Powering entrepreneurs to end poverty.
We believe markets are the most powerful tool for creating prosperity, building resilience, and ultimately ending poverty.
Ultimate Impact —
Global Theory of Change
iDE’s Global Theory of Change lays out the ultimate impact iDE hopes to achieve, along with the short- and long-term outcomes necessary to get there. It is a living document, guided through a large-scale, participatory co-creation process across iDE’s business units and informed by iDE’s approach and work to date. It lays the foundation for iDE’s strategy, programs, and evaluations.
Global Theory of ChangeWhat We Do—
Market ecosystems that adapt and grow to benefit everyone
For developing world entrepreneurs to succeed they must participate in market ecosystems that are economically competitive, inclusive of all people, and resilient to shocks such as conflict or changing climates. By listening to every stakeholder—producers, suppliers, retailers and customers—we can overcome critical bottlenecks and develop lasting solutions.
Learn more about Market Ecosystem CreationAgriculture
Agriculture for Entrepreneurs
Any farm can move from subsistence farming to farming as a business with the right support. iDE’s agriculture programs help smallholder farmers turn their farms into profitable, resilient businesses. We strengthen local market systems by connecting farmers to tools, services, and buyers. Through networks like Farm Business Advisors, regenerative and climate-smart agriculture, and women-focused value chain programs, iDE enables farmers to increase productivity, improve nutrition, and grow their incomes sustainably.
Read more: How iDE increases agricultural incomesWater, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)
Markets for WASH
When we told people that we planned to sell latrines, water filters, and handwashing devices to poor customers rather than just give them away, they didn’t believe it would work. But we’ve proven that it does work, and that it works better than charity, because when people invest their own money, they’re more likely to embrace the change necessary to improve their lives.
Read more: How clean water contributes to community health and well-belngNutrition
Nutrition for Families
iDE empowers communities by improving access to nutritious foods, linking farmers to markets to increase incomes, and providing families with the knowledge and resources to make healthier food choices.
Read more: How we incorporate nutrition into our programs
What It Takes To Do It Well—
Our approach is based on insights and evidence
At iDE, we continually challenge assumptions, make effective data- and evidence-driven decisions, and enable agile delivery of strategies and resources toward improved outcomes for our interventions. We also use the knowledge we acquire to design social and behavioral-change programming that promote the creation of resilient market ecosystems, which benefit all people.
Learn more about Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and LearningDesign
Co-designing income-generating solutions with people
We operate under the ethos of actually talking to the people we work with. Only then can we work to co-design solutions that meet their particular challenges. Using an approach called human-centered design (HCD), we create products, services and processes that fill gaps in market systems and help solve everyday problems.
Read more: Learn more about our work in designGender Equality and Social Inclusion
Bias and exclusion have no place in the market
Bias and exclusion have no place in the market. Power imbalances and harmful social norms prevent women—as well as men and socially excluded groups—from thriving as entrepreneurs and driving prosperity for their communities.
Read more: Our approach to inclusion starts with usClimate Change Resilience
Powering communities to adapt and thrive
As we leverage market ecosystems to boost agricultural productivity and provide services to rural communities, we also deploy tactics to help people adapt to changing climates, promoting climate-resilient technologies, encouraging regenerative agriculture, and supporting community-led management of natural resources. We also measure the impact of climate shocks on market systems.
Read more: Our market strategies help farmers adapt to changing climates
Our impact to date—
9,061,816
Households Impacted45,749,779
Individuals Impacted237.00
Annual Income Increased in Dollars16.00
Social Return On Investment (SROI)
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