iDE (International Development Enterprises)

Founded in 1982, we develop lasting solutions to poverty by working with foundations, governments, individuals, for-profits, and nonprofits. We design and deliver market-based solutions in Agriculture and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) across 11 countries in Asia, Africa, and Central America.

Our approach puts business to work in low-income areas to improve incomes and livelihoods for millions of people. We provide access to technology, finance, business knowledge, and connections to market ecosystems, helping entrepreneurs thrive. We aim for a 10-fold return on investment: every dollar contributed generates at least $10 in increased incomes for those working to improve their living standards. We primarily serve rural farmers and small businesses, among the world’s poorest.

Our work focuses on Agriculture Technologies, Rural Development, Value Chain Development, Management Information Systems, Gender, Climate Resilience, Food Security, Measurement & Evaluation, Private Sector Partnerships, Sanitation, Clean Water, Human-Centered Design, and Social Enterprise.

Recent projects include supporting women farming entrepreneurs in Kenya with machinery and loans, a New Zealand-funded project in Cambodia to increase household incomes and reduce child labor, and SHE Powered by IDE, a gender-focused business incubator supporting over 2,600 female entrepreneurs globally. We also hosted the Nutrition and Market Summit in Nepal, and a new partnership is increasing access to safe household toilets in rural Sub-Saharan Africa.

Our mission is to create income and livelihood opportunities for poor, rural households. This mission is guided by core values:

• We believe poor people have a right to a secure livelihood.
• We believe markets are the most powerful force for widespread, lasting impact on rural prosperity.
• We view the rural poor as customers, producers, and entrepreneurs.
• We emphasize listening to and learning from the people we work with.
• We value innovation and entrepreneurship.
• We are results-oriented, aiming for large-scale impact.
• We strive for economic, social, and environmental equity and sustainability.

We operate as a globally integrated organization with over 1,200 staff members. Our team comes from diverse backgrounds in international development and the private sector. We are passionate about innovation and entrepreneurship, dedicated to improving lives.

Most of our staff are citizens of the countries where they live and work. Expatriate staff contribute new ideas and energy, encouraging cross-cultural exchange. Our staff includes farmers, marketers, advisors, teachers, managers, and entrepreneurs.

We believe in equity, diversity, and decolonized development in our hiring processes, and we are transparent about our global employee census data.