Development Initiatives Poverty Research (DI) is an advocacy organization claiming to research and report on policies meant to reduce rates of poverty around the world. 1 It also acts as a grantmaking organization to similar organizations while participating in partnerships focused on environmentalist “sustainable” development practices. 2 3
Background
Development Initiatives Poverty Research (DI) is an advocacy organization founded in 1993 to research and report on policies meant to reduce national and international poverty rates. 4
According to its LinkedIn page, DI reportedly has 11 to 50 employees. Its primary location is in Bristol, England, and it has other locations in Washington, D.C.; Kampala, Uganda; and Nairobi, Kenya. 5
Activities
Development Initiatives Poverty Research (DI) participates in several partnerships with other organizations that advocate for to environmentalist “sustainable” development practices. As of 2024, it was a member of the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (GSPDD), GSPDD’s Technical Advisory Group as well as the UK-based Anti-Inequality group Bond. In addition, the group had formally endorsed the International Open Data Charter. It also collaborates on projects with the Inclusive Futures Initiative, the Somali Institute for Development Research, the Asia Foundation, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), and Oxfam. 6
DI claims to conduct research through data analysis while publishing its reporting online. It also advocates for providing said research to politicians and members of government as a means to promoting policies intended to improve “public finance and private investment” while “challeng[ing] systemic and structural barriers to equity and support[ing] the reform of existing systems.” 7
Financials
According to its 2022 tax filings, Development Initiatives Poverty Research’s (DI’s) American branch reported a total revenue of $605,908, total expenses of $1,550,907, and began the year with net assets of $978,771. 8
Funding
In 2019, Development Initiatives Poverty Research (DI) received a grant of $1,575,000 from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation meant to “to increase the quality, availability, accessibility and use of data and evidence to better target key resources to improve the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable people.” 9 The grant was filed under the Gates Foundation’s “global health and development” category. 10
In 2022, DI received grants from the United Nations Office for Project Services (£1,031,287, or $1,353,202.21), the Canadian International Development Agency (£639,757, or $839,456.51), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (£502,713, or $659,634.36), USAID (£173,655, or $227,861.23), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (£157,987, or $207,302.48), the SDG Kenya Forum (£744,962, or $977,501.14) and the World Bank (£76,684, or $100,620.83). 11
According to its website, a core grantee, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation ceased funding to the DI in 2022, resulting in a yearly income drop of £365,595 (or $479,715.11). 12
Grantmaking
In 2022, Development Initiatives Poverty Research’s American branch reported that it granted $1,354,979 to several European-based grantmaking organizations that year. 13
Leadership
As of 2024, Sue Wardell serves as the board chair of Development Initiatives Poverty Research (DI). Wardell previously served as the vice president of the African Development Bank and as the regional director of west and southern Africa for Save the Children UK. 14
References
- “Who We Are.” Development Initiatives. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://devinit.org/who-we-are/?nav=header.
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Development Initiatives Poverty Research America. 2022. Schedule F. Part I.
- “Partnerships and Collaboration.” Development Initiatives. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://devinit.org/how-we-work/partnerships-and-collaboration/.
- “Our Story.” Development Initiatives. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://devinit.org/who-we-are/our-story/?nav=header.
- “Development Initiatives.” LinkedIn. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/company/development-initiatives.
- “Partnerships and Collaboration.” Development Initiatives. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://devinit.org/how-we-work/partnerships-and-collaboration/.
- “What we do.” Development Initiatives. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://devinit.org/what-we-do/?nav=header.
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Development Initiatives Poverty Research America. 2022. Part I, lines 12, 18, 22.
- “Committed Grants – Development Initiatives Poverty Research Ltd.” Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants/2019/11/inv002457.
- “Committed Grants – Development Initiatives Poverty Research Ltd.” Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants/2019/11/inv002457.
- “Annual Report – Detailed Income and Expenditure Account.” Development Initiatives, December 2022. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://devinit-prod-static.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/media/documents/DIPR_-_Final_accounts_2022.pdf.
- “Our Finances.” Development Initiatives. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://devinit.org/who-we-are/our-finances/?nav=header.
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Development Initiatives Poverty Research America. 2022. Schedule F. Part I.
- “Sue Wardell CBE.” Development Initiatives. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://devinit.org/who-we-are/our-team/sue-wardell-cbe/.