Since its inception, GDS has been striving for socio-economic upliftment and empowerment of underprivileged and deprived poor community in its operational area. It has knowledge and experiences of direct field implementation for about 20 years in rural development and emerged in key role of promoting rural livelihood particularly based on agriculture and allied sectors. GDS has the culture of learning and disseminate knowledge throughout its journey of 20 years of direct field implementation for socio-economic empowerment of poor mostly in rural areas of northern region. It emerged in key role of promoting rural livelihoods particularly based on agriculture and allied sectors. It adopted an institutionalized approach to cater with the need of development stake holders through its ‘Livelihood Resource Centre (LRC)’ which has completed 8 years of its existence at GDS, HO at Lucknow.
The functional focus of LRC has been on research and documentation for learning dissemination, training and capacity building of stakeholders, networking for mutual learning and advocacy. The LRC activities are centrally planned and executed under the guidance of GDS, HO and it has programmatic linkage with all the field locations. Theme based specific strategic support is provided to field locations through LRC. The resource materials on development interventions are collected, processed and distributed to concerned players as required from time-to-time. Renowned donors and development organizations regularly approach GDS for collaborative endeavors.