The role of a rural development NGO is to improve the livelihoods and lives of the rural communities and families residing in the most impoverished and precarious conditions, with emphasis on the empowerment of women and girls who have long been disadvantaged. For example, S M Sehgal Foundation, a sustainable rural development NGO in India, has five main programs supported by a skilled research team that engages in participatory research, impact assessment, and interactive dialogues to determine informed actions to achieve sustainable results.