Sustainable Economic Development
As a knowledge institute, KIT compiles, analyses and develops new knowledge on sustainable economic development. We conduct front-runner research on rising global issues such as food security, youth employment, value chain development in the agricultural sector, and financial inclusion.
This enables us to broker grounded and actionable knowledge as advice to public and private sector organisations. It also enables us to bring together different development actors to support collaboration, knowledge sharing and innovation. Together, this helps to improve the impact of a diversity of economic development activities.
We focus on the intersection of policy and practice in economic development
The combination of our team’s content expertise and process-related skills not only leads to better projects. It also builds competencies in project design, implementation and management.
Our support is tailor-made to the needs and context of our partners and clients. We build on their resources and knowledge, mission and values to ensure that our advice is aligned with existing initiatives, has policy relevance, and is adapted to the local context. Our approach is practical and based on action learning.
We operate at the intersection of theory and practice and between policy and implementation, translating good intentions into meaningful social and economic impact. Our professional staff combine expertise in specific content areas with the ability to offer a diverse suite of advisory services, including policy and programme design and implementation, evaluation and impact assessment, capacity building through coaching, and knowledge management.
This experience enables our advisors to navigate sustainable change processes and identify elements that can make a difference in development programme performance. We help governments, organisations and businesses to learn from their experiences, improve practice, and maximize the impact of their interventions.
Sustainable Economic Development Topics
Our Food and Agribusiness Team
Our Impact Economics Team
Publications
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What is the development impact of vertical coordination in agricultural value chains in LMICs?
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Review
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Working Paper
This literature review examines how vertical coordination—tighter corporate control across agricultural value chains—affects development outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. Having reviewed 19 academic studies on evidence-based outcomes of vertical coordination, the focus of the analysis is on three main impact areas: (1) local economic development, (2) local job creation, and (3) the inclusion of […]
- Year of publication
- October 2025
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Business-to-Business (B2B) Organisational and Marketing Innovations in Nigerian Horticulture
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Working Paper
The HortiNigeria programme, implemented by IFDC in partnership with Wageningen Research, East-West Seed International and KIT Institute, is strengthening Nigeria’s horticulture sector across the entire value chain—from production to marketing. This new learning brief explores how local actors drive innovation within Business-to-Business (B2B) linkages in Kano, Kaduna, Ogun, and Oyo states. Using Actor-Network Theory, it […]
- Year of publication
- October 2025
Downloads
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Addressing child labour risks and living income gaps in global value chains
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Policy Brief
This policy brief provides practical guidance for companies in the cocoa, coffee and cashew sectors, and beyond, on how to reduce child labour and close living income gaps in their supply chains.
- Year of publication
- July 2025
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KIT MAG
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