At SDDirect, we believe every child—girls, boys, and young people in their full diversity—deserves a safe, equitable world where they can thrive. Rooted in feminist principles of equal rights and opportunities, our work focuses on breaking down the structural inequalities that hold certain groups back.
We place gender equality, disability rights, and social inclusion (GEDSI) at the core of our efforts in child protection and education. Children are at the heart of our work, recognising the unique lived experiences, rights, and aspirations of every girl and boy. Through meaningful participation, we ensure children’s voices are heard and respected in decisions that affect them.
Our approach addresses intersecting vulnerabilities, providing tailored support that promotes dignity, safety, and agency for all children.
Together, we can create a world where every girl and boy—regardless of their background or identity—has the opportunity to thrive. Explore our projects, learn more about our impact, or partner with us to make a difference.
If you would like to hear more about the work of the Equal Education and Child Protection portfolio, please reach out to Danielle Cornish-Spencer, Head of Portfolio: danielle@sddirect.org.uk
All our work is grounded in context-specific experience, knowledge and analysis. We focus on detailed analysis of gender, power dynamics, the impact of conflict and violence, and barriers to equal access and inclusion.
We deliver education programming in a diverse range of country contexts, including development and humanitarian settings. We take an intersectional approach to understanding how key structural and social factors overlap and create barriers for certain groups in accessing education.
We have a strong track record of providing technical leadership and support on an integrated approach to gender equality, social inclusion and safeguarding on large-scale education programmes.
By Danielle Cornish-Spencer, SDDirect Head of Portfolio Equal Education, and Jummai Joseph, GESI and Safeguarding State Advisor, PLANE
The Importance of Non-Government and Government Collaborative Efforts to advance Equal Education: Enhancing Gender Equality and Social Inclusion
With the Education World Forum taking place next week in London, 120 Ministers from 114 countries will come together to try to answer the forum’s overarching question: ‘How should we prioritise policy and implementation for Stronger, Bolder, Better, Education?’
This review of national education strategies in East Africa and the Pacific explores the current and comparative risks for under-18s in the region from online sexual abuse and exploitation. It looks at the specific vulnerabilities and drivers for abuse, and how these can be prevented through education strategies.
This briefing paper aims to present the views of the Education Working Group (EWG) of British Expertise International (BEI) working on the frontline of the "Covid-19 education crisis". The paper shares the EWG's experience and expertise, and outlines interventions to the crisis, and how EWG members might be able to support in implementing these.
When I think back to my time at school here in the UK, I struggle to remember a point in which the curriculum or general personal, social, health and economics (PSHE) sessions, ever included discussion about gender identity and sexual orientation. During sex education in both Year 6 and Year 9, there was no reference to LGBTQI+ people for example. This was most likely because of Section 28, the damaging legislation that prohibited discussion of LGBTQ+ in schools between 1988 and 2003 in the UK.
ESSPIN was one of a set of UK Aid-funded State Level Programmes (SLPs) in Nigeria, working in governance, accountability and the delivery of health and education services. ESSPIN started with a pilot in 2,000 schools rapidly expanding to over 16,000 schools by 2017. The £124m programme was managed by a consortium led by Cambridge Education.
SDDirect provides technical leadership and support on an integrated approach to gender equality, social inclusion and safeguarding across all outcome and output areas of the programme, as part of the PLANE Consortium led by international development company DAI.
Danielle Cornish-Spencer is the Head of Portfolio for Equal Education & Child Protection and a Principal Consultant at SDDirect, with over 20 years of experience in gender equality, disability inclusion, and social justice.
As Deputy Technical Director, Barry Smith co-leads SDDirect’s consultancy and research staff.
