South Asia Research Institute for Policy and Development, SARID, is a non-profit US based corporation [EIN: 55-0829216], dedicated to identifying and promoting ideas that can help developing countries advance economically and become a member of a peaceful, educated, secular, and progressive community of nations. SARID is currently focusing on teaching building (construction) strategies to the poor and economically marginalized.

SARID in 2012 decided to go global and not limit itself to South Asia. SARID's building practices promote self-reliance, sustainibility, and utilize the local cottage industries and manpower. SARID has identified practices/ methodologies that are less dependent on fossil fuels and use more of a country's under-utilized and/or unemployed labor force - with a focus on the construction industry and building practices. All buildings designed by SARID are done by licensed architects and engineers - conforming to building codes of the host country.

One of the countries SARID will be building a demonstration home (prototype) soon in is Haiti. Work at site in Haiti will begin in April, 2013 and is expected to be finished by end of May, 2013. Once SARID introduces its building technology it is expected that people will be able to build homes as well as commercial buildings, at significantly less price than what is possible now. Homes and institutions will be more energy efficient, seismic and fire resistant, have a smaller carbon footprint, will contribute less to global warming, and will stimulate the economy and may be able to export value added construction goods and services to other countries. All these design advantages are due to better engineering design and extensive Research and Development (R&D) effort by SARID.

Next SARID is hoping to build a prototype in New Jersey, USA to demonstrate to victims of "Sandy", how a new flood resistant and non-combustible technology, built with owner's particiaption and some sweat equity, can be cheaper and more affordable than what is possible with current building practices. SARID is hoping to launch soon a fund raising campaign so it can build the demonstration home at the earliest.

Mission Summary

SARID, through research, training and small to intermediate scale projects, aims to:

• Provide technology and building strategies for affordable, owner driven, sustainable shelter for people living in developing countries

• Identify, promote and support appropriate, environmentally sound, humane economic development strategies Globally through research, training and small- to intermediate-scale projects

• Identify technologies and processes, so as to increase the use of indigenous resources and generate internal economies

• Encourage inter-regional cooperation, respect and peace in the region by exchanging views, knowledge and ideas by means of articles, papers, seminars and interfaith dialogue

To achieve these goals, SARID is engaged in Research and Development (R&D) and web based knowledge dissemination strategies.

SARID's Board of Advisors

Javed Sultan, Executive Director
Salma Shakir, Director
Kathleen Sultan
Calvin Flowers
Costello Wilson
Dr. Philipia Hillman
Dr. Akbar Ahmed
Javed Iqbal
Ejaz Chaudhry
Dr. Saleem Matin