Consortium for Development Policy Research

What Consortium for Development Policy Research does

The Consortium for Development Policy Research (CDPR) is a Pakistan-based non-profit research and dissemination organization headquartered in Lahore (19 A FCC Scheme, Maratib Ali Road, Gulberg IV) with a 13-person core team led by CEO Zara Salman and Executive Director Dr. Ijaz Nabi, who concurrently serves as the International Growth Centre (IGC) Country Director for Pakistan. CDPR's stated function is to generate public discourse on Pakistan's development challenges through evidence-based policy research on taxation, trade, agriculture, climate change, cities, higher education, FDI, and state capacity. It does not sell products or services and does not maintain a unified software platform; instead it operates a portfolio of knowledge products including the Insights for Change and Pakistan Growth Story publication series, the Lahore Policy Exchange convening platform, closed-door workshops, the Let's Talk Development podcast, the CDPR Young Policy Scholar Programme, and the Macrodata data portal. Its research output is backed by a network of contributors affiliated with LUMS, IBA Karachi, Johns Hopkins, Oxford, Tufts, Iowa State, and the University of Delaware.

CDPR's underlying technology footprint is limited and content-led rather than product-led. The organization distributes all publications, reports, policy briefs, podcasts, and workshop outputs through its website (cdpr.org.pk) on an open-access basis, supported by a weekly newsletter, the Macrodata data resource, and social media channels. There are no proprietary software products, AI/ML capabilities, or third-party integrations disclosed in the available material, and the website functions as the primary distribution surface.

The business model is that of a grant-funded non-profit rather than a commercial enterprise. Revenue streams consist of institutional funding from IGC and programmatic grants including REMIT (Research on Economics and Macroeconomic Issues for Trade) supported by FCDO, supplemented by research collaborations with multilateral institutions such as the World Bank. CDPR does not charge for its outputs; its "customers" in the dissemination sense are federal and provincial government policymakers, academic researchers, development practitioners and donors, and media, all of whom access content freely. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, executed through workshops, conferences, the Lahore Policy Exchange, and content publishing rather than a sales motion.

Name

Consortium for Development Policy Research

Legal name

Consortium for Development Policy Research

Website

https://cdpr.org.pk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CDPR is a Pakistan-based, Lahore-headquartered non-profit policy research organization that produces evidence-based analysis on taxation, trade, agriculture, climate, and state capacity for government policymakers, academics, and development practitioners, funded primarily by the International Growth Centre.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lahore

HQ country

Pakistan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Institutional Funding: CDPR is supported by the International Growth Centre (IGC) and conducts research funded by programs such as REMIT (Research on Economics and Macroeconomic Issues for Trade) supported by FCDO. The organization also collaborates with multilateral institutions including the World Bank on research and policy engagement.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CDPR is a Pakistan-based research and dissemination organization that produces evidence-based policy analysis on economic development issues including taxation, trade, agriculture, climate change, and education. It delivers its work through publication series (Insights for Change, Pakistan Growth Story), convening events (Lahore Policy Exchange, workshops, conferences), a podcast (Let's Talk Development), a data portal (Macrodata), and a Young Policy Scholar Programme. All outputs are made freely available to maximize reach among policymakers, researchers, and the public.

Product overview

The Consortium for Development Policy Research (CDPR) is a Pakistan-based research and dissemination organization supported by the International Growth Center (IGC). Rather than offering a unified software product, CDPR provides a portfolio of research and knowledge products including publication series (Insights for Change, Pakistan Growth Story), event convenings (Lahore Policy Exchange, Workshops, Conferences), a podcast (Let's Talk Development), a fellowship programme (Young Policy Scholar Programme), and data resources (Macrodata). These offerings collectively aim to generate public discourse on key policy issues through cutting-edge research and policy analysis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Let's Talk Development: Podcast series exploring development topics
• Lahore Policy Exchange
• Insights for Change

Products and services

• Insights for Change A publication series featuring analytical articles on key development and policy issues affecting Pakistan, covering topics such as taxation, trade, education, and governance. Targeted at policymakers, researchers, and informed public.
• Pakistan Growth Story A publication series documenting Pakistan's economic development trajectory through research-based analysis and policy recommendations. Aimed at government officials, economists, and development professionals.
• Lahore Policy Exchange A policy dialogue platform convening stakeholders to discuss pressing policy issues including climate change and gender disparities, featuring expert speakers and audience engagement.
• Let's Talk Development Podcast A podcast series featuring conversations with researchers, policymakers, and experts on development issues affecting Pakistan, including episodes on land rights, education, agriculture, and governance. Available globally on podcast platforms.
• Macrodata Portal A data resource providing access to macroeconomic indicators and statistics relevant to Pakistan's development landscape, intended for use by researchers and policymakers.
• CDPR Young Policy Scholar Programme A programme designed to engage emerging scholars and researchers in development policy research.
• Reports Comprehensive research reports and policy notes produced by CDPR on various development topics, made available to policymakers and researchers.
• Research Projects

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• International Growth Centre (IGC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDPR is supported by and partnered with the International Growth Centre (IGC), a global research organization focused on promoting sustainable growth in developing countries. IGC provides institutional support, funding, and research coordination. IGC Country Director Dr. Ijaz Nabi serves as Executive Director of CDPR, and IGC's Director of Research Tim Dobermann contributes to CDPR's work. This is CDPR's primary institutional partnership.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Institute of Development Studies (IDS): UK-based global research and learning organisation on international development. Comparable to CDPR in mission (research-to-policy bridge), convening role, and donor-funded structure, but operating at much larger scale with global rather than single-country remit.
• International Growth Centre (IGC): Global development research organisation funded by UK FCDO that is CDPR's primary institutional partner and effectively its parent. Directly comparable as the upstream funder and research-coordination body for country-level policy work in developing economies including Pakistan.
• Brookings Institution: Major US-based public policy research organisation producing rigorous analysis across economics, foreign policy, and development. Comparable to CDPR in its editorial independence, publication-driven dissemination, and convening role, though vastly larger in scale.
• Overseas Development Institute (ODI): London-based global think tank on international development and humanitarian policy. Comparable in research-to-policy model and donor-funded structure, though operates globally rather than in a single country like CDPR.
• Centre for Global Development (CGD): Washington DC-based think tank focused on reducing global poverty and inequality through evidence-based policy research. Comparable in its research-driven, non-advocacy approach to influencing policy in developing countries.

Direct peers

• Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI): Islamabad-based think tank conducting policy research on sustainable development, trade, and governance in Pakistan. Closely comparable to CDPR in mission (evidence-based policy research), dissemination model (publications, events, media), and donor-funded non-profit structure.
• International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI): CGIAR research centre focused on policy solutions for poverty reduction, food security, and sustainable agriculture in developing countries. Directly comparable to CDPR's agriculture and food exports research stream and overall policy-research-to-impact model.
• Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE): Pakistan's premier government-affiliated development economics research institute based in Islamabad. Directly comparable to CDPR in focus area (Pakistan development economics), target audience (policymakers and academics), and output type (working papers, policy briefs).

Others

• World Bank Development Research Group: World Bank's research arm producing development economics research. Comparable as a counterpart institution — CDPR collaborates with the World Bank and several CDPR researchers (Dr. Ijaz Nabi, Farrukh Iqbal) are former World Bank economists.

Regional players

• Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS): Islamabad-based independent think tank covering security, governance, and development policy in Pakistan and South Asia. Comparable as a peer Pakistan-focused policy research organisation with donor funding and a similar dissemination model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/consortium-for-development-policy-research

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Consortium for Development Policy Research