Global Development Incubator

07/17/2025

GDI-incubated Kenya Social and Economic Inclusion Project (KSEIP) was recently highlighted in Stanford Social Innovation Review as an NGO turning to local government partnerships to help build lasting, large-scale solutions to poverty.

KSEIP, also supported by Village Enterprise and Boma, is an inter-generational-focused initiative with a specific emphasis on disadvantaged groups in society, including women and persons with disabilities. It is a transformative endeavor to alleviate poverty and bolster economic prospects for thousands of vulnerable Kenyan households, financed through contributions from both the World Bank and the Government of Kenya.

The economic inclusion component of KSEIP adopted a graduation approach to empower people living in extreme poverty with entrepreneurial skills and help them start micro-enterprises. Starting in 2024, the Kenyan government took the lead on implementation, while the other organizations shifted to a technical assistance role.

Read the full article today: https://ssir.org/articles/entry/government-partnerships-poverty-solutions

Four priorities for NGOs turning to local government partnerships in the face of funding cuts to help build lasting, large-scale solutions to poverty.

07/09/2025

The apparel industry is a major contributor to environmental woes, responsible for 20% of global wastewater and 8% of carbon emissions. But there's a powerful solution: targeted interventions backed by commercial finance can transform textile manufacturing, leading to significant returns on investment through improved water and environmental stewardship.

Our GDI-incubated Resilient Water Accelerator, in collaboration with Kate A Larsen and SupplyESChange, recently published a report: "Accelerating Water Stewardship Investments In Global Apparel Supply Chains."

This report highlights the situation in Bangladesh, where the textile industry—80% of the country's exports—faces severe water availability risks due to rapid growth and fast fashion consumption. Beyond scarcity, toxic wastewater pollutes vital ecosystems, threatening human health and biodiversity.

Learn more: https://www.resilientwateraccelerator.org/news/textiles-water-stewardship-report

06/27/2025

GDI Africa is !

Our team is looking to onboard two Senior Associates on our Strategy & Build team based in Nairobi, Kenya.

This role is a unique opportunity to be on the founding team of startups and partnerships focused on . You will work closely with social leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs who are addressing some of the world’s biggest problems. Combining both and , this position will play a critical role in supporting GDI’s selection and development of new initiatives with the greatest potential to address persistent global challenges.

Apply today:

About GDI The Global Development Incubator, Inc. (GDI Africa) is a locally run and independently-managed global partner organization with a shared vision and mission. GDI...

01/23/2025

Enabling people to move for opportunity should be an urgent priority for funders and social innovators who want to make a difference: “Migration is not a problem in search of a solution; it is a solution waiting to be unlocked by thoughtful investment of resources and effort.”

GDI Managing Director Jason Wendle's article "Betting on Migration for Impact" was featured in Stanford Social Innovation Review's list of the 10 Most Popular SSIR Articles of 2024.

Read the article here:

Enabling people to move for opportunity should be an urgent priority for funders and social innovators who want to make a difference in global inequality.

01/16/2025

This year marked a special milestone as the Global Development Incubator reached its tenth year developing solutions that catalyze sustainable and inclusive development. Curiosity has been our compass this past decade, leading us to new discoveries, perspectives, and achievements. Most importantly it has cultivated a community with incredible changemakers with whom we are proudly partnering to put transformative local ideas into action around the world.

Since our launch in 2014, our team of social impact entrepreneurs and partners has launched over 80 initiatives in areas including climate, access to healthcare and education, financial inclusion, and labor mobility, among others. Our initiatives share a similar DNA, set of values, and ambition for large-scale impact. We have leveraged over $800 million in capital to support these ventures from committed public and private donors and investors.

In our Year in Review, we reflect on our impact, how we’re addressing current and emerging challenges, and our goals for 2025. Read the full text here:

This year marked a special milestone as the Global Development Incubator reached its tenth year developing solutions that spark sustainable and inclusive development. Cur...

11/04/2024

GDI-incubated Tabiya recently announced the open-source release of Compass! This generative AI agent engages users in exploratory conversations to gather information and identify their unique skills. Compass focuses on abilities over credentials, including informal and unpaid work.

Compass stands out in the rapidly evolving landscape of generative AI applications. It's designed to have meaningful conversations with users, helping them uncover and articulate their skills.

Learn more about how you can use Compass here: https://blog.tabiya.org/exploring-compass-tech/