Risk Reduction • Collaborative Leadership and Global Learning IIRR measures impact through its “Pathways of Change” framework, which tracks how programs contribute to lasting improvements in livelihoods, food security, resilience, and community leadership. Beyond economic gains, this approach captures changes in attitudes, behaviors, and practices that enable communities to sustain development progress over time.