The women's empowerment through poverty alleviation strategy that is developed and refined by the Arthacharya Foundation, has already allowed a large number of those below the poverty line, particularly poor women and female headed households to significantly improve their living standards and get out of the poverty trap. It takes into account the basic belief within the organization that in an open market economy based on a withdrawing role of the government, there is a critical need to change the former conflict approach of social mobilization into a harmony model that allows the poor and particularly the women to understand the realities of the open market economy as well as to shape themselves to become part of it, in order to reap benefits.

•  Gender Sensitive Micro Enterprise Development through Savings and Credit in Mahoand     Kotawehera.
•  Gender Sensitive Micro Enterprise Development through Savings and Credit in Negombo and     Katana.
•  Gender Sensitive Micro Enterprise Development through Savings and Credit in Godakawela,     Ambilipitiya, Pelmadulla and Weligepola Divisions in the Ratnapura District supported by     Rabobank Foundation, The Netherlands.

CILCA International, CIDA (Ingo), AusAID, NDTF, CWSSP, CSP, MEIP and CEIF (all World Bank), Rabobank Foundation, Royal Dutch Embassy, Norad, Stromme Foundation, World View Foundation, Intermediate technology Development Group (ITDG), Ford Foundation, NZODA, Commonwelath Secretariat, Japan Bank International Coorporation (JBIC), Sustainable Cities Programme of the UNDP and National Water Supply and Drainage Board

Rabobank Foundation , Netherlands selected AF as its best micro – finance partners in the third world in celebrating its centenary. AF was awarded Dfl. 150,000 (US $ 75,000)

World Bank nominated AF for the prizes awarded jointly by UN Habitat and Dubai Municipal Council for Urban Poverty Alleviation and Environment activities.