AIFO is a grassroots organisation with groups of volunteers spread all over Italy. Some of local AIFO groups are NGOs officially recognised by their local administrative bodies. The different AIFO groups are organised in regional level coordinations. Delegates from AIFO groups and coordination offices together constitute AIFO's General Assembly.

AIFO's head-office is in Bologna in northern part of Italy. AIFO's activities can be divided into two main groups - activities in the developing countries and activities in Italy. Activities in developing countries are mainly related to leprosy, disability and rehabilitation, community and primary health care,  and vulnerable children. Activities in Italy are related mainly to development education. 

AREAS OF WORK

AIFO operates mainly in medico-social field in developing world and its motto is, “Against Leprosy and Against All Leprosies”. Started in 1961, inspired by the thoughts of French journalist Raoul Follereau, AIFO is active in four main areas:

• fight against leprosy as part of integrated primary health care;
• promotion of rights of persons with disabilities through community-based rehabilitation approach;
• support to needy children in risk situations;
• development education and inter-culture through promotion of a  just and tolerant world, where diversity is valued.

Following AIFO’s strategies, the interventions for supporting leprosy affected persons and persons with disabilities are based on principles of development and are organised in partnership with beneficiaries, focusing mainly on poorest and marginalized groups. Thus AIFO promotes integrated approaches, thinking of persons globally, keeping account of the historical, social and cultural context of local communities and promoting the use of locally available resources.

While the interventions supported by AIFO are focused on poorest and marginalized population groups, the central instrument for AIFO’s project implementation is the partnership relationships with local counterparts, based on equal dignity and mutual respect.

Finally, through multi-sectoral approach, AIFO promotes different complementary interventions in the same geographical areas, to improve their impact on the local realities. Thus, even if the main focus of attention of interventions supported by AIFO continues to be medico-social, it also promotes integrated interventions linked to education, capacity building of women groups, safeguarding of environment, etc.

AIFO continues to have a strong presence in India, Mozambique and Brazil, where leprosy continues to be an important issue.