Recognizing the importance of genetic improvement in aquaculture production, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) provided a technical assistance grant (RETA No. 5279) to the International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management (ICLARM) for implementing a collaborative aquaculture research project on Genetic Improvement of Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) in Asia, with the participation of the Philippines. Subsequently, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) provided supplementary funding to strengthen the project. Successful development of high yielding tilapia strains under the GIFT project has led to a new collaborative project on "Dissemination and Evaluation of Genetically Improved Tilapia Species in Asia (DEGITA)" as a follow-up activity. The project DEGITA become operative on 15 June 1994 with funding support from ADB (RETA No. 5558), and is being implemented by ICLARM in collaboration with national aquaculture research institutes of Bangladesh, People's Republic of China, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. The main objectives of the DEGITA Project are: 1) to carry out genetic, socioeconomic and environmental evaluation of the improved tilapia species in Bangladesh, People's Republic of China, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam; 2) to disseminate the promising tilapia strains among small fisherfolk in the five selected developing countries; and 3) to transfer scientific knowledge and technology for tilapia genetics in order to assist the participating countries in planning national tilapia breeding programs.