Education
60+ schools, 50,000 children
Classrooms rebuilt, teachers supported and learning resources delivered so children stay in school.
Try: “WASH”, “women's empowerment”, “Sierra Leone”, “climate resilience”.
Where communities lead, change lasts.
SDI partners with people across Africa to build education, health and opportunity that outlive the project — and belong to the community.
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Children reached through education
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People given clean water & health
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Women economically empowered
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Smallholder farmers trained
5Countries
across Africa
across Africa
Who We Are
About SDI
Locally led solutions that create lasting change
Sustainable Development Initiatives (SDI) improves the lives of vulnerable and marginalised communities across Africa. We work hand in hand with communities, governments, donors and partners to deliver sustainable solutions communities own long after a project ends.
Our Mission
Advancing education, health and opportunity through sustainable, community-driven solutions.
Our Vision
A future where every person has equal access to education, healthcare, opportunity and livelihoods.
What We Do
Ten programmes. One goal: dignity for every community.
From the first classroom to the last mile of a water pipeline, our work is designed with communities — not for them.
Education & Skills
Schools, learning resources and skills training that keep children and youth in the classroom.
Learn moreHealth & WASH
Clean water, sanitation and hygiene that turn preventable illness into healthy futures.
Learn moreChild Protection
Safe spaces and systems that shield children from harm, neglect and exploitation.
Learn moreWomen's Empowerment
Savings groups, enterprise and training that put economic power in women's hands.
Learn moreFood Security
Resilient food systems so no household has to choose between meals and the future.
Learn moreSustainable Agriculture
Climate-smart farming that lifts smallholder yields and protects the land.
Learn more Global Goals
Advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Every programme we run contributes directly to the world's shared agenda for people and planet.
SDG 1 — No Poverty
SDG 2 — Zero Hunger
SDG 3 — Good Health & Well-being
SDG 4 — Quality Education
SDG 5 — Gender Equality
SDG 6 — Clean Water & Sanitation
SDG 8 — Decent Work & Growth
SDG 13 — Climate Action
SDG 16 — Peace & Strong Institutions
SDG 17 — Partnerships for the Goals
Our Approach
Sustainable because communities lead it
We design with underserved communities, then hand over ownership — so change outlives the project.
01
Listen & co-design
We start with the community's own priorities, not an outside blueprint.
02
Build local capacity
We strengthen the people, systems and institutions already on the ground.
03
Deliver & measure
We implement together and track real, measurable impact — openly.
04
Hand over ownership
We exit by design, leaving communities in charge of what comes next.
Our Values
The principles behind the work
The values that guide how we work, decide and stay accountable.
Integrity
We uphold the highest standards of honesty, transparency and accountability in everything we do.
Equity
We believe every person deserves equal opportunities and access to essential services regardless of their background or circumstances.
Community Ownership
We work alongside communities, ensuring local people lead and sustain the solutions that affect their lives.
Collaboration
We believe lasting impact is achieved by working together with communities, governments, partners and donors.
Impact in Focus
Real change, in real places
Empowerment
26,000 women, new livelihoods
Savings groups and enterprise training turning ambition into income across five countries.
Climate
400+ resilient communities
Climate-smart farming and adaptation helping the most exposed places withstand change.
Campaigns
Support a campaign today
Focused appeals where your support goes furthest right now.
Active Campaign
Every Child Deserves the Chance to Learn
Thousands of children still learn in overcrowded classrooms with too few resources. Together we can build safe, inspiring spaces where every child can succeed, close to home.
Support This Campaign Voices from the Community
The people behind the progress
Lasting change is measured in lives. These are some of the people we work alongside.
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Before the new classroom, my children walked two hours to school. Now they learn close to home, and they have not missed a day since.
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Aminata K.Parent · Kono District, Sierra Leone
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Our savings group gave me the confidence, and the capital, to start a small business. For the first time, I am planning for my family's future.
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Fatmata S.Women's group leader · Bombali, Sierra Leone
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SDI does not arrive with a finished plan. They listen first, build local capacity, then hand it over. That is why the work lasts.
J
Joseph M.Local government partner · Uganda
Our Partners
Change takes a coalition
We collaborate across sectors to reach further, together.
GovernmentsNational & local
UN AgenciesMultilateral
International NGOsDelivery partners
Development PartnersProgramme funders
Donors & FoundationsGrant makers
Community OrgsGrassroots
Private SectorImpact partners
Academic InstitutionsResearch allies
Our People
Meet the SDI team
The people leading our work alongside the communities we serve.
Melvin Moigua
Program Director
Bernard Mbithi
Country Lead, Kenya
Peter Senesie
Head of Programs & Policy From the Field
Latest news & stories
Updates from our programmes across five countries.
June 2026 · Education
New classrooms open across Kono District
Six newly built and rehabilitated classrooms welcomed their first pupils this term, keeping hundreds of children learning close to home.
Read More
May 2026 · Empowerment
Women's savings groups pass 26,000 members
A new milestone for our economic empowerment programme, as more women access capital, training and a network of peers.
Read More
April 2026 · Climate
Climate-smart farming expands to Tanzania
Smallholder farmers begin training in drought-resilient techniques as our agriculture programme reaches a fifth country.
Read More Get Involved
Be the reason change lasts
Every contribution — of money, partnership or time — becomes measurable impact in a real community.
Donate
Fund clean water, classrooms and livelihoods. Give once or become a monthly supporter.
Donate NowPartner
Governments, NGOs, foundations and companies — let's design lasting impact together.
Get in Touch Make an Impact
Your support becomes clean water, classrooms and opportunity
Every contribution is invested in community-led programmes with measurable, lasting results. Give once, or partner with us for the long term.
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Aminata from Koidujust donated $50 💙