M.S.Swaminathan Research Foundation

Friends of Swaminathan Australia (FOSA) is an extension of the 'Friends' network throughout the US and Japan. Inspired by the work of renowned scientist and humanist, Prof. MS Swaminathan, it was established to enable individuals and corporations in Australia to make a real difference to global poverty by setting up their own micro-credit banks to support environmentally sustainable projects in developing countries in South Asia.

Friends of MSSRF in Tokyo' is an international group of people living in Tokyo, Japan, who understand that globalization is an opportunity as well as a responsibility. Improving economic conditions throughout the world brings peace, prosperity, care of the environment, and general goodwill to our ever-expanding world community.

Inspired by Professor M.S. Swaminathan, 'Friends' was organized to unite the ingenuity and hard work of the poor in India's villages with the philanthropy of the Japanese and the international community in Tokyo.

Friends of MSSRF in USA was established to support the work of M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation in India. In particular, we support the Rural Knowledge Centers and Micro Credit - Self Help Groups, the two innovative programs that seek to empower the poor to climb out of poverty.

The National Network on Bio-villages and Community Banking was launched in order to link micro-enterprises to micro-credit. The main aim of this programme is to improve the socio-economic conditions of the rural poor by enhancing their income- generating potential through the financial support given to them.

The members of Friends of MSSRF, Tokyo, have contributed generously to form micro-credit banks for the rural poor and to link them with micro-enterprises. Micro-credit is given to a small and homogeneous group of men/women having a similar socio-economic background called Self-Help Groups (SHGs), These groups are democratic and fully participative. Extending of micro-credits is an empowerment process in which a community gains confidence and initiates economic activities.