The Leyte Rural Advancement Programmes (LRAP) Incorporated was established in 1986 as a program office of the Appropriate Technology Center for Rural Development (ATCRD), an NGO based in Manila. As an appropriate technology center for the island of Leyte, LRAP was tasked with the development of self-reliant and economically stable rural communities. This is to be achieved through increased agricultural productivity in the short term, and cooperative development in the long term through the practice of appropriate science and technology with rural communities.

LRAP focuses on communities in the uplands, and places a strong emphasis on environmental rehabilitation and protection. At present LRAP is implementing a project entitled: Enhancing Small Coconut Farmers Tenurial Rights and Poverty Reduction Programme through Crop Diversification and Adoption of Appropriate Science and Technology. This project runs until 2010, and will be the focus of the AYAD assignment.