Productive green landscape representing resilient rural development

Research • Advisory • Development Intelligence

Bridging Evidenceand Innovation forSustainable Development

MDC brings together multidisciplinary expertise to help governments, development partners, research institutions, private sector organizations and civil society design, implement, evaluate and scale evidence-based solutions that strengthen institutions, improve livelihoods and accelerate sustainable development.

Partner With MDC Explore Our Work

Delivering evidence-driven solutions that transform institutions, strengthen communities and create lasting development impact.

Inclusive Evidence-based Innovative Collaborative

Evidence.

Rigorous research, policy analysis and decision-ready insight.

Innovation.

Context-specific solutions connecting institutions, markets and technology.

Impact.

Sustainable development outcomes that strengthen livelihoods, organizations and systems.

MDC at a glance

A Distinctive Platform forEvidence, Capability & Sustainable Development Impact

MDC brings together multidisciplinary expertise, practical delivery experience and a systems perspective to help partners generate evidence, strengthen institutions and translate ideas into measurable results.

06

Integrated capability domains

Research, advisory, analytics, capacity development, implementation support and institutional strengthening.

05

Flagship case studies

Selected assignments demonstrating MDC’s contribution to research, policy, institutions and development practice.

09

Research and thought-leadership themes

Interconnected themes addressing agriculture, food systems, climate, livelihoods, inclusion, policy and innovation.

01

MultiTier Development Framework™

A unifying framework connecting people, institutions, markets, knowledge, policy and ecosystems across development levels.

Why MDC exists: Africa's development challenges demand integrated, locally grounded solutions. The approach connects evidence, institutions and implementation.
Africa's development challenges demand integrated, locally grounded solutions. Food insecurity, climate stress, youth unemployment, weak institutions and social exclusion are deeply interconnected. MDC was established to bridge research and practice through three connected pillars: Evidence — rigorous analysis that improves decisions and reduces assumption-driven programming; Institutions — stronger policies, organizations and partnerships that sustain change beyond projects; and Implementation — practical support that turns strategy into action, learning and scalable results.
Why MDC Exists About MDC

What MDC brings

Integrated ExpertiseAcross the Development Cycle

From diagnosis and strategy to implementation, evaluation, capacity strengthening and scaling, MDC supports clients at every stage through one connected, evidence-driven delivery pathway.

The MDC Development Cycle: Research and Diagnostics; Policy and Strategy; Programme Design; Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning; Capacity Strengthening; and Innovation and Scaling.
The MDC Development Cycle is a systems-based approach that transforms evidence into sustainable development outcomes. It moves through six connected stages: Research and Diagnostics; Policy and Strategy; Programme Design; Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning; Capacity Strengthening; and Innovation and Scaling. The approach is people-centred, evidence-driven, partnership-led and impact-focused.
Explore Our Expertise View All Services

Featured Projects & Global Impact

Across Africa and beyond, MDC works with governments, development partners, universities, civil society and the private sector to design, implement and evaluate programmes that deliver practical, measurable and sustainable results.

05Selected case studies
Multi-sectorAgriculture, food systems, youth, institutions and innovation
Mixed-methodQuantitative, qualitative and participatory evidence
End-to-endDiagnosis, design, implementation, learning and scaling
Collaborative programme planning and evidence-based decision making
Flagship Case Study Impact Evaluation

Evidence for programme performance

FAO TA-AGP II Impact Evaluation

Designing a comprehensive measurement matrix, mixed-method evidence system and stakeholder validation process for a major agricultural development intervention.

01ChallengeComplex programme results required a coherent and credible evidence architecture.
02MDC contributionEvaluation design, indicators, mixed methods, stakeholder validation and learning systems.
03Value createdDecision-ready evidence supporting accountability, adaptation and stronger programme performance.
Programme evaluation Agricultural development Institutional learning
Explore the Case Study

Selected portfolio

Projects connecting evidence, institutions and implementation

Explore the full portfolio
Rural employment and enterprise opportunities Youth & Livelihoods

Youth Realities, Aspirations and Opportunity Structures

Examining how aspirations, institutions and place shape youth livelihood transitions in fragile environments.

View project
How MDC creates value Challenge to sustainable impact
  1. 01Challenge
  2. 02Research
  3. 03Design
  4. 04Implementation
  5. 05Learning
  6. 06Scaling
  7. 07Impact

Partner with MDC

Looking for a trusted development partner?

Work with us to design evidence-driven solutions that create durable institutional and development impact.

Discuss a Project Request a Proposal

Research & Thought Leadership

From Research toReal-World Impact

Generating evidence. Shaping policy. Strengthening institutions. Improving lives.

MDC approach from research to real-world impact: Research, Analysis, Policy, Action and Impact, supported by participation, quality and ethics, inclusion, sustainability and locally grounded global relevance.
MDC transforms research into real-world impact through five connected stages: Research, Analysis, Policy, Action and Impact. Cross-cutting enablers include participation, quality and ethics, inclusion, sustainability and local solutions with global relevance.
Browse Publications Visit Knowledge Hub

Research themes

Interconnected areas of inquiry and practice

View all research areas →
🌾Agricultural TransformationInnovation, value chains and rural systems. 🌍Climate & ResilienceAdaptation, risk and sustainable systems. 👥Youth, Gender & InclusionParticipation, aspirations and social transformation. 🌱Food SystemsNutrition, markets and sustainable food transitions. 📊Monitoring, Evaluation & LearningImpact, performance and adaptive learning. 🏛️Policy & InstitutionsGovernance, reform and institutional strengthening. 💡Innovation SystemsEntrepreneurship, incubation and scaling pathways. 📈Data & AnalyticsEvidence architecture, visualization and decision support.
Journal ArticlesPolicy BriefsTechnical ReportsToolkitsDatasetsTraining Materials

Geographic Footprint & Field Presence

Locally Grounded. Regionally Connected. Globally Engaged.

MDC’s work is rooted in African realities and strengthened by partnerships, knowledge networks and professional relationships that connect local experience with regional and global expertise.

Our operating perspective

Africa-centred, multi-level and partnership-driven

MDC Africa-centred footprint A stylized map of Africa highlighting Ethiopia, the Horn and East Africa, West Africa, Southern Africa, continental networks and global connections.
Ethiopia Institutional base and field engagement
Horn & East Africa Regional research and development networks
West Africa Professional expertise, partnerships and regional engagement
Continental Africa Collaborative expertise and partnerships
Global Connections International knowledge and professional networks
Institutional and field base Regional networks Global collaboration
EthiopiaInstitutional base Horn & East AfricaField and research networks West AfricaExpertise and partnerships Wider AfricaContinental collaboration
01

Local

Communities, enterprises and institutions

Grounded engagement with farmers, youth, organizations, public agencies and local development actors.

02

National

Policy, programmes and institutional systems

Research and advisory support connecting field realities with national strategies, organizations and investments.

03

Regional

African knowledge and partnership networks

Cross-country learning, multidisciplinary collaboration and engagement with regional research and development platforms.

04

Global

International expertise and exchange

Connections that bring global evidence, comparative experience and technical expertise into locally relevant solutions.

MDC in action

Real places. Real systems. Real development challenges.

Our work is shaped by engagement with the communities, landscapes, markets and institutions that development interventions are intended to serve.

Participatory engagement with community members and local stakeholders Participatory EngagementCo-generating understanding and solutions. Drought and climate stress affecting agricultural landscapes Climate ResilienceUnderstanding vulnerability and adaptation. Rural employment and enterprise opportunities Rural EnterpriseSupporting livelihoods and productive employment. Agricultural diversity and local food systems Food SystemsConnecting production, markets and nutrition.

Work across contexts

Need a partner who understands both local realities and wider systems?

Partner With MDC

Knowledge and insight

Evidence translated into practical knowledge.

Policy briefs, datasets, toolkits and research publications support learning and decision making across MDC’s practice areas.

Policy brief

Seed-System Resilience

Policy actions for strengthening pluralistic and resilient potato seed systems.

Read more →
Toolkit

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning

Practical resources for evidence, learning and programme adaptation.

Explore toolkit →
Research

Youth Employment & Aspirations

Evidence on livelihood transitions, opportunity structures and inclusive programming.

View publication →

Institutional Trust & Strategic Partnerships

Trusted by Institutions. Driven by Partnerships.

Development challenges cannot be solved by individual organizations. MDC works through strategic partnerships that combine evidence, expertise and implementation capacity to create lasting development impact.

Our partnership ecosystem

Collaboration across the development landscape

MDC convenes public institutions, development partners, universities, civil society, private enterprise and professional networks around a shared development purpose.

01
Wide NetworkWorking across Africa and beyond.
02
Shared PurposeAligned around inclusive, sustainable development.
03
Stronger TogetherCombining complementary strengths.
04
Sustainable ImpactSolutions that endure beyond project cycles.
MDC Evidence • Insight • Impact

Governments & Public Institutions

Policies, systems and service delivery.

Development Partners

Shared impact through programmes and evidence.

Universities & Research Institutions

Knowledge, research and evidence.

Civil Society Organizations

Participation, accountability and community voice.

Private Sector

Innovation, investment and market solutions.

Regional & International Networks

Expertise and best practice across borders.

How collaboration creates impact

A partnership pathway from evidence to sustainable results

  1. 01
    E
    Evidence Rigorous research and data uncover what works.
  2. 02
    T
    Trust Integrity, transparency and mutual respect.
  3. 03
    C
    Co-Creation Solutions designed with partners and stakeholders.
  4. 04
    L
    Learning Reflection, feedback and continuous adaptation.
  5. 05
    I
    Innovation New ideas and approaches that fit context.
  6. 06
    S
    Sustainable Impact Results that improve lives, institutions and systems.

Why organizations choose MDC

Capabilities that strengthen every partnership

01

Systems Thinking

Addressing interconnected challenges through integrated analysis.

02

Evidence-Based Advisory

Turning rigorous evidence into actionable strategy.

03

Local Knowledge, Global Standards

Grounding international practice in local realities.

04

Multidisciplinary Expertise

Bringing together specialists across sectors and disciplines.

05

Capacity Strengthening

Building skills, tools and systems for long-term resilience.

06

Sustainable Results

Creating impact that endures beyond project cycles.

Our partnership principles

How MDC works with partners

01IntegrityEthics, honesty and professionalism.
02CollaborationShared ownership and common purpose.
03EvidenceFacts, data and continuous learning.
04InnovationCreative, context-responsive solutions.
05InclusivenessDiverse voices and perspectives.
06AccountabilityCommitments, results and transparency.

Strategic collaboration

Let’s Build the Future Together

Whether you are a government institution, development partner, university, civil society organization, research organization or private enterprise, MDC is ready to help transform evidence into sustainable development impact.

Partner With MDC Request a Proposal

Partner with MDC

Looking for a trusted partner for research, advisory, evaluation or capacity strengthening?

Bring us your development challenge. We will help frame the problem, generate the evidence and build a practical pathway forward.

Request a proposal Start a conversation