About Us

CDC Development Solutions (CDS) leverages public, private and volunteer resources to strengthen SMEs and the institutions, governments, and industries that drive economic growth in emerging markets. For over two decades, CDS, a non-profit, non-governmental organization, has provided innovative, market-driven solutions utilizing a variety of methodologies to create sustainable economic development in over 80 countries on 5 continents.

In all of its work, CDS strives to create ground-breaking partnerships between the private, public, and social sectors that leverage the innovation in each sector to create shared value for clients in emerging markets. Though we have worked for USAID and other donor agencies for over 20 years, CDS also has many Fortune 1000 private sector partners, including BP, Chevron, Dow Corning, FedEx, IBM, Marathon, Pfizer and others. We utilize our ability to mobilize the best of what the private sector has to offer in conjunction with the deep local expertise of the public sector to support economic development worldwide.

Our History

After the fall of the Berlin Wall, CDS--then known as Citizens Democracy Corps--was commissioned by the White House to assist in the development of private enterprise in transforming the economies of the former Communist Bloc.

Over the past two decades, CDS has seen many changes, including merging with the MBA Enterprise Corps in 2000, becoming Citizens Development Corps in 2002, acquiring MBAs Without Borders in 2009, and finally becoming CDC Development Solutions in 2009. Yet even as we have modified structure over to provide a wider range of services in many more countries, we have continued to focus on developing small and medium size businesses, communities, and local institutions in emerging markets.

Our Practice Areas

The spirit of volunteerism remains a core value for CDS, and we still use the skills of volunteers in nearly all of our programs. However, CDS is also highly valued by our clients and partners for our unique experience and expertise in providing innovative development solutions in a number of fields. Our work focuses on the following five practice areas:

Global Citizenship & Volunteerism

We recruit, train, place and support skilled volunteers who provide skills-based pro bono consulting to small businesses, educational institutions, NGOs, advocacy organizations, associations, local governments, and communities - all which benefit from this highly effective form of foreign assistance and citizen diplomacy.

Supply Chain Development
We use our local content development methodology to maximize economic opportunities for small and medium size businesses in emerging markets through access to the global supply chain, keeping more jobs and money in-country while increasing return on investment and creating shared value for multinational corporations.

Tourism Development
We apply unique methods to harness the power of the tourism sector as a driver of economic development, creating opportunities for small and medium size businesses, women, agricultural producers, and others working within tourism supply chains in emerging markets.

Access to Finance
We work to improve access to finance and opportunities for growing businesses in emerging markets by building links to previously inaccessible financial services, complemented by consulting assistance and training focused on the value chains to which SMEs and entrepreneurs contribute.

Stability & Economic Recovery
We promote growth and sustainable livelihoods in challenging environments with programs that mitigate the root economic causes of conflict, minimize the conditions for a return to violence in post-conflict states, and assist in recovery in the wake of natural disasters.