SDDirect provides cutting edge social development expertise to economic development and climate programmes.
We work with a range of stakeholders in the public and private sectors worldwide providing gender mainstreaming, institutional strengthening, and technical guidance.
We work in sectors ranging from climate resilience, inclusive urban development & infrastructure, women’s economic empowerment, to digital inclusion.
As the climate crisis deepens, novel technologies, expertise, and new energy sources are emerging, paving the way for ‘green economies.’
Beyond curbing emissions and adapting to climate shifts, a green economy combines climate resilience with social and economic benefits necessary for human progress. However, neglecting to draw from past lessons and knowledge could lead us to unintentionally recreate the imbalanced power dynamics that drive exclusion within these emerging green economies.
Our vision for green economies is one where environmental sustainability is achieved alongside inclusive prosperity and a just transition, where no one is left behind.
We address the challenge of creating inclusive and prosperous green economies by collaborating with stakeholders in the public and private sectors worldwide. We bring innovative social development practice and experience in gender mainstreaming, programme delivery, research, policy and technical guidance across economic development and climate resilience programmes.
We promote inclusive cities and infrastructure as catalysts for shared progress. Women's economic empowerment forms a foundational pillar, fostering a level playing field of opportunities. Our work on digital inclusion ensures that the benefits of green economies reach every corner of society. We support the development of high-integrity voluntary carbon crediting where benefits extend meaningfully to women. We also support the private sector on a diverse range of social development issues, ranging from advice on gender-based violence and safeguarding risks; to supporting gender-lens and social impact investing.
Across all areas, we support disability inclusion in economic development and climate change programming, ensuring that attitudinal, environmental and institutional barriers that people with disabilities face are overcome.
If you would like to hear more about our work on Green Economies and Infrastructure (GEI), please reach out to Faraz Hassan, Head of Green Economies and Infrastructure Portfolio, Faraz@sddirect.org.uk.
SDDirect was a core partner and led the gender equality and social inclusion mainstreaming pillar for the DFID-funded Infrastructure and Cities for Economic Development (ICED), a £33m catalytic facility designed to accelerate DFID’s infrastructure and cities initiatives across the world to contribute to poverty reduction and inclusive economic growth.
Victoria leads the Business Development and Communications Team at SDDirect and is responsible for guiding the sustainable growth of our organisation.
Olivia is a Technical Analyst with a focus on SDDirect’s Green Economies and Infrastructure portfolio.
Kavita Kalsi is a Senior Technical Specialist at SDDirect.
Produced in response to a query which requested more knowledge and understanding on how gender and inclusion (G&I) and women's economic empowerment (WEE) are being integrated into digital/tech programming at the Prosperity Fund (PF), and to consider opportunities to increase the level of ambition on G&I/WEE.
The Nigeria LINKS Programme is a £67.5m, seven-year programme funded by the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office. It seeks to support the development of a vibrant and diversified economy in the three key northern Nigerian states of Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa, collectively acting as a powerful engine of northern economic growth.
Conducted by Sohna Ngum and Deborah Livingstone, this research on green growth opportunities in urban areas of Mozambique identifies sectors with the greatest potential to generate employment or economic empowerment for young people.
This briefing compliments the Work and Opportunities for Women (WOW) Helpdesk's Primer on Women's Economic Empowerment and Climate Change, by considering changes in garment, agriculture, and energy supply chains to identify opportunities for the transition to a net-zero economy to deliver decent job opportunities for women.
This primer was produced through the Work and Opportunities for Women (WOW) Helpdesk, identifying ten opportunities to accelerate action and raise ambition on women's economic empowerment and climate change.
This Guidance Note aims to analyse international best practice in the field of Women's Economic Empowerment (WEE) measurement and compare this to current DFID/HGM practices; and provide recommendations for DFID/HMG to increase the effectiveness and consistency in their WEE measurement approach.
