Society of Researchers for International Development

What Society of Researchers for International Development does

The Society of Researchers for International Development (SRID) is a Tokyo-based, non-profit professional association founded around 1974 that serves Japanese researchers, practitioners, and students working in international development. It functions as a peer community, knowledge publisher, and training provider, anchoring a niche that sits between Japanese academia and the country's bilateral/multilateral development agencies. Its membership is individual rather than institutional and is small in absolute terms—approximately 55 domestic and 4 overseas members by 2011, with 11 student members recorded by 2013—reflecting a mature but narrow constituency.

Its core products are the SRID Journal (a peer-reviewed publication with 31 issues planned through 2026/2027), the International Development Professional Course (IDPC) priced at ¥15,000 per participant, career development counseling, newsletters, a forum and seminar series, and on-site lectures. Delivery combines in-person events with digital channels, including the association's online platform (sridonline.org) and Zoom-based training. The association has accumulated 1,657 career development participants and 87 roster registrants by 2024, and sustains programming through partnerships with JICA, UNIDO Tokyo, World Bank Tokyo, ADB Japan, OECD Tokyo, and several universities and consultancies.

The business model is membership-fee-based at approximately ¥9,000 per member per year, supplemented by course fees, events, and presumably in-kind support from institutional partners. Annual membership fee income ran ¥631,000–¥693,600 during 2009–2010, indicating extremely modest cash scale. There is no evidence of grants, fundraising rounds, commercial sponsorships at material levels, or monetization of data or digital assets; the association is sustained primarily by volunteer effort, member dues, and the institutional goodwill of its multilateral partners.

Name

Society of Researchers for International Development

Legal name

Society of Researchers for International Development

Website

https://sridonline.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Short description

SRID is a Tokyo-based non-profit professional association founded in 1974 that serves Japanese international development researchers and practitioners through a peer-reviewed journal, professional training courses, career development services, and forums, anchored by partnerships with JICA, UNIDO Tokyo, and the World Bank Tokyo.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association / International Development Education Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADAEAC

Institutional Capacity Building & Training (Workforce/Systems Strengthening)

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/International Development & Technical Assistance

SECONDARYBPADABAO

Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building & Policy Advisory Programs

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Bilateral Development Agencies & Aid Programs

SECONDARYBPADANAB

Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/International Standards, Policy & Regulatory Cooperation

SECONDARYEDAIABAC

Research Collaboration & Joint Labs (International Partnerships)

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/University/College Exchange Programs & Partnerships

Keywords

• International development research
• Professional association services
• Career development training
• Development cooperation networking
• Academic journal publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from domestic, overseas, and student members. Based on historical data, membership fees ranged from 9,000 yen for regular members to varying rates for different membership categories.
2. Professional Training Programs: Revenue from International Development Professional Course (IDPC) fees. Course fee is ¥15,000 per participant for the 5-day professional course targeting UN/MDB aspirants.
3. Career Development Services: Fees for career counseling services, with some individual counseling provided free as part of training courses
4. Training Lecture Services: On-site training lectures provided to universities, NGOs, and corporate groups upon request, with fees covering transportation, materials, speaker honorariums

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SRID (Society of Researchers for International Development) is a membership-based professional association founded in 1974 that delivers learning programs, professional training courses, career development services, academic publications, and networking events for international development researchers and practitioners. The organization offers the International Development Professional Course (IDPC), individual career counseling, the SRID Journal, regular forums, salon discussions, and study groups focused on international development cooperation. Revenue is generated through annual membership fees, course fees (¥15,000 per participant), career counseling, and customized on-site training lectures for universities, NGOs, and corporate groups.

Product overview

SRID (Society of Researchers for International Development) is a professional research association that offers a portfolio of products and services centered on international development cooperation. The core offerings include the SRID Journal (academic publication), the International Development Professional Course (IDPC) for career development, career development counseling services, and regular forums including Public-Private Partnership Study Groups and Salon Discussions. The organization also publishes the SRID Newsletter and SRID Career Development Newsletter, and provides on-site lectures. These products serve researchers, development professionals, and students in the international development field, combining research dissemination with practical career development support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• International Development Professional Course (IDPC) Professional development course targeting individuals aspiring to work at UN agencies, UN organizations, and international development financial institutions (MDBs). Delivered online via Zoom with course fees of ¥15,000 per participant.
• Career Development Counseling Individual counseling services for career path guidance, study abroad preparation, international organization applications, CV writing, interview preparation, and post-employment career development. Includes free individual sessions as part of IDPC course completion.
• SRID Journal Academic journal published by SRID covering international development research topics, member profiles, and policy recommendations. Published regularly with Issue No. 30 released and Issue No. 31 scheduled for 2026/2027.
• SRID Career Development Newsletter Newsletter focused on career development in the international development field, published twice yearly, covering career pathways, recruitment information, and professional development resources.
• Public-Private Partnership Study Group (官民連携型開発協力勉強会) Regular study group meetings discussing public-private partnerships in international development cooperation, with sessions held monthly. Members discuss topics such as infrastructure development, defense-sector cooperation, and social policy.
• On-site Training Lectures (出張講座) Customized lectures and training services delivered by SRID member speakers at universities, companies, NGOs, and other organizations on development topics, PCM methodology, presentation skills, and cross-cultural communication.
• SRID Annual Membership Annual membership program with fees for domestic, overseas, and student members (general member annual fee was ¥9,000 as of 2010, reduced from ¥18,000). Provides access to member-only content, events, journals, and career development services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,657 cumulative participants in career development activities (2016-2024)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJICA serves as a primary venue partner for SRID events and symposia. SRID activities frequently reference JICA's work and programs. The 53rd Annual General Meeting was held at JICA Ichigaya 'Earth Hiroba' (地球ひろば).
• UNIDO Tokyo (United Nations Industrial Development Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRID study meetings (懇談会) are regularly held at the UNIDO Tokyo office. UNIDO officials serve as speakers and instructors for SRID programs, including the banana textile project and BOP business initiatives.
• World Bank Tokyo OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld Bank Tokyo Office is referenced as a key international development institution partner. WB staff participate in SRID events and forums as speakers and resource persons.
• ADB (Asian Development Bank) Japan Representative OfficeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerADB Japan office listed as a partner organization in SRID's network of international development institutions.
• OECD Tokyo CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOECD Tokyo Center included in SRID's international organization partner network for knowledge sharing and collaboration.
• Kansai Gaidai University, Faculty of Comprehensive PolicyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRID student section was revived at this university in 2011 under the guidance of member Nakano Yukinori. Student members conduct research and study tours through this partnership.
• JIRCAS (Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a public interest corporation partner in SRID's network. JIRCAS researchers present at SRID forums on African agriculture development topics.
• MIS (Multilateral Interaction with Students)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent organization established by Tokyo University students in 2011. SRID members conducted PCM methodology training for MIS in 2016-2018. Collaboration focuses on talent development for international cooperation.
• Oriental Consultants Co., Ltd.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a private company partner. SRID members from this firm participate in forums and share expertise in international development consulting.
• Global Group 21 Japan (GG21)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a private company partner. SRID member companies involved in international development consulting and climate change initiatives.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE): Government-affiliated organization providing training, dispatch programs, and capacity-building services for international cooperation. Comparable as a competing provider of professional development pathways for Japanese professionals entering international development careers.
• Japanese Society of International Development Studies: Academic society for international development researchers in Japan. Directly comparable as a Japanese professional association serving researchers and academics in the development field, with overlapping membership base and conference/journal activities.
• Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development (FASID): Japanese non-profit providing graduate-level education and training for international development professionals. Directly comparable as a domestic capacity-building organization serving the same talent pool and employer network as SRID, though with larger institutional scale and government backing.
• Japan Association for International Collaboration of Agriculture and Forestry (JAICAF): Japanese non-profit supporting international cooperation in agriculture and forestry. Comparable as a membership-based professional association facilitating knowledge exchange and training among development practitioners in a specific thematic area.
• International Development Center of Japan (IDCJ): Non-profit consulting firm conducting policy research and capacity-building projects in developing countries. Comparable as a Japanese organization operating at the intersection of development research, training, and practitioner networking, with overlapping partner relationships.

Broad incumbents

• Overseas Development Institute (ODI): UK-based global affairs think tank focused on international development research and policy. Comparable in mission—development research dissemination and practitioner networking—but operates at vastly larger scale with global reach.
• Global Development Network (GDN): International organization supporting development research capacity worldwide. Comparable as a development research network connecting researchers and practitioners, though with global scope and institutional funding unlike SRID's Japan-centric volunteer model.
• IDE-JETRO (Institute of Developing Economies): Government-affiliated research institute conducting social science research on developing economies. Comparable as a Japanese knowledge institution in the international development space, though operating at much larger scale with extensive publishing and conference programs.

Emerging players

• Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation (JANIC): Japanese network organization for international cooperation NGOs. Comparable as a Japanese membership-based coalition in the development sector, though focused on NGO coordination rather than individual researcher career development.

Regional players

• International Development Journal (IDJ): Japanese publishing company specializing in international development news and analysis. Comparable as a content and information platform serving the Japanese development community, though operating as a media business rather than membership association.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/%E5%9B%BD%E9%9A%9B%E9%96%8B%E7%99%BA%E7%A0%94%E8%80%85%E5%8D%94%E4%BC%9Asrid-1153605394745435

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Society of Researchers for International Development