Inclusive Economies

Our work explores what characterises inclusive economies and how these can be achieved, particularly in a world where new technologies, rural to urban migration, and growing youth populations are disrupting and putting new pressures on people’s lives and livelihoods.

Our research looks at the impacts of business and markets on development and inequality and explores the potential for novel market-based solutions to work for the poorest and most marginalised based on gender, ethnicity and disability.  It explores alternatives that enable workers, consumers and communities to have a real voice.

It continues to revitalise debates on agriculture as a key pathway out of poverty and towards inclusion, particularly for young people. Our work is focused on identifying what opportunities exist in a period of agricultural commercialisation and rural transformation and how far different groups are able to access them.  It also understands how new technologies such as drones or blockchains pose risks, but can also be harnessed to improve the lives of the poorest and most marginalised people.  In a rapidly urbanising world where cities have become focal points for economic growth, jobs and innovation but also for poverty, inequality, vulnerability and conflict, our work explores what this means for both urban and rural people, and the opportunities and challenges they face in living safe and fulfilling lives.

People

Jodie Thorpe

Research Fellow

Philip Mader

Research Fellow

Richard Jolly

Research Associate

Ana Pueyo

Research Fellow

Carlos Fortin

Research Associate

Rachel Sabates-Wheeler

Research Fellow

Keetie Roelen

IDS Honorary Associate

Giel Ton

Research Fellow

Programmes and centres

Projects

Recent work

Filter results by

Showing 721–732 of 14837 results

Opinion

The silent vote

King Kaka represents the voice of millions of disenfranchised young Kenyan men and women. Over the last few years, young Kenyans they have expressed absolute disdain for a flawed political system whose players ignore citizens’ needs and rights until the next election cycle. The Independent...

Vicky Mulema

27 March 2023

Working Paper

Process Tracing Innovations in Practice: Finding the Middle Path

CDI Practice Paper 25

This CDI Practice Paper draws on comparative learning from applying three different types of process tracing in international development initiatives. It argues in favour of a ‘middle path’ of applying evidence tests and rubrics to structure evaluative judgements rather than formal Bayesian...

27 March 2023

Opinion

To radically rethink inclusion: the fight of deaf collectives in Colombia

We are used to thinking about inclusion as making the world accessible for all, but what happens when accessibility is not enough? For the past decade, Deaf communities around the world have been pushing for an epistemological shift that comprehends the collective and cultural dimension of being...

Ana Palma Garcia

25 March 2023

Opinion

Kenya drought: Pastoralists suffer despite millions of dollars used to protect them – what went wrong?

Across the arid landscape of northern Kenya, roadside signs proclaim projects aimed at creating “resilience” among pastoralist communities. This is a region where frequent droughts, animal disease, insecurity and structural exclusion all affect pastoral livelihoods. Resilience – the...

Tahira Shariff Mohamed

23 March 2023

Past Event

Causal pathways network: exploring methodologies for causal analysis

This CDI seminar introduced the emerging causal pathways network which seeks to help philanthropy and other funders to open up the black box of strategy and systems change by building awareness, will, and skills to use evaluation approaches that can make sense of causal relationships without...

22 March 2023

Opinion

Do not say the planet is dying

“The world is on a highway to climate hell with our foot on the accelerator.” This was the opening statement from António Guterres, the UN Secretary General at COP27. There is no denying that the issue of climate change requires immediate action, but do proclamations such as this lead to...

Sumaiya Jawed

21 March 2023

Why learn with us.

In an extraordinary time of challenge and change, we use more than 50 years of expertise to transform development approaches that create more equitable and sustainable futures. The work you do with us will help make progressive change towards universal development; to build and connect solidarities for collective action, locally and globally. The University of Sussex has been ranked 1st in the world for Development Studies for the past five years (QS World University Rankings by Subject).