Sustainable Development Institute (SDI)

What Sustainable Development Institute (SDI) does

The Sustainable Development Institute (SDI) is a Liberian non-profit civil society organization founded in 2002 and headquartered in Duazon Village, Monrovia. It serves as the Liberian charter of Friends of the Earth International and is an alliance member of the Green Livelihoods Alliance representing the African continent. SDI's mission is to transform natural-resource decision-making in Liberia so that benefits from forest exploitation are shared equitably with forest-dependent communities. It does this through four core programs: the Community Land Protection Programme (CLPP), which formalizes customary land and establishes community-based land governance structures; the Forest Governance Program (FGP), which investigates the social, economic, and environmental effects of natural-resource policies and corporate concessions; the Community Rights and Corporate Governance Program (CRCGP), which monitors corporate and government compliance with social and environmental obligations; and a Media & Visibility program for advocacy communications. The organization also operates the LRA Information Hub (a land-rights resource database) and the Just Energy Transition (JET) Project.

SDI's underlying technology consists of GIS-based land-boundary mapping and the TIMBY (This Is My Backyard) investigative documentation platform, used by a specialist team to collect geospatial data and document environmental and social impacts in concession areas. The organization employs approximately 22 staff across programmatic, finance, M&E, GIS, communications, and operations functions, with a board chaired externally and including founder Silas Siakor.

SDI's revenue model is grant-based: it does not sell products or services commercially, instead receiving project and core funding from international donors and development agencies. Identified funders include the UK's FCDO (via IIED's REDAA programme), the International Land and Forest Tenure Facility, Welthungerhilfe (WHH), Rainforest Rescue, Friends of the Earth USA, Milieudefensie, and the Green Livelihoods Alliance. Programmatic reach includes 683,934 hectares under the KEEPING THE PROMISE project across seven counties, 30+ communities and 7,500 beneficiaries under ecosystem-restoration work, and a coalition of 25+ civil-society organizations in the NGO Coalition of Liberia.

Name

Sustainable Development Institute (SDI)

Legal name

Sustainable Development Institute

Website

https://sdiliberia.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SDI is a Liberian non-profit civil society organization founded in 2002 that operates programs across community land protection, forest governance, corporate accountability, and renewable-energy advocacy, serving forest-dependent communities and partnering with international donors and Liberian government agencies to formalize customary land rights and equitable natural-resource benefit-sharing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Advocacy and Land Rights Services

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Forestry (800), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

Keywords

• Land rights advocacy
• Forest governance services
• Community land protection
• Environmental civil society
• Corporate accountability programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Monrovia

HQ country

Liberia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Project/Grant Funding: SDI operates as a non-profit civil society organization that receives funding from international donors and development agencies to implement projects focused on community land protection, forest governance, and corporate accountability.
2. Donations and Support: SDI relies on support and solidarity from individuals and organisations around the world, with opportunities for donations through their website.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SDI is a civil society organization that delivers community land rights protection, forest governance, and corporate accountability services in Liberia through programmatic advocacy, community mobilization, and capacity building. Its work involves formalizing customary land tenure, monitoring concession compliance, training Community Land Development and Management Committees, and disseminating publications and media campaigns, supported by GIS mapping and the TIMBY investigative platform.

Product overview

The Sustainable Development Institute (SDI) operates as a civil society organization offering advocacy programs and information platforms rather than commercial technology products. Its core offerings consist of four interconnected programmatic initiatives: the Community Land Protection Programme (CLPP), Forest Governance Program (FGP), Community Rights and Corporate Governance Program (CRCGP), and Media and Visibility program. These programs work together to advance community land rights, forest protection, and corporate accountability in Liberia. Additionally, SDI maintains the LRA Information Hub, an information-sharing database for land rights resources. The organization also implements the Just Energy Transition (JET) Project for renewable energy advocacy. All offerings are programmatic/advocacy-focused rather than commercial product/software offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Land Protection Programme (CLPP) A program focused on formalizing customary land and establishing community-based land governance structures, working with traditional local leaders and national stakeholders to safeguard land rights.
• Forest Governance Program (FGP) A program focused on investigating and evaluating the social, economic, and environmental effects of natural resource policies, forest management, and corporate concessionaire behavior in Liberia.
• Community Rights and Corporate Governance Program (CRCGP) A program focused on ensuring that corporations and the government respect the social and environmental rights of communities affected by natural resource extraction.
• LRA Information Hub A central information sharing database with existing Land Rights Act (LRA) awareness materials and resources sourced from various actors and institutions working in the land and natural resource sectors.
• Just Energy Transition (JET) Project A project establishing a national-level platform for information exchange and dialogue on issues related to Liberia's renewable energy transition, including engagement with communities impacted by mining activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• US$200,000 secured for communities from Bea Mountain following legal battle
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Welthungerhilfe (WHH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Lead implementing agency for Community-Led Ecosystem Restoration project in Sierra Leone and Liberia. Partner in forest conservation and sustainable land use campaigns.
• NamaticoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNamati implements innovative legal empowerment interventions in partnership with governments and civil society organizations. They research and evaluate each intervention rigorously and aim to inform practice worldwide.
• World Rainforest MovementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization contributing to achieving respect of local peoples' rights over forests and territories. Part of global movement for social change ensuring social justice, human rights, and environmental conservation.
• Well GroundedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides services and support to local groups working with communities to assert rights and improve forest governance. Supports access to training, funding, resources, and information.
• Forest Peoples ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocates for respect of rights of peoples who know forests best. Works with forest peoples in South America, Africa, and Asia to help secure rights and build organizations.
• FERNcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean NGO working to achieve environmental and social justice focusing on forests and forest peoples' rights in EU policies. Collaborates with organizations worldwide.
• Friends of the Earth InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSDI is the Liberian charter of Friends of the Earth - the world's largest grassroots environmental network with 2 million members and supporters. SDI represents the African continent in Green Livelihoods Alliance.
• Njala UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides research and policy expertise for ecosystem restoration and forest conservation projects. Contributes academic rigor to project implementation.
• GreenlimbacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResponsible for reforestation and ecosystem restoration activities in ecosystem restoration projects. Leads on-the-ground restoration efforts.
• International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages the REDAA programme for FCDO. Provides technical support for reversing environmental degradation in Africa and Asia.
• Green Livelihoods Alliance (GLA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSDI is alliance member representing African continent. GLA Forest for a Just Future Programme supports community land rights and forest protection work.
• Milieudefensie (Friends of the Earth Netherlands)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports community engagement activities on environmental accountability. Part of Friends of the Earth network.
• International Land CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported development of CSO advocacy policy paper on land rights through consultancy firm support.
• Rights and Rice FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-convened development of CSO advocacy paper with SDI Land Program on protecting 2018 Land Rights Act.
• Client EarthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing Building Legal Foundations for Sustainable Forests and Livelihood project. Organizes Six Regional Forums for community forest governance.
• Liberia Land AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for customary land formalization. Collaborates on community land mapping, boundary harmonization, and land rights protection.
• Forestry Development Authority (FDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey government partner for forest governance. Oversees community forest management and Commercial Use Contract approvals.
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for environmental protection initiatives. Collaborates on monitoring and compliance enforcement.
• SAMFU (Save My Future Foundation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPromotes local leadership structures and alternative livelihood development to improve environmental quality.
• Center for Environment and Development, CamerounminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner focused on sustainable management of Central Africa's forests and protection of indigenous community rights.
• Parley LiberiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal implementing partner in KEEPING THE PROMISE project for community land and forest governance.
• Foundation for Community Initiatives (FCI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal implementing partner in KEEPING THE PROMISE project and CBFM program for community land and forest governance.
• FAOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN agency leading Community-based Forestry and Protected Area Management (CBFM) Joint Program. Signed LOAs with SDI, TNC, and FCI.
• UNDPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner in CBFM Joint Program with FAO and Government of Sweden funding.
• The Nature Compact (TNC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner in CBFM program alongside SDI and FCI.
• Rural Integrated Center for Community Empowerment (RICCE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides capacity building on gender inclusiveness to GLA Liberia country partners. Supports women's empowerment in land rights advocacy.
• National Union of Community Forest Management Body (NUCFMB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on Six Regional Forums for forest governance and community forest management body capacity building.
• Heritage Partners and Associates (HPA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in regional forums for community forest governance under Client Earth project.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• FERN: European NGO working on forests and forest peoples' rights; collaborates with SDI directly. Operates similar advocacy, policy, and EU-facing accountability work on commodity-driven deforestation.
• Welthungerhilfe (WHH): German development NGO and current SDI co-implementer on the REDAA ecosystem restoration project across Bong and Suakoko. Operates similar forestry, food security, and rights-based programming in West Africa.
• Green Livelihoods Alliance: International alliance of NGOs working on community forest rights, of which SDI is an Africa-representative member. Shares donors (FCDO via REDAA, Milieudefensie), thematic focus, and program methodologies with SDI.
• Foundation for Community Initiatives (FCI): Liberian community-based NGO co-implementing the KEEPING THE PROMISE and CBFM programs alongside SDI. Directly comparable mandate and operating geography.
• Forest Peoples Programme: International NGO that supports forest-dependent communities to secure rights over their lands. SDI is an active partner and they share mandate, methodology, and donor ecosystem for community forestry advocacy.
• Client Earth: Environmental law NGO co-implementing the Building Legal Foundations project with SDI; shares legal-empowerment methodology, donor overlap, and community forest governance focus.
• Namati: International legal empowerment organization operating in Liberia and beyond. SDI is a listed Namati partner; both organizations pursue community-driven justice and rights enforcement as their core methodology.

Broad incumbents

• Friends of the Earth International: Global grassroots environmental federation of which SDI is the Liberian charter. Operates at worldwide scale and provides SDI with affiliation, brand recognition, and amplified advocacy reach.
• International Land Coalition: Global alliance on land rights that has supported SDI's CSO advocacy policy work. Operates at higher policy altitude but with overlapping constituency and donor base.

Regional players

• Center for Environment and Development, Cameroun: Regional NGO in Central Africa focused on sustainable forest management and indigenous community rights — comparable thematic mandate but operates in the Congo Basin rather than West Africa.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sustainable-development-institute-sdi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Sustainable Development Institute (SDI)