Empowering Communities Through Media & Technology
World Development Foundation (WDF) is a New Delhi-based knowledge foundation committed to enriching and sustaining the lives and livelihoods of poor and excluded people worldwide through community radio, ICT in agriculture, and technology-driven development.
Our Mission & Vision
World Development Foundation was established in November 2003 in New Delhi with a vision that broadcasting and communication (ICT) are the most convenient and cost-effective means of sharing knowledge, removing poverty, empowering the underprivileged, propagating the rights of women and children, and providing healthcare to all.
WDF strives to empower the poor by providing education and training for earning livelihood using Radio, TV, Internet, and new media. We are an approved partner of Media Lab Asia, Ministry of Communication & IT, Government of India.
- Knowledge-based global foundation with commitment to enrich lives of excluded communities worldwide
- Use of broadcasting & ICT for poverty alleviation, education, and skill development
- Turnkey solutions for community radio, agricultural extension, and ICT deployment
- Research and advocacy for Knowledge Agriculture™ and sustainable development
Founder & President
Visionary leader who pioneered community radio in India and shaped the nation's broadcast infrastructure for over five decades.
Prof. Dr. Sir Hari Om Srivastava
Prof. Dr. Sir Hari Om Srivastava, former Additional Director General and Head of AIR Resources of All India Radio and Doordarshan (at the level of Additional Secretary to the Government of India), is the founder President and CEO of World Development Foundation. He brings over 50 years of experience in broadcast policy, technology, and implementation.
He was instrumental in formulating the Community Radio Act, rules, regulations, and technology framework for CRS in India. As Head of AIR Resources, he led the installation of 40 educational FM transmitters for IGNOU (Gyan Vani), numerous commercial and community radio stations, and the Agriculture Channel for the Ministry of Agriculture. He established BECIL (a Government PSU), AIR Resources, and the IT Division of AIR & Doordarshan, and executed the "Agriculture Knowledge Dissemination System" for Bihar and the Government of Ethiopia.
Dr. Srivastava has received seven international awards, multiple Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union awards (1984–1990), a Lifetime Achievement Award from IETE, and was knighted (K.St. J) in Colombo in 2017. He has authored six books and over 150 research papers in IEEE, IETE, and other international journals. He serves as Adjunct Professor at YMCA University, Consultant to GLG (New York) and VisasQ (Japan), and Honorary Director of several colleges.
- Pioneer of Community Radio in India — formulated the CRS policy framework
- Established IT Division, BECIL, and AIR Resources in Prasar Bharati
- Executed Gyan Vani (40 FM stations), Kisan Channel, and AIR satellite services
- Commonwealth Expert (Malaysia 1991) and ITU Expert (Malaysia 1992)
- Chairman IETE Delhi (2000–2002); Ghazipur Gaurav awardee
Executive Director
Dynamic leader driving global partnerships, technology projects, and Knowledge Agriculture research across Asia and Africa.
Aprajita Srivastava
Dr. Aprajita Srivastava is the Hon. Executive Director of World Development Foundation, leading overseas partnerships, tie-ups, MOUs, and major project implementation. She executed the prestigious MCIT, Government of Ethiopia project establishing seven community radio stations across Ethiopia in 2015 — a landmark project completed within twelve months from global tender to commissioning.
She negotiated and signed a marketing distribution agreement for India with Brightcove Inc. (USA), a leading cloud-based video platform provider. Her research spans Knowledge Agriculture, ICT for agricultural extension, community radio for socio-economic transformation, and SDG 2030 implementation. She presented the Business Plan of Knowledge Agriculture at Oxford University before prospective investors.
Dr. Srivastava is the recipient of the "BEST RESEARCHER '2018 Award" by International Journal for Research Under Literal Access (accredited by Idamas Learning and Training Centre, Malaysia) and was conferred membership of the Advisory Board of the World Research Council (WRC-2019). She has published numerous research papers in Springer, IEEE, IJSER, GSJ, and IJCRT journals, and authored the book "Mass Media and ICT for Agriculture Extension" (LAP Lambert Academic Publishing, 2018).
- Executed Ethiopia CRS project — 7 radio stations in 12 months
- Brightcove India partnership — cloud video platform distribution
- Knowledge Agriculture business plan presented at Oxford University
- Best Researcher Award 2018; WRC Advisory Board member
- Published 12+ research papers and one book on ICT for agriculture
Our Team
A dedicated team of expert professionals, consultants, producers, and architects committed to excellence in development communication and technology.
Dr. Chandra Rashmi Srivastava
Former Principal of Bharati Mahila Mahavidyalaya (Degree College), Jaunpur. Freelance writer, advisor, and consultant in electronic media, education, and IT. Looks after Administration & Finance at WDF. Published articles on education, management, and IT, including a book on broadcast technology.
Swati Srivastava
Alumna of University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) — Film Production and Direction with Distinction and Honors. BA (Economics) Honors from Delhi University, Gold Medalist in MBA. Video and film producer, IT expert, and social activist.
Aprajita Srivastava
Executes overseas partnerships, MOUs, and major ICT projects. Led Ethiopia CRS project establishing 7 radio stations. Published researcher in Springer, IEEE, and international journals. Best Researcher Award 2018. Knowledge Agriculture advocate.
Shri Salig Ram
Leads technical implementation of the Agriculture Knowledge Dissemination System (ANDS) at Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur.
Shri Manish Kumar
Manages programme delivery and content strategy for the ANDS project at Bihar Agricultural University, ensuring participatory communication with farming communities.
Shri Vinod Kumar
Manages community radio station operations at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Saharanpur, delivering agricultural extension content to local farming communities.
In addition to our full-time team, WDF works with a large contingent of consultants, producers, architects, and subject-matter experts on assignments and contracts.
Impact & Activities
Explore WDF's transformative projects in community radio, ICT in education, and agricultural extension across India, Africa, and Asia.
200+ Community Radio Stations
WDF has established over 200 community radio stations across India and Ethiopia, providing participatory communication platforms for rural communities, agricultural extension, education, and social empowerment.
Knowledge Agriculture™
WDF pioneered Knowledge Agriculture — using ICT, UAVs, IoT, AI, and community radio to transform traditional farming into a technology-driven, profitable enterprise. The Agriculture Knowledge Dissemination System (ANDS) at Bihar Agricultural University serves as a flagship model.
7 Countries Across Asia & Africa
WDF projects span India, Ethiopia, Nepal, and other Asian and African nations. The Ethiopia CRS project (2015) established seven radio stations, empowering citizens to participate in decision-making socially, culturally, and politically.
Academic Outreach & Research
WDF conducts seminars, workshops, and training programmes on community radio, ICT in agriculture, science education, and SDG 2030. The foundation has published extensively in IEEE, Springer, and international journals, and organized the landmark National Conference on SDG 2030 (2019).
Featured Video
Get Involved with WDF
Partner with us to empower communities through media and technology. Whether you are a government agency, NGO, academic institution, or corporate partner, we welcome your collaboration.