What Restless Development does

Restless Development is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and UK-registered charity (no. 1127488) founded in 1986 that operates as a youth-led international development organization. Headquartered in London with a global coordination function and 12 physical offices across 9 country hubs in the USA, UK, Zambia, Tanzania, India, Nepal, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, and Uganda, the organization directly nurtures approximately 250,000 young leaders and reaches 10 million young people through programs focused on four impact areas: Education and Livelihoods, Gender and Sexual Rights, Voice and Democracy, and Climate Justice.

The organization does not sell products or technology services. Its core 'technology' is a programmatic methodology built around youth-led research, dynamic accountability frameworks, and a 'power-shifting' model that positions young people as leaders and decision-makers rather than beneficiaries. Distribution occurs through direct field program delivery, volunteer placements, training programs, advocacy, and a digital Youth Collective network that connects over 5,000 youth civil society organizations across 187 countries. Operational infrastructure includes a Senior Compliance Manager overseeing risk, quality assurance, internal audit, and data and cybersecurity protocols globally.

Revenue is generated entirely through institutional grants and donations from a concentrated set of major funders including DFID/FCDO, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the MasterCard Foundation, Comic Relief, and multiple UN agencies, supplemented by individual giving via the website. The organization is governed by a Global Board of Trustees and national boards in each country hub, with no parent company or equity ownership, and is led by Co-CEOs Alex Kent and Kate Muhwezi. Restless Development holds recognized accountability credentials including Accountable Now membership, IATI transparency reporting, and 12 Accountability Commitments signatory status.

Name

Restless Development

Legal name

Restless Development

Website

https://restlessdevelopment.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Restless Development is a UK-headquartered non-profit (founded 1986) operating across 9 country hubs, running youth-led development programs in education, gender rights, civic voice, and climate justice, and reaching roughly 10 million young people annually through institutional grants and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development and International Non-Profit Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

akta.pro primary industry

Civic Participation & Leadership Development (Voting, Advocacy, Community Leadership) (EDAAADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Official Development Assistance (ODA) Program Management (BPADAOAC), Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD), Leadership, Debate & Model UN Camps (EDAMALAK)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Youth leadership training
• International development
• Nonprofit humanitarian services
• Community empowerment

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Institutional Grants and Donations: As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization (US EIN number 04-3561445) and UK charity (registration no. 1127488), Restless Development generates revenue primarily through institutional grants from governments, foundations, and multilateral organizations. The organization receives funding from institutional partners including UK Department for International Development (now FCDO), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, MasterCard Foundation, Comic Relief, and multiple UN agencies. Individual donations are also accepted through their website.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Restless Development is a youth-led nonprofit development organization that runs programmatic interventions across 9 country hubs focused on Education and Livelihoods, Gender and Sexual Rights, Voice and Democracy, and Climate Justice. It works directly with young people aged approximately 15-35 to nurture leadership skills and deliver community-level impact, supported by institutional grants and donations from governments, foundations, and multilateral agencies.

Product overview

Restless Development is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit youth-led development organization, not a product or technology company. Their offerings consist of youth development programs and initiatives rather than commercial products or software. The organization operates across 9 country hubs (USA, UK, Zambia, Tanzania, India, Nepal, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Uganda) focused on impact areas including Education and Livelihoods, Gender and Sexual Rights, Voice and Democracy, and Climate Justice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth-led Development Programmes
• Youth Collective
• Youth-led Research
• We Lead Initiative
• Volunteer Placements and Training Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 250,000 young people nurtured with youth leadership opportunities and 10,000,000 reached through programmes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Accountable NowcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-sector platform for CSOs working internationally. Restless Development is a member and reports publicly on economic, environmental and social performance to an independent review panel annually. The panel has expressed being impressed with Restless Development's commitment to dynamic accountability.
• International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVoluntary multi-stakeholder initiative that seeks to improve the transparency of aid, development, and humanitarian resources.
• Wilton ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRestless Development partnered with DFID to run a Wilton Park dialogue on safeguarding, demonstrating sector leadership in this area.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Restless Global (sub-brand): Listed doing-business-as name for the same organization, included to reflect the parent-entity/sub-brand distinction; not an external peer.

Direct peers

• Plan International: A global NGO focused on children's rights and gender equality, working in similar geographies as Restless Development with overlapping impact areas (education, SRHR, youth empowerment) and a comparable institutional grant-funded model.
• Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO): International development NGO built around volunteer-led programming for youth and communities in Africa and Asia. Closely comparable to Restless Development in mission (youth-led change), delivery model (volunteers in country hubs), and institutional funding base.
• ActionAid International: Rights-based international development federation working with young people on gender equality, education, and civic participation in many of the same countries as Restless Development, with a comparable institutional grant revenue model.
• International Youth Foundation (IYF): Global nonprofit focused exclusively on youth economic opportunity, leadership, and civic engagement. Highly comparable mission to Restless Development with similar funder base (MasterCard Foundation and other institutional partners).

Broad incumbents

• Save the Children: One of the largest global child-rights and youth-focused INGOs, operating broadly in education, health, and protection. Compares to Restless Development on youth programming and country footprint, though at significantly greater scale and with a wider mandate.
• Mercy Corps: Global humanitarian and development organization with significant youth livelihoods, governance, and gender programming across Africa and Asia. Comparable on funding sources and impact areas, though with a much broader humanitarian remit.
• BRAC: Largest global development NGO with deep programs in education, livelihoods, health, and gender in Bangladesh and across Africa. Comparable to Restless Development on youth livelihoods and gender programming and the institutional grant funding model.
• UNICEF: United Nations agency mandated to advocate for children's rights worldwide, with overlapping programs on youth empowerment, education, and SRHR in the same countries as Restless Development. Comparable in mission, though funded by assessed government contributions rather than competitive grants.

Emerging players

• War Child Alliance: A network of organizations working with children and youth affected by conflict. Comparable youth-led programming approach, though more narrowly focused on conflict-affected contexts.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Restless_India
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/RestlessDevelopment
• Facebookfacebook.com/RestlessDevelopmentIndia
• LinkedInuk.linkedin.com/company/restless-development
• Instagraminstagram.com/restlessdevelopment
• TikToktiktok.com/@restlessdevelopment

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Restless Development