SECRETARY GENERAL

His Excellency Dr. Abdalla Yahia Adam, who is a Sudanese citizen, took over as Secretary General of Afro-Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO) in the forenoon of 3rd September 2003 after being elected by the 51st Session of the AARDO Executive Committee, held at New Delhi during 11-12 June 2003. The term of His Excellency, due to expire on 2nd September 2009, was extended for another two years, from 3 September 2009 to 2nd September 2011, by the 16th General Session of AARDO Conference, held at New Delhi, India on 6-9 January 2009. Prior to becoming as Secretary General, Dr Adam served the Organization as Assistant Secretary General from 6 March 2000 to 2 September 2003.

After having graduated in Agriculture from the University of Khartoum, he joined the University of Reading, United Kingdom to pursue Masters degree course in Agricultural Management. He successfully completed Master of Philosophy from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India and wrote dissertation on "World Trade Organization (WTO) and Agricultural Development in Developing Countries - Case Study : India and Sudan". Dr. Adam also successfullly completed his Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D) from Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi and his thesis was on "International Agreements and the Implications for Federal Governance : A Study of the Agricultural Sector in Sudan". Dr Adam participated in a number of international training programmes and in various regional and international workshops and seminars addressing issues of agriculture, rural development and desertification and contributed expert papers.

Before joining AARDO as Assistant Secretary General in March 2000, he had assumed the charge of the following : MP (Sudan National Assembly) and Deputy Chairman of the Committee of Agriculture, Water Resources and Animal Wealth during 1996-2000; Director General of Jebel Marra Integrated Rural Development Project in Western Sudan during 1981 - 1996; Deputy Director of Dueim Agricultural Corporation in Central Sudan during 1977-1981; and Assistant Agriculture Officer in the Renk Agricultural Reform Corporation in Central Sudan during 1970-1977.

He provided consultancies in the mid-term evaluation of many foreign-aided integrated rural development projects in Sudan as a team leader.

With such a long and varied experience in the field of agriculture and rural development and proficiency in English and Arabic languages, AARDO will hopefully be benefited from his leadership.