What Partnership International does

Partnership International, Inc. is a Washington, DC-based international consulting firm founded in November 1990 by Sargent R. Shriver to provide renewable energy, infrastructure, regulatory, and commercial advisory services to public and private sector clients across developing and emerging markets. The firm delivers technical, financial/economic, legal/regulatory, and commercial advice through three core service lines: sector reform and development, economic and financial analysis, and project management (including feasibility studies, socio-economic and environmental impact assessments, and monitoring and evaluation). Its work spans energy, clean water, environment, ICT, and transportation sectors, with a particular focus on solar, geothermal, hydro, and micro-grid projects.

The firm supplements its advisory work with proprietary technology assets, including the Global Micro-grid Resource Portal (developed with the UN Foundation's SE4ALL initiative), the Geothermal Investment Database (Geo Portal, developed with BAPPENAS and KfW), the Kenya Geo Portal, the RelCost financial evaluation software, and the Energy Smart Fund Monitoring & Evaluation System. It also distributes SOSolar hardware solutions (3.6-10.8 kW solar systems) for off-grid applications and runs smart meter pilots in cooperation with Ethiopian Electric Utility.

The business model is professional services-based: revenue is generated through project-by-project consulting engagements funded primarily by multilateral organizations (World Bank, IFC, GEF, UNDP, UNEP), bilateral donors (USAID, USTDA, KfW, ICEIDA), and host country governments, supplemented by private sector developer clients across 50+ countries. Distribution relies on direct engagement by senior partners, a network of local affiliates, an affiliated firm (Sustainable Development Partners LLC), and presence at industry conferences such as InterSolar North America. The firm is privately held with no disclosed investors, funding rounds, or M&A activity.

Name

Partnership International

Legal name

Partnership International, Inc.

Website

https://partnership-international.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Partnership International is a Washington, DC-based international consulting firm founded in 1990 that provides renewable energy, infrastructure, regulatory, and commercial advisory services to governments, multilateral organizations, and private sector clients across 50+ emerging markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), International Affairs (928120)

SIC

International Affairs (9721), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Science, Technology & Space Cooperation Organizations (BPADAAAK), Multilateral Diplomacy & International Representation (UN, Regional Bodies) (BPAIAIAC)

Keywords

• Renewable energy consulting
• Infrastructure advisory
• Project finance advisory
• Sustainable development consulting
• Geothermal development services

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Consulting Services: Provides renewable energy and infrastructure technical, financial/economic, legal/regulatory and commercial advice to public and private clients. Services include sector reform and development, economic and financial analysis, and project management.
2. Feasibility Studies: Conducting technical/financial feasibility studies for infrastructure projects including solar PV plants, geothermal developments, and hydropower projects.
3. Project Implementation Support: Implementation plans, monitoring and evaluation services for energy and infrastructure projects funded by development agencies and governments.
4. Financial Advisory Services: Mobilizing financing to private sector entities in emerging economies including business development funds, export working capital, vendor financing, direct foreign investment support, insurance, bonding and guarantees.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Partnership International is an international consulting firm that delivers renewable energy and infrastructure technical, financial/economic, legal/regulatory, and commercial advisory services to public and private clients. Its engagements span sector reform, feasibility studies, project financing, implementation support, and monitoring & evaluation for energy, water, environment, ICT, and transportation projects in developing and emerging markets, supplemented by proprietary data platforms and off-grid solar hardware solutions.

Product overview

Partnership International is an international consulting firm offering a portfolio of advisory services and technology platforms for sustainable development. Their core offerings include sector-specific consulting (energy, water, environment, ICT, transportation) alongside proprietary platforms like the Global Micro-grid Resource Portal, Geothermal Investment Database (Geo Portal), and Energy Smart Fund Monitoring System. They also provide specialized hardware solutions such as SOSolar solar energy systems for off-grid applications. The firm complements these with software tools including RelCost financial evaluation software, and supports capacity building through initiatives like the Africa Geothermal Center of Excellence. All offerings are delivered through professional consulting engagements rather than a unified software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sector Reform & Development Consulting Advisory service covering policy and regulatory reform, market assessments, institutional and enterprise restructuring, process reengineering, supply-chain development, and public-private partnership investment facilitation, targeted at governments, multilaterals, and private-sector clients in developing and emerging markets.
• Economic & Financial Analysis Services Advisory service delivering economic analysis, financial modeling, tariff setting, project financing, and business plan and strategy development for renewable energy and infrastructure projects.
• Project Management Services End-to-end project management service covering technical and financial feasibility studies, socio-economic and environmental impact assessments, public awareness, implementation planning, and monitoring and evaluation for energy and infrastructure projects.
• Global Micro-grid Resource Portal Comprehensive web portal built in partnership with the UN Foundation's SE4ALL effort that maps global micro-grid projects and provides know-how on the technical, legal, and financial aspects of micro-grid developments, targeted at NGOs and private micro-grid companies operating in developing countries.
• Geothermal Investment Database (Geo Portal) Database developed with BAPPENAS to accelerate the development of geothermal-based power for greenfield and brownfield projects, helping attract public and private financing and supporting coordination of geothermal investment in Indonesia.
• Kenya Geo Portal Geothermal data and content management technology developed with Kenya's Ministry of Energy and Petroleum to support the African Geothermal Center of Excellence.
• Energy Smart Fund Database Monitoring & Evaluation System Database reporting system designed for Barbados' Energy Smart Fund Program to monitor and evaluate the technical aspects of renewable energy and energy efficiency program outputs.
• RelCost Software Financial evaluation software for energy projects that provides Pro Forma financial statements and project sensitivity analysis, customized for the Energy Commission of Nigeria.
• Africa Geothermal Center of Excellence Capacity-building initiative developed with the Government of Kenya to provide training and a Geo Portal data and knowledge bank for East African geothermal developments, including a validation workshop held at the UN Complex.
• SOSolar Boxes (Solutions of Solar in a Box) Scalable solar energy generation systems ranging from 3.6 kW to 10.8 kW that provide off-grid or grid-backup power for relief efforts, hospitals, housing developments, and micro-grid applications in developing countries.
• SOSolar Mini System Compact solar charging system including LED lights, solar panel, and battery that provides electricity in developing economies and rural areas as an alternative to kerosene lighting.
• Smart Meter Pilot Program (Ethiopia) Smart-meter pilot program with dVentus Technologies to install 1,000 smart meters in cooperation with Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU) in Addis Ababa to detect outages, monitor power usage, and increase efficiency.

Quantifiable outcome

• Developed 330 MW utility-scale solar plant in Mexico
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United Nations Foundation (SE4ALL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership International is helping develop a comprehensive Global Micro-grid Resource Portal in support of the UN Foundation's Sustainable Energy for All effort, working with the UN Foundation Mini/Micro-Grid Working Group and consortium of NGOs and private micro-grid companies.
• International Geothermal Association (IGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with International Geothermal Association received financing from World Bank to host International Geothermal Workshop as part of Geothermal Energy Development Program (GeoFund).
• Cavitation Technologies, Inc. (CTi)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership International is helping develop and implement international business strategy for CTi's cavitation water treatment technology that can remediate water without chemicals or added emissions.
• Regeneración Ecológica/Enermun (Mexico)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership International is helping develop 330 MW utility-scale PV power projects in Mexico, working with Sustainable Development Partners.
• GIDS Consult, Ltd.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership International is working with GIDS Consult to carry out feasibility study for Buranga Geothermal Concession development in Uganda.
• Kuwale Power Generation Company (KPGC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership International is working with KPGC and Walla Investments to develop Malawi Mulanje Massif hydropower project with potential 16-52 MW capacity.
• dVentus TechnologiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership International is working with dVentus Technologies to install 1,000 smart meters in cooperation with Ethiopian Electric Utility as pilot program.
• Indonesia Ministry of Planning (BAPPENAS)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership International provided technical assistance to BAPPENAS for planning and coordinating public and private investments in the geothermal sector.
• Government of Kenya / Geothermal Development Company (GDC)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership International conducted feasibility study for African Geothermal Center of Excellence, funded by ICEIDA and Nordic Development Fund.
• Caribbean Community Climate Change Center (CCCCC)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership International was chosen to provide consultancy services to develop USAID CCAP Expanded Work Plan for Eastern and Southern Caribbean region.
• Sustainable Development Partners, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated consulting firm co-developing renewable energy projects including utility-scale solar plants and geothermal developments in emerging markets.
• Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association (JHTA)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership International assisted JHTA develop grid-connected Solar PV systems with funding from USAID Clean Energy Facility.
• Global Trade and Development Corporation (GTDC)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership International is conducting feasibility study for 3x100MW utility-scale solar PPP project in Ethiopia.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• RTI International: Nonprofit research institute delivering donor-funded technical assistance across energy, environment, and economic growth — comparable in client mix (USAID, multilaterals, host governments) and project types.
• Abt Associates: Research and consulting firm executing donor-funded programs in energy, environment, and economic development — a close peer in international development advisory with similar client base.
• DAI: Global development consulting firm providing technical assistance, advisory, and project implementation to bilateral donors, multilaterals, and host-country governments across energy, infrastructure, and economic growth — a direct peer in international development advisory.
• Chemonics International: International development consultancy implementing USAID, MCC, and donor-funded programs worldwide, including in renewable energy and infrastructure — directly comparable in donor-funded advisory and implementation work.
• FHI 360: International development organization delivering donor-funded programs in economic growth, energy, and environment — comparable in donor-dependent development advisory work.
• Cardno (now part of Stantec): International development and infrastructure consulting firm with donor-funded programs across energy, water, and environment in emerging markets — closely comparable in business model and client base.

Regional players

• Baringa Partners: Energy and climate advisory firm serving utilities, regulators, and developers — comparable in energy economics and regulatory advisory, though primarily UK/Europe-focused rather than emerging-market development.

Broad incumbents

• Tetra Tech: Large consulting and engineering firm with deep renewable energy, water, and environment practices serving public and private clients globally — overlapping capability set at significantly greater scale.
• McKinsey (Energy & Sustainability Practice): Global management consultancy advising governments, multilaterals, and private clients on energy transition strategy — overlaps in energy policy and project structuring, though at much larger scale and broader scope.
• ICF International: Public-sector consultancy with major energy, environment, and international development practices advising multilateral agencies, governments, and utilities — competes for similar donor-funded renewable energy advisory work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Partnership International