Aide et Action (AEA) first initiated its intervention in India from 1981 by routing resources through ActionAid UK. This partnership culminated in the year 1985 and AEA decided to move ahead with its mission independently and commenced to support interventions in India through ASSEFA (one of the partner organisations). In the year 1988, AEA registered itself as a not-for-profit private limited company under Section 25 of Indian Companies Act, 1956 and opened its office in Chennai (Tamil Nadu state) to promote the India Programme. 

In the past years, Aide et Aaction underwent different strategic phases which helped it grow and establish itself. In the year 2005, AEA India programme transitioned into AEA-South Asia. This step was taken based on the ETG* review and suggestions made thereafter analysing the changing scenario, emerging need, the strategic scope and advantage of doing so. 

In 2005, AEA not only expanded its reach within India, but also initiated interventions in Sri Lanka. By the end of 2009, interventions in India, which spanned across 18 states and one Union Territory, were managed by seven operational offices, and interventions were established in three locations of Sri Lanka. Intensive efforts were also made to establish AEA in Nepal which ultimately materialised in the first quarter of 2010. Interventions in Sri Lanka had commenced post Tsunami (Disaster response programme) while gradually Livelihood Education programme (iLEAD) was initiated in two locations. In Nepal the interventions have been planned to address the issues of both Quality education and Livelihood education primarily while efforts would be gradually made to get into other relevant thematic areas.  The planned interventions would cut across 5 districts spanning three diverse regions.

 ETG*- Etats Généraux is the intensive and extensive exercise of consultation, carried out with various stakeholders including our partners communities and partner organisations to review and determine the future course of action.