DAI

For more than 40 years DAI has worked on the frontlines of international development, tackling fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governments, and instability.   At the beginning of 2014 HTSPE, another major player in the development sector, became part of DAI. The combination of DAI’s technical creativity and HTSPE’s proven project management expertise will yield collaborations for the future.  After a fruitful period of integration the HTSPE brand has now been retired and the firm is now doing business as DAI.   Currently, DAI works in more than 80 countries. Their integrated development solutions turn ideas into impact by bringing together fresh combinations of expertise and innovation across multiple disciplines—crisis mitigation and stability operations, democratic governance and public sector management, agriculture, agribusiness and food security, private sector development and financial services, economics and trade, HIV/AIDS and disease control, land tenure and natural resources management, and energy and climate change. Their clients include international development agencies, international lending institutions, private corporations and philanthropies, and national governments.   EXPERTISE Economic Growth The development specialists in DAI’s Economic Growth Sector understand the dynamics that underpin inclusive, broad-based growth and that well-targeted social protection contributes to this growth by providing a springboard out of poverty and into productive livelihoods. Committed to designing and facilitating successful programs in technical areas such as agribusiness and enterprise development, value chain development, agriculture and food security, and financial services, DAI’s Economic Growth team manages dozens of development projects that span five continents.   Environment, Energy and Climate Change The environmental services team ensures that effective natural resource management is integrated into all DAI projects, so economic competitiveness is achieved in a sustainable way that respects the environment and the livelihoods that depend on it. DAI seeks to balance the urgent need to improve water supply, sanitation and resource management for the world’s poor with the need to conserve natural resources and protect biodiversity for future generations. Minimising and mitigating the effects of global climate change are key components of DAI’s work. Through innovations in land tenure, forestry, watershed resource management, sustainable tourism development, water supply and sanitation, financing and business development, and local governance reform, we help improve the welfare of communities worldwide.   Governance DAI recognizes the integral relationship between economic and democratic governance as the basis for equitable economic growth and high-quality social services. Their programs promote gender-sensitive and participatory systems that create a demand for better government. To strengthen democratic governance, they equip host-country officials, citizens, and civil society organizations with the tools and technical expertise needed to build accountable and responsive governments at all levels. To strengthen economic governance, they catalyze efforts of stakeholders to work with responsive governments in establishing balanced and sound economic policies that facilitate business growth, job creation, poverty reduction, and improved public services.   Health and Education Today, with the emergence of new zoonotic diseases, the persistence of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and our growing understanding of the connectedness between humans and the world, DAI focuses their interventions where human health intersects with livelihoods, animal health, and environmental concerns, drawing on an array of technical skills to bring development impact to health interventions. They also have a thorough understanding of how critical education is to achieving long-term sustainable development objectives – inclusivity, life-long learning and linking education, skills and knowledge to the needs of the labour market are crucial.    Stability Building on a wide range of experience and an in-depth understanding of conflict dynamics in crisis environments, DAI's Crisis Mitigation and Stability Operations practice has become a global leader in post-crisis assistance. They work with local communities and businesses to break cycles of violence, bridging the gap between short-term relief and long-term development initiatives. Their analytical services contribute a textured, case-by-case understanding of the stresses underlying individual conflicts. The teams on the ground enable donor agencies to leverage peace processes by strengthening locally-driven violence mitigation efforts, in particular by providing economic recovery opportunities to stricken communities, most critically, jobs.   Monitoring and Evaluation The distinct yet related areas of monitoring and evaluation offer a cross-cutting service to all DAI’s areas of expertise and are integrated into every stage of the process from design, through implementation, to lesson-learning at the end of a programme so as to help ensure we deliver lasting results and maximise value for money.   Corporate Sector DAI's Corporate Sector combines DAI's economic development capabilities with business strategy expertise to help corporate clients succeed in their developing world operations. The DAI team delivers advisory and implementation services to help our clients to create value for shareholders and local communities.