Equity Economics & Development Partners

What Equity Economics & Development Partners does

Equity Economics & Development Partners is an Australian-based economic and social policy consultancy that delivers commissioned research, economic modelling, and policy advisory services to government agencies, non-government organizations, and international development bodies. Its practice spans eight thematic areas: families and children, economic growth, Closing the Gap (First Nations policy), gender equality, health and disability, affordable housing, sustainable development, and rising disadvantage. The firm positions gender and distributional analysis as central to all engagements and works alongside clients on a long-term, partnership basis rather than transactional engagements.

The firm's core offering is bespoke policy research and analysis, delivered through direct consulting engagements. Reports and policy submissions — such as the DFV services demand crisis study for Domestic Violence NSW, youth housing penalty modelling for Homelessness Australia, and gambling-loss research for the Alliance for Gambling Reform and Wesley Mission — represent the primary deliverable type. There is no technology product, software platform, or AI/ML component underlying the service; the firm's intellectual capital resides in its multidisciplinary team of economists, former senior government officials, and community development specialists. Notable projects include work with the Australian Digital Health Agency on the National Digital Health Strategy and with IA-CEPA ECP Katalis on Indonesia–Australia bilateral trade in medical devices.

The firm operates as a private consultancy and is a member of the Cowater International group of companies, giving it access to a global international development distribution network. Its go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven: it markets primarily through thought leadership publications, media commentary, and professional networks, and it secures engagements through direct partnerships with institutional clients in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. The team is described as 'small and growing,' and the firm is actively recruiting at the Director level through early 2026.

Name

Equity Economics & Development Partners

Legal name

Equity Economics and Development Partners

Website

https://equityeconomics.com.au

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Equity Economics & Development Partners is an Australian boutique consultancy delivering commissioned economic and social policy research and advisory services to government agencies, NGOs, and international development bodies across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic & Social Policy Consulting

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory (BPADAMAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Development Cooperation & Foreign Aid Administration (BPAIAIAG)

Keywords

• Economic policy consulting
• Social policy research
• Inclusive growth advisory
• Public policy analysis
• International development consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Australia

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Policy Advisory Services: Revenue is generated through consulting engagements with government agencies, NGOs, and international organizations requiring economic analysis, social policy research, and policy development services. The firm works on commissioned research projects, budget submissions, and strategic policy advice.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Equity Economics & Development Partners provides commissioned economic and social policy research, analysis, and policy development services. The firm works with government agencies, non-government organizations, and international development partners across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region, addressing persistent economic and social disadvantage through rigorous economic modelling, policy advice, program evaluation, and budget submissions.

Product overview

Equity Economics & Development Partners is a consulting firm specializing in economic and social policy research, analysis, and policy development. The company operates as a single-service consultancy rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Their primary offering consists of commissioned research reports and policy analysis services across domains including families and children, economic growth, Closing the Gap (First Nations policy), gender equality, health and disability, affordable housing, sustainable development, and rising disadvantage. The 'Reports & Insights' section represents their published research outputs available to clients and the public, but these are deliverables rather than software products. The company functions as part of the Cowater International group of companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Economic and Social Policy Consulting Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Research showing that fixing youth housing policy would more than pay for itself within four years
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 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

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered parent company, key client and research partner, research partner, joint advocacy partner and research support partner.

• Cowater Internationalparent companyOthersEquity Economics is part of the Cowater International group of companies. Cowater International is a global consulting firm specializing in international development.
• Domestic Violence NSWkey client and research partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned research on the unmet demand crisis facing domestic and family violence services in NSW, examining funding levels and service capacity issues.
• Homelessness NSWkey client and research partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide analysis on NSW homelessness crisis including survey of specialist homelessness services and economic modelling on funding uplift requirements.
• Homelessness Australiakey client and research partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned analysis on youth housing policy and the economic benefits of removing the Youth Housing Penalty for vulnerable young people.
• Alliance for Gambling Reformresearch partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for research on gambling losses and their impact on Australian households during the cost-of-living crisis.
• Wesley Missionresearch partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for research on gambling losses and cost-of-living impacts on Australian families.
• IA-CEPA ECP Katalisresearch partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to produce market insight on bilateral trade and investment opportunities between Indonesia and Australia in medical devices and assistive technology.
• ACT Alliance for Evidence-Based Educationjoint advocacy partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint submission to ACT Government budget process proposing $92 million investment in evidence-based literacy and numeracy practices.
• Home Time Youth Housing Coalitionresearch support partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch supporting the coalition's advocacy to end the Youth Housing Penalty blocking access to social housing for vulnerable homeless young people.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Per Capita: Australian think tank focused on inequality, economics and social policy research; produces written outputs and analysis targeting similar policy advocacy audiences as Equity Economics.
• Centre for Policy Development: Australian independent think tank producing policy research on inequality, gender, climate and social inclusion; overlaps with Equity Economics' advocacy-oriented research style and client mix.

Direct peers

• Allen + Clarke: Australian policy and regulatory consultancy serving federal, state, and territory governments plus NGOs on social policy, evaluation, and reform - closely mirrors Equity Economics' client base and engagement types.
• ACIL Allen: Australian economic and policy consultancy with strong applied economics and public policy practice; comparable in size and service mix and often co-bids on similar Australian government mandates.
• Nous Group: Australian-headquartered management consultancy with a strong public policy, international development, and social outcomes practice; competes for the same Australian government and NGO policy advisory mandates as Equity Economics.
• Mandala Partners: Sydney-based economics and policy advisory firm focused on social impact, affordable housing, gender equality and First Nations outcomes - direct overlap with Equity Economics' thematic sweet spots.

Broad incumbents

• PwC Consulting Australia: Large professional services firm with a significant economics and public sector consulting practice; competes for Australian government policy and program evaluation work.
• Oxford Economics (Australia): Global economic research and forecasting consultancy with an Australian presence; competes for economic modelling, forecasting and policy advisory engagements at larger scales.
• KPMG Economics (Australia): Big 4 economics and policy advisory practice in Australia providing economic modelling, regulatory and social policy advice; competes on similar government tenders with broader bench strength.
• Deloitte Access Economics: Australia's largest dedicated economics advisory practice within a Big 4 firm; competes for the same federal and state economic policy and modelling mandates at larger ticket sizes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/equity-economics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Equity Economics & Development Partners