Centre for development alternatives Review

About Centre for development alternatives

The Centre for Development Alternatives (CDA) is a leading African think-and-do-tank that is dedicated to nurturing home-grown and locally contextualised ideas for transforming East Africa into a more prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable region. With its headquarters in Kampala, Uganda, CDA has been at the forefront of promoting innovative solutions to some of the most pressing development challenges facing the region.

At CDA, we believe that development should be driven by local communities and their needs. We work closely with grassroots organizations, civil society groups, governments, and other stakeholders to identify key development priorities and design context-specific interventions that can help address them. Our approach is grounded in rigorous research and analysis that draws on both quantitative and qualitative data sources.

One of our core areas of focus is promoting inclusive economic growth. We recognize that economic growth alone is not enough to reduce poverty or promote shared prosperity. That's why we work with communities to identify opportunities for value addition along agricultural value chains; support small businesses through access to finance; promote entrepreneurship among youth; and advocate for policies that create an enabling environment for private sector investment.

Another area where we have made significant contributions is in promoting gender equality and women's empowerment. We recognize that gender inequality remains a major barrier to sustainable development in East Africa. That's why we work with communities to challenge harmful cultural practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM); promote girls' education; support women entrepreneurs through access to finance; advocate for policies that protect women's rights; and provide training on leadership skills.

In addition to our work on economic growth and gender equality, CDA also focuses on environmental sustainability. We recognize the urgent need for action on climate change given its potential impact on food security, water resources management, health outcomes among others . That's why we work with communities across East Africa  to promote sustainable land use practices such as agroforestry ; support renewable energy initiatives ; and advocate for policies that promote sustainable development.

At CDA, we are committed to promoting evidence-based policy making. We believe that good policies are those that are grounded in rigorous research and analysis. That's why we conduct cutting-edge research on a wide range of development issues; provide technical assistance to governments and other stakeholders; and engage in advocacy efforts aimed at influencing policy decisions.

In conclusion, the Centre for Development Alternatives is a leading African think-and-do-tank that is dedicated to promoting home-grown and locally contextualised ideas for transforming East Africa into a more prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable region. Our work focuses on promoting inclusive economic growth, gender equality and women's empowerment , environmental sustainability , as well as evidence-based policy making . We believe that by working together with communities across the region, we can help create a brighter future for all East Africans.