Assam Rural Infrastructure and Agricultural Services Society (India)

Assam Rural Infrastructure and Agricultural Services Society (ARIAS) is an agency established by the Government of Assam in 1998 in Assam, India. The purpose of the society is to monitor, manage and coordinate World Bank-supported projects in agriculture, agribusiness, rural infrastructure, citizen services, etc.

ARIAS is committed to its work and has demonstrated to the World Bank that it has built up sufficient capacity in procurement and financial management, monitoring and evaluation, social and environmental safeguarding and has been able to formulate evidence-based rural development strategies. An important institutional innovation of the society was the strengthening of the role of communities in decision-making. The project introduced an innovative public procurement system with a unique procurement process that not only enhanced the community's role in purchasing decisions but also led to economies of scale that allowed beneficiary farmers to buy pumps at below-market prices. ARIAS's innovative agriculture-friendly procurement model under the AACP subcomponent for irrigation, mechanization, and fisheries empowers farmer groups to make procurement decisions. The Bank and the Government of India have recognized this model as one of its “best practices” and the success of this approach has made local procurement an integral part of the regular operations of the Ministries of Agriculture and Fisheries as well as ensuring adequate representation of women in public procurement and social audit committees.

ARIAS key sectors: Agriculture, Agribusiness, Rural Development, Socio-Economic Development, Citizen Services, Project Management, Procurement, Financial Management, Monitoring & Evaluation, etc.