IDE is a different kind of non-profit organization. We are dedicated to ending poverty in the developing world not through handouts, but by helping poor farmers invest in their own success. Our core values are:
We believe in the right of poor women and men to a secure livelihood
We believe that markets can be a powerful force for poverty reduction
We listen to and learn from the people we work with
We value innovation and entrepreneurship
We have confidence in our ability to make a significant difference
“Four years ago, I thought poverty was my destiny, a chain that confined me, and was going to confine my family too,” says Nazrul Islam, whose family of five lived on less than a dollar a day prior to learning about IDE’s treadle pump program in Bangladesh. Because he could not properly irrigate his family’s small plot of land, Nazrul was forced to provide for his family from infrequent work as a day laborer.
When he learned about IDE’s inexpensive treadle pump from a relative, Nazrul applied for a micro-loan to cover the costs of the pump and drilling a well on his land, about $20. Results were immediate...
Praise for Out of Poverty by Paul Polak
"A wise and engaging new book." --The Economist
"Part policy rant, part case-study, part how-to, and anything but depressing."
--Business Week
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IDE Bangladesh Celebrates 25 Year Anniversary
(June 2, 2009) Congratulations to IDE Bangladesh on 25 years of creating income opportunities for small farmers. Founded in 1984, IDE Bangladesh is the oldest continually operating IDE country program...
Events News: EarthFest Boulder
(April 9, 2009) IDE will be participating in this year's EarthFest Boulder, a free, family-friendly outdoor event honoring Earth Day. It takes place on Saturday, April 18 at CU Research Park, and includes a unique mix of athletic, artistic, and educational activities. More info at www.earthfestboulder.org.
IDE-UK Announces New Chief Executive
(March 24, 2009) IDE-UK has announced Lewis Temple as the organization's new Chief Executive. With an academic background in Social Anthropology, Lewis has spent over 10 years managing international development programs...
Polak Profiled in BusinessWeek
(Jan. 13, 2009) IDE Founder Paul Polak was recently profiled on BusinessWeek.com. In a special report on "Voices of Innovation," senior writer Jessie Scanlon discusses Polak's strategy for helping the world's poor earn...
Multiple Use Water Services Book Now Available
(Jan. 8, 2009) IDE announces the publication of Multiple Use Water Service Implementation in Nepal and India: Experience and Lessons for Scale-Up by Monique Mikhail and Robert Yoder. The book explores the practical implementation of the multiple-use water services...
