We partner with and serve communities, governments and companies throughout the world, providing an innovative mix of services across a broad range of topics. Select one of the sectors or services below to learn more about Dalberg’s approach, and explore some of our projects and initiatives on the map.
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EXPLORE A SNAPSHOT OF OUR EXPERIENCE
Agriculture and Food Security
Put simply, agriculture drives development. Agriculture today accounts for 10% of global economic output and provides livelihoods for more than 2 billion people in low and middle-income countries. Our experience ranges from analyzing and improving agricultural value chains, to increasing public and private investments into the sector, and establishing inclusive supply chains. A significant proportion of our work focuses on understanding, empowering, and advocating for smallholder farmers.
Analytics
We use a data-driven approach to define and accelerate sustainable and inclusive growth. Even in data scare environments, we source reliable and timely data, produce comprehensive landscaping studies and build customized models. We create specialized, user-friendly tools that allow organizations to gain meaningful insights and better target, implement, and evaluate their programs and initiatives.
Cities
Cities drive the economic performance of nations and the pace of development around the world. Cities are home to more than half the world’s population now and will be home to two-thirds of the world’s population by 2050. We work with diverse urban actors to help cities define purposeful goals and plans, identify challenges, collaborate through global networks and partnerships, experiment with potential solutions, and adapt to change continuously. We have supported inclusive and resilient urban growth through strategy, design, big data analysis and evaluation, and partnership-building.
Climate & Environment
More than ever, the health and prosperity of individuals, communities, and nations are deeply intertwined with the natural ecosystems that sustain them. The great challenge of this century is to meet the growing demand for food, fresh water, energy, and other resources that advance human development while protecting our ecosystems. Meeting this challenge requires finding solutions at the intersection of human and natural systems. Our work — with businesses, governments, foundations, and non-profits — recognizes the interdependency of human progress and the environment to protect the world’s most vulnerable people and ecosystems. Our expertise includes strategy and policy design, partnership building and creation of financing models.
Conflict and Humanitarian Aid
In the midst of limited funding, higher expectations, and a protracted refugee crisis, successful humanitarian action is increasingly difficult. But smarter solutions are within reach – we can help humanitarian actors face these changing dynamics. Dalberg helps clients design effective strategies, establish new partnerships, identify innovative financing sources, and improve aid delivery for timely and effective humanitarian responses. We support a diverse range of humanitarian actors in becoming more flexible and in preparing to face the humanitarian scenarios of the future. Our expertise spans strategy design, product and service development, impact measurement, and advocacy.
Education to Employment
The potential of youth remains untapped today. Over 200 million people are out of work globally, resulting in social and political conflicts and migration, and permanently lowered future productive potential and earnings. Dalberg partners with educational institutions, corporations, foundations, NGOs, and governments to strengthen the education to employment pathway. Our expertise includes employment acceleration through aptitude matching, labor market analysis, and strategic investment for job creation.
Energy
We help our clients – from governments to multinationals and financial institutions – increase the supply of economically viable, environmentally sustainable, socially equitable energy. Our expertise spans designing evidence-based strategies for entering emerging markets, developing business models for doing business with low-income consumers, policy analysis, innovative financing to find energy delivery models.
Financial Inclusion
An estimated 2 billion people lack access to formal financial services, like bank accounts, that are critical to transact efficiently, accumulate wealth, and protect against shocks. Additionally, 200 million informal and formal businesses are financially unserved or underserved – without access to the capital they need to grow. Dalberg works with companies, foundations, development institutions, and governments to develop innovative strategies for providing high-quality, appropriate financial services to underserved individuals, communities, and businesses. Our expertise includes catalyzing investment, designing solutions such as savings products, and bringing together public and private sector stakeholders to facilitate collective action.
Gender
Dalberg works with governments, foundations, NGOs, and companies to empower people of all genders and socioeconomic backgrounds to participate fully in economic, political, and social life. Based on principles of gender equity embodied across the Dalberg platform, we help our clients ensure that their greatest asset, people, thrive and achieve their full potential. We design programs that tackle root causes of gender inequalities and not the symptoms, alongside actively identifying and mitigating unintended consequences. Our past work has included strategy, capacity building and monitoring and evaluation.
Health and Nutrition
The political, social, and economic health of a nation and the health of its individual people are inextricably linked. Only with citizens of able body and mind can a country hope to build a vibrant, inclusive, and equitable economy and raise living standards. From product innovation to big data analysis to strengthening community health systems, Dalberg works with governments, donors, the private sector, and NGOs to achieve positive outcomes in global health and nutrition in the world’s most underserved regions.
Human-Centered Design
Human centered design (HCD) emerged from the private sector and has been gaining traction in the social impact field for fostering new and lasting solutions. HCD prioritizes a participatory, bottom-up process where end users and other stakeholders play a lead role in shaping solutions to meet their needs. We apply HCD methods to stakeholders across the entire value chain – from agents to government officials – to support better decision-making and institutional change. Our expertise includes service and program design, product and business prototypes, innovation strategy and capacity building and design labs.
ICT and Big data
The digital revolution is one of the greatest and most transformative events in human history, presenting both opportunity and a responsibility to harness technology for a prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable world. Technology is creating new jobs, lowering transaction costs, and delivering vital information to those who need it most. At Dalberg, we work with private companies, governments, leading foundations, NGOs, and civil society groups to harness digital technology for amplified impact, sustainable value, and cost reduction in sectors ranging from health to agriculture, from energy to financial services. We use big data analysis to build tools to help policymakers and other stakeholders plan more effective projects.
Impact Investing
We partner with a diverse range of investors, fund managers and supporting actors to maximize the financial and non-financial returns of their investments. We help our clients develop focused investment strategies to deploy their capital with impact. We bridge our clients’ objectives with the reality of local contexts, by structuring appropriate instruments and helping to guide effective execution. Our services range from one-off transaction advisory, to ongoing impact investment advisory, to fund structuring to eco-system and knowledge building.
Implementation
We understand that the best research, analysis, and strategic recommendations cannot alone change the world, that’s why we’ve begun to work alongside our clients to bring solutions to life. We move beyond typical, linear project management trajectories, to an integrated project management unit that has insight across all phases of program implementation. We provide clients with dynamic access to the full range of Dalberg capabilities and capacity to, enhance and amplify development operations.
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is a backbone of development: power lines deliver energy to homes and businesses; pipes provide clean water to drink; roads, railways, and bridges connect communities; and internet connectivity fosters new digital economies. Sustainable infrastructure has the power to bolster the economic growth, resilience, health, and environments of entire nations. We support our clients – governments, private investors, institutions – to develop inclusive and sustainable infrastructure in emerging markets.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
At Dalberg, evaluation goes beyond reporting and accountability to the bigger picture: value creation. Without a focused learning agenda, mistakes are likely to be repeated and efficiencies unrealized; that’s why Dalberg partners with clients, networks, and emerging industries to develop fit for purpose monitoring, evaluation, and learning tools. We build results measurement strategies, actionable learning agendas, and robust evaluation methodologies; we’ll develop evaluation strategies, lead and coordinate learning agendas, and conduct strategic reviews or rigorous evaluations.
Organizational Effectiveness
Regardless of your theory of change, strategy, or goals, running an effective organization and having a strong collaborative culture is paramount to achieving your mission. We support mission-driven organizations across the public, private, and non-profit sectors to diagnose, design, and implement initiatives that help to strengthen their organizational foundation.
Public Policy
Government policies play a crucial role in advancing – or impeding – economic well-being and human rights. Political decisions in the Global North around foreign aid amounts, trade policies, and environmental statutes reverberate around the world. Policymaking decisions in the developing world – from domestic resource mobilization through taxation to regulatory regimes governing the use of technology – can mean the difference between successful development programming and intractable barriers to impact. At Dalberg, we help clients seize political opportunities and confront constraints.
Research
From harnessing big data to door-to-door primary research to analytical approaches though participatory methods, Dalberg can employ the appropriate data collection strategy to answer any question. We provide quality primary data and in-depth research to help clients better understand the drivers of complex problems in emerging markets where data and insights are often sparse.
Strategy
Our world is rapidly changing. Geopolitical and economic balances are shifting and new multilateral and regional institutions are emerging. In this increasingly complex environment, formulating the right strategy is crucial. We support governments, multilateral organizations, corporations, NGOs, and foundations to design strategies that will maximize their scale, efficiency and impact, either at the organizational level or for specific programs and markets. Our experience spans public, private, and social sectors and includes the creation of: organizational strategies, investment strategies, new initiative designs and program implementation roadmaps.
Talent & Leadership
Regardless of your theory of change, strategy, or goals, running an effective organization and having a strong collaborative culture is paramount to achieving your mission. We support mission-driven organizations, across the public, private and non-profit sectors, to diagnose, design and implement initiatives that help to strengthen their organizational foundation.
Water and Sanitation
Water is a vital resource for life, but less than 0.1% of water on the Earth is fresh and accessible. Populations increase, economies grow, and urbanization continues, yet water supply has not kept pace. By 2030, water demand will outstrip supply by 40% globally as industry, agriculture, and consumers compete for this valuable resource. Dalberg works with governments, NGOs, businesses, and foundations to develop solutions that address the infrastructural, behavioral, and policy roots of complex, water-related problems. We enable our clients to plan, develop, distribute, and manage freshwater resources effectively to protect the lives and potential of people and our environment.
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MENA
Assessing Potential Demand for Buy-Down facility
We assessed the potential demand for financing from a planned Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Buy-Down Facility. Our work gave Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and IsDB an indication of which low income and lower-middle-income OIC countries are most likely to seek financing from the Buy-Down Facility.
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MENA
Tunisia Financial Sector Assessment
We assessed the financial sector in Tunisia to get a better understanding and identify the root causes of what limited firms, especially SMEs, from accessing finance.
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GLOBAL
How can we better understand the behaviors of the under-served?
The Human Account is a breakthrough, public resource with the potential to significantly shift how financial service providers understand, invest in, design for, and engage the underserved.
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SRI LANKA
Structuring a small and medium-size enterprise venture capital fund
We structured a small and medium-size enterprise venture capital fund and designed a bond issuance to support the plantation industry in Sri Lanka. We assessed the demand for seed and expansion capital among SMEs and made recommendations on the structuring of the fund.
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GLOBAL
Direct-to-farmer finance innovation spaces playbook
We led collaborative research, design and ideation with the Initiative for Smallholder Finance to explore innovative models for direct-to-farmer finance providers to better serve smallholder farmers. Based on engagement with farmers, donors and providers, we identified five breakthrough opportunities for innovation.
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SENEGAL
Launching the Senegal women’s investment club
We designed and launched a commercially-oriented investment platform where women can learn from one another. The Senegal Women’s Investment Club is the first initiative in the region to mobilize exclusively female investment into a broad portfolio that over time will bridge the gender finance gap by supporting women-led businesses.
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AFRICA
Understanding financial services for micro, small, and medium enterprises
We worked with the World Bank to run a survey in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Malawi and Zambia to help understand the accessibility and price ranges of services offered by banks, insurance firms and accountants to micro, small, and medium enterprises.
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GHANA, KENYA
How would farmers measure the impact of financial solutions
We worked with the Rural and Agricultural Finance Learning Lab to better understand the impact of agricultural finance on farmers in Ghana and Kenya. We undertook in-depth interviews with farmers to understand their perspectives on success to inform future approaches to measuring impact.
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GLOBAL
Identifying innovative financing mechanisms to reduce the cost of remittances
We were engaged by the Canadian International Development Agency to analyze the major cost drivers and market failures associated with international remittances.
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INDIA
Reviewing the gender gap in financial inclusion in India
We completed a landscape review of the gender gap in financial inclusion in India to inform our client’s work in the broader financial services and gender ecosystem. We integrated findings into a set of behavior patterns, and highlighted key action items for different stakeholders.
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GLOBAL
Increasing economic empowerment of women and girls through a global platform
We designed a global platform to support financial inclusion for the United Nations Capital Development Fund, aiming to increase economic empowerment of women and girls. We developed an empowerment framework, analyzed women and girls’ financial needs, mapped the financial inclusion space, and created operational and resource mobilization plans.
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KENYA
Surveying digital payments in Kenya
We completed a baseline survey on an intervention project launched by FSD Kenya to stimulate e-payments. We collected baseline data on initial payments patterns, payments perceptions, and the implications of payments choices to assess levels of change at the end of the study.
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MEXICO
FMO – Evaluation of Accion Frontier Investment Fund (AFIF)
Dalberg evaluate FMO’s investment in Accion Frontier Investment Fund (AFIF) at three levels: FMO’s investment in AFIF, AFIF’s investment into portfolio companies, and the portfolio companies’ impact on small businesses. Dalberg analyzed the landscape of fintech innovations in Mexico, South Africa and India, interviewed key stakeholders to distil key learning, and undertook a quantitative and qualitative survey of end users. The evaluation will be used by FMO to inform its fintech strategy going forward and to share learnings and impact with the broader audience.
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INDIA
Designing innovative products and services to meet the financial needs of the poor
We worked with one of India’s largest MFIs to understand the customer experience of the urban poor, develop and pilot service improvements that meet the financial needs of customers, and create a playbook to help scale these improvements nationwide.
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KENYA
Identifying innovative business models for direct-to-farmer financing
We conducted primary research with smallholder farmers and facilitated a multi-stakeholder system mapping and design lab to identify innovative business models for direct-to-farmer financing. We also created an innovation agenda for future product development investment.
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INDIA
Studying inclusive businesses in India and Sri Lanka
We conducted a market scoping study of the inclusive business sector in India and Sri Lanka to understand how lack of debt and equity finance is limiting businesses’ growth and impact. We made recommendations on the design of a proposed Asian Development Bank inclusive business private equity fund.
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NIGERIA
Assessing the effect of policy on financial inclusion in Nigeria
We assessed the effect of policy on financial inclusion in Nigeria through interviews with over 50 stakeholders from commercial and microfinance banks, mobile operators, and enabling institutions such as card companies and regulators. The resulting report bolstered advocacy efforts to increase access to financial services.
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AFRICA
Mobile money innovation strategy for a pan-africa telecommunications company
We developed strategy recommendations and a high-level roadmap for a pan-African telecommunications company to move into mobile money services. Our assessments involved country selection, a quantified business case, revenue models, road map of next steps and a go-to-market strategy.
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GLOBAL
Catalyzing the potential 8 Trillion USD digital persons-to-government payment industry
We completed the first-ever study to identify the opportunities and challenges of the potential 8 trillion USD digital persons-to-government (P2G) payment industry, with Karandaaz Pakistan and CGAP.
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INDONESIA
Developing branchless banking infrastructure in Indonesia
In partnership with frog design and BTPN bank, we created a new bottom of the pyramid financial service offering using branchless banking infrastructure that is currently being piloted for roll-out and scale-up in Indonesia.
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INDIA
Developing a customer experience playbook
n collaboration with CGAP and Janalakshmi Financial Services, we developed a Customer Experience Playbook. The playbook is designed to help financial service providers with low-income customers to improve customer experience and equip staff to transform their organizations.
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GLOBAL
Measuring financial health in developing countries
Working together with the Center for Financial Services Innovation & the Center for Financial Inclusion at Accion, we sought to understand whether a global version of their financial health framework could advance our collective understanding of consumer behavior and deepen our appreciation of the impact of finance on personal well-being among the poor.
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SENEGAL
Understanding smallholder farmers’ unmet financial needs
Dalberg partnered with CGAP and myAgro to conduct research, ideation and prototyping across Senegal to understand smallholder farmers’ unmet financial needs, prioritize new product propositions and design and prototype new solutions.
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TANZANIA
Customizing digital credit for smallholder farmers in Tanzania
We explored the causes of smallholder farmers’ low uptake in digital credit in Tanzania by using an HCD approach. Based on our findings, we designed and prototyped a new digital credit product for smallholder farmers and evaluated their response to it.
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INDIA
Currency of Trust
In partnership with Omidyar Network, we sought to understand the context and behaviors of Indian consumers regarding digital consumption and readiness for digital financial services. We leveraged in-depth interviews with consumers across urban, semi-urban, and rural areas, and human-centered design prototyping sessions, to uncover behavioral insights
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GLOBAL
Small merchants offer big financial inclusion opportunities
We authored a report with the Global Development Incubator – and commissioned by VISA – on how financial service providers can engage micro and small merchants to unlock the social and economic benefits of digital payments.