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Green Economies and Infrastructure

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.

Busy streets of New Delhi, India.

What is Green Economies and Infrastructure? 

 

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.

Image of wind turbines.

Our work in this area

 

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. 

“SDDirect are clearly very professional in their engagement with clients and stakeholders, checking in for feedback and conscientiously addressing any concerns, directions and supporting clients’ vision. They do this while balancing delivering technical guidance and input.“
EBRD
“Evaluators found an increase in the proportion of programmes achieving the Fund’s minimum standards on design and internal capability from over 50% in 2018/19 to over 80% by 2020/21.”
FCDO’s Annual Evaluation Report (2020-2021) where the Prosperity Fund, supported by SDDIrect, was highlighted as a case study.

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.

Integrating a Gender Lens in Voluntary Carbon Markets

The Voluntary Carbon Market represents a huge financial flow - from corporates in the Global North looking to ‘offset’ their residual emissions, to carbon projects often based in the Global South in sectors such as forestry and sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, or cookstoves. Under the current drive for higher integrity and sustainable development outcomes in the Voluntary Carbon Market, there is a unique opportunity to drive climate finance towards integrated gender equality and climate outcomes.

Economic costs of discrimination against LGBTQI+ people

As a gay man in my thirties, I often wonder whether my sexual orientation has hindered my career at any point. I can remember being forced to come out on a work trip, a colleague commenting how I am “different” to other men, and a manager remarking on how my clothes are feminine. But have these attitudes and behaviour had any effect on my productivity and the economic output of the countries I have lived and worked in?

Infrastructure: A Game Changer for Women's Economic Empowerment

Launched in January 2016, the Infrastructure and Cities and Economic Development (ICED) facility aims to improve the way the UK Department for International Development (DFID)'s infrastructure and cities initiatives contribute to poverty reduction and to inclusive economic growth around the globe. The scoping and background paper provide background to the ICED report on the important role of infrastructure in achieving these goals.

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