Serving communities across Asia with love, purpose, and lasting impact through humanitarian action, partnership, and hope.
Adventist Development and Relief Agency
The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is the global humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Driven by our mission of Justice, Compassion, and Love, ADRA works in over 100 countries to bring lasting, sustainable change to communities in need. We serve all people, regardless of ethnicity, political affiliation, or religious association, helping them thrive through education, health, livelihoods, and emergency response.
Learn More About ADRAADRA Impact Areas
ADRA is transforming communities across Asia through four key impact areas. Guided by compassion, grounded in practical solutions—our work creates lasting change for those who need it most.
ARO
(Asia Regional Office)
The ADRA Network operates through nine regional or divisional offices worldwide, one of which is the Asia Regional Office (ARO). Serving as the humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, ARO supports 17 country offices across Asia. These countries fall under three church divisions—Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD), Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD), and Southern Asia Division (SUD)—as well as the Chinese Union Mission (CHUM).
Learn more about ADRA Asia
Purpose and Role
ADRA Asia Regional Office (ARO) empowers 17 country offices with strategic guidance, technical expertise, and operational support. We work to strengthen governance, coordinate emergency response, and ensure the mission of Justice, Compassion, and Love is upheld across Asia through meaningful partnerships and leadership development.
Since January 2024, ARO has embraced a fully hybrid working model. The Regional Director continues to operate from Bangkok, while two other directors are based in their respective countries. The rest of the team, including technical advisors and support staff, work remotely from their home countries. Collaboration is maintained through weekly Zoom calls and cloud-based systems, ensuring seamless coordination across the region.
Core Functions
- Strengthen governance & leadership
- Coordinate humanitarian responses
- Guide financial & administrative systems
- Support strategic planning & program quality
- Bridge church, donor, and global network relations
Insights & Impact
Stay updated on ADRA’s work—impact stories that inspire change.
The Woman Who Turned Sal Leaves Into Dignity
As a Dalit woman, Devi BK faced discrimination her entire life, denied entry into homes, watched people refuse to drink from cups she’d touched. She started small, ten women producing plates from Sal tree leaves, and watched the business struggle for years. Then one grant changed everything. Today she leads an enterprise where 45 women…
The Moral Courage to Care
Some of the most important work in the world never gets photographed. It doesn’t rush into a burning building or hold a line under fire. It moves slower than that, in rooms most of us will never enter, and it takes more to sustain than it does to begin. It is the courage to care, again and again, for people whose suffering is far from home. The courage to stay when the need is relentless.
Leading with Hope in Times of Uncertainty
From global crises and natural disasters to economic instability and growing humanitarian needs, the world can seem unsettled in ways that test both our systems and our spirits. It is easy, in moments like these, to feel small. To wonder what difference one life, one choice, one act of faith can really make.
Bagdaulet’s New Season: From Cold Soil to Fresh Harvest
In the frozen landscapes of Mongolia, Bagdaulet never imagined farming could be part of his future. But through ADRA’s climate-smart greenhouse project, he discovered a new season of growth, purpose, and hope—right in his own backyard.
ADRA Philippines Boosts SRHR Services
From May to July 2025, ADRA Philippines rolled out a series of impactful initiatives to strengthen SRHR services in Catanduanes. From hospital renovations and referral systems to tailored cash assistance for women and adolescents, the program highlights a holistic response to health, dignity, and empowerment.
Learning, Leading, Leveling Up
ADRA Bangladesh’s recent staff training wasn’t just another workshop—it was a spark for real growth. Educators from CSCDP and TCEP gathered for two days of hands-on learning, creative teaching strategies, and renewed purpose. Together, they’re building classrooms where compassion leads, and every child gets a chance to thrive.
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