Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Development

Inclusive and sustainable economic development is central to reducing poverty and inequality, strengthening social inclusion and addressing the effects of climate change adaptation and mitigation as well as the environmental risks, while creating decent work and productive employment and resilient livelihoods for women and men . It links economic growth with fairness and long-term resilience by expanding access to economic opportunities, supporting greener, more diversified economies, and ensuring that people, businesses, and communities are better able to withstand and adapt to shocks. This approach is consistent with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (in particular SDG 1 – No Poverty, SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities, SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production, and SDG 13 – Climate action).

PEM supports governments, development partners and private sector actors in designing, implementing and evaluating policies and programmes that promote inclusive economic development, private sector development, environmentally sustainable and climate smart solutions, while enhancing the quantity and quality of jobs for both women and men.

What we do

  • Improve the regulatory and business enabling environment for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), including in fragile and conflict affected settings.
  • Develop more dynamic, inclusive and resilient market systems and value chains to generate sustainable economic opportunities
  • Strengthen market responsive business development services and access to finance that enable firms and farmers to invest, innovate and grow, including SME finance solutions.
  • Enhance the labour market relevance and quality of technical and vocational education and training (TVET), skills development and lifelong learning, with a focus on youth and women’s economic empowerment.
  • Increase the mobilisation of private investment for development, using blended finance and impact investment approaches that maximise social impact.
  • Support public financial management (PFM) and economic governance reforms that improve domestic resource mobilisation, budget execution and accountability for results.
  • Facilitate inclusive policy dialogue by empowering private sector, informal sector and civil society stakeholders to participate in public-private dialogue and articulate their interests.

Our work is guided by the principles of the UN Global Compact, international standards on decent work, environmental protection and anti corruption, and by a strong commitment to gender equality, social inclusion and to leaving no one behind.

How we work

PEM combines economic development, governance and social and environmental protection expertise to analyse the incentives, institutions and power relations that shape markets, value chains and public policy. Assignments typically blend quantitative and qualitative methods, theory of change-based design, results-based management, participatory stakeholder engagement and public-private dialogue, leading to practical recommendations that can be implemented within real world political and fiscal constraints.

Business Sector Support Programme (VETA) – Short-term Financial Management Advisor.

Country Tanzania
Region Africa
Client Danida
End Year 2001
Contract Value Large contract

Joint Nordic evaluation of contributions to multilateral trust funds

Country Global
Region Global
Client Danida
End Year 2025
Contract Value Large contract

Evaluation of the EU cooperation with Guatemala 2007 – 2020

Country Guatemala
Region South America
Client EU
End Year 2022
Contract Value Large contract

An evaluation of EIB support for agriculture and bioeconomy

Country Global
Region Global
Client EIB
End Year 2025
Contract Value Large contract

Evaluation of the European Union’s co-operation with the Region of Eastern Africa, Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean (EA-SA-IO)

Country Global
Region Global
Client EU for EU
End Year 2016
Contract Value Large contract

Evaluation of the Danish Strategic Sector Cooperation

Country Indonesia
Region Global
Client Danida
End Year 2020
Contract Value Large contract

Evaluation of the Danish Strategic Sector Cooperation

Country India
Region Global
Client Danida
End Year 2020
Contract Value Large contract

Evaluation of the Danish Strategic Sector Cooperation

Country Kenya
Region Global
Client Danida
End Year 2020
Contract Value Large contract

Evaluation of the Danish Strategic Sector Cooperation

Country Indonesia
Region Global
Client Danida
End Year 2020
Contract Value Large contract

Evaluation of the EU cooperation with the United Nations

Country Global
Region Global
Client EC
End Year 2023
Contract Value Large contract
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