What Society for International Development does

The Society for International Development (SID) is a non-profit membership organization founded in 1957 and registered in Rome, Italy (Fiscal Code 80411620588). It operates through an International Secretariat based in Rome and Nairobi and a global network of local chapters, engaging development practitioners, governments, civil society organizations, and academic institutions through research, policy dialogue, and convening. Its work is organized around six thematic programs — Economic Justice; Energy, Environment and Climate Justice; Food Systems, Nutrition and Agroecology; Global Health Justice; Futures and Foresight; and Gender and Development — plus the scenario-based Sustainable Energy Futures Project covering Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

SID's core deliverables are knowledge-based rather than technology-based: the peer-reviewed Development Journal, published quarterly since 1957 by Springer Nature; thematic reports and briefs (including outputs on inequality, food financialization, energy transitions, and global health governance); webinars and policy dialogues; and the facilitation of multi-stakeholder civil society mechanisms in UN governance spaces. The organization serves as the fiscal agent for the Civil Society Financing for Development Mechanism (over 800 organizations and 1,000+ individuals) and co-facilitates the Civil Society and Indigenous Peoples' Mechanism (CSIPM) for the UN Committee on World Food Security. It is also a member of the Geneva Global Health Hub (G2H2) Steering Committee and the Reflection Group on the 2030 Agenda.

The business model is a hybrid of recurring subscription revenue (individual membership EUR 15–35/year and institutional membership EUR 50–500/year, with multi-year discounts) and institutional/donor funding, with the Government of Norway (Norad) as the largest disclosed anchor donor under a NOK 31 million cumulative framework (NOK 16M in 2020 plus NOK 15M amendment in November 2024). Annual consolidated expenditure is approximately EUR 2,000,000, covering institutional costs, donor-funded projects, and sub-grants to partners. Distribution is digital-first via sidint.org with free publication downloads, supplemented by global chapter affiliations and direct convening in UN/multilateral policy spaces including WHO, CFS, UNCTAD, and the FfD conference series (Monterrey, Doha, Addis Ababa, Sevilla).

Name

Society for International Development

Legal name

Society for International Development (SID)

Website

https://sidint.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Society for International Development is a 1957-founded non-profit membership organization that convenes development practitioners, conducts policy research, and facilitates civil society engagement in global governance through six thematic programs and its flagship Development Journal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bilateral Development & Global Health Cooperation Programs (HLAJAOAB), Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

Keywords

• International development
• Development policy research
• Membership association
• Policy dialogue
• Development publications

Headquarters

HQ city

Rome

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: SID generates revenue through annual membership fees from individual and institutional members. Individual fees range from EUR 15 to 35 per year depending on OECD/non-OECD status and student/regular category. Institutional fees range from EUR 50 to 500 per year based on organizational budget size.
2. Institutional Funding and Grants: SID receives institutional funding and project grants from development partners and donors. Its annual consolidated expenditure is approximately EUR 2,000,000 comprising institutional costs, donor-funded projects, and sub-grants to partners. SID serves as fiscal agent for the Civil Society Financing for Development Mechanism with Norad support.
3. Publications and Reports: SID produces and disseminates research publications and reports, including the Development Journal (published quarterly by Springer Nature for SID), program publications, and thematic reports on energy, food, health, and economics. Downloads are freely available online.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

SID is a membership-based international development association that serves development practitioners, researchers, and institutions through publications, policy dialogues, and global convenings. Its core offerings include the quarterly "Development" journal, policy briefings, working papers, professional learning events, and a chapter-based network spanning multiple regions.

Product overview

SID operates as a membership-based international development organization offering programs, publications, and convening services. The core offerings include the Development Journal (published since 1957 via Springer Nature), six thematic program areas (Economic Justice, Food Systems/Nutrition/Agroecology, Energy/Environment/Climate Justice, Global Health Justice, Futures/Foresight, and Gender), the Sustainable Energy Futures Project for scenario-based research, and the Civil Society Financing for Development Mechanism. Programs produce research publications, organize events and webinars, and facilitate policy dialogues. Membership provides access to publications, the journal, newsletters, and learning events. SID is not a technology product company; it does not offer software, platforms, or digital tools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Individual Membership Annual membership for individual development practitioners and researchers, granting access to the Development quarterly journal, member events, and the global SID network.
• Institutional Membership Annual membership tier for organizations (NGOs, donor agencies, multilaterals, academic institutions) that provides access to publications, policy convenings, and institutional networking.
• Development Quarterly Journal Peer-reviewed quarterly publication covering international development policy, research, and practice, distributed to individual and institutional members.
• Policy Briefings and Working Papers Policy research publications that synthesize contemporary development-policy debates for the membership and broader development community.
• Global and Regional Conferences Multi-stakeholder conferences convened globally and regionally to bring together development professionals, donor agencies, multilaterals, NGOs, and academics around pressing policy issues.

Quantifiable outcome

• SID has facilitated civil society engagement in four major UN Financing for Development conferences (Monterrey 2002, Doha 2008, Addis Ababa 2015, Sevilla 2025) and continues to support year-round follow-up on FfD thematic areas.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

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Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Heinrich Böll Stiftung (HBS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Heinrich Böll Stiftung has been a consistent supporter of SID's Sustainable Energy Futures Project, which examines energy scenarios and challenges in Eastern Africa. HBS co-funded the 'Energy for Whom? Scenarios for Eastern Africa' report (2018) and the 'Energy for What? Contemporary Energy Issues and Dilemmas in Kenya' compendium (2021). They also support the SEF Tanzania initiative, including the December 2023 consultative meeting in Dar es Salaam and ongoing SEF Tanzania Report research.
• Geneva Global Health Hub (G2H2)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSID collaborates closely with G2H2 on global health policy debates and events. SID is a member of G2H2's Steering Committee. Joint activities include the 'Feeding Profits, Starving People' report launch (May 2026), the EB158 Side Event on Financialisation and Economics of Health for All, WHA side events, and energy transition webinars. G2H2 organizes policy debate series preceding WHO Executive Board sessions and World Health Assemblies.
• United Nations University International Institute for Global Health (UNU-IIGH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNU-IIGH and Third World Network co-convened an international symposium on 'Strengthening Global Health Governance: Defending the Public Interest and Holding Powerful Private Actors Accountable' in Kuala Lumpur (April 2025). Over 100 health experts participated. SID contributed on structural drivers of inequality in global health governance and civil society's role in holding power to account. SID also participates in WHO Council on Economics of Health for All activities.
• Third World NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThird World Network, based in Malaysia, co-convened the international symposium on global health governance with UNU-IIGH in Kuala Lumpur (April 2025). SID participated as a contributor. Third World Network is also a partner in the Pan-African Conference on Inequalities organized in Accra in 2014.
• Civil Society and Indigenous Peoples' Mechanism (CSIPM) for the Committee on World Food Security (CFS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSID co-facilitates multiple workstreams within CSIPM, the civil society and indigenous peoples' mechanism for relations with the UN Committee on World Food Security. SID contributed to the 'Voices from the Ground II' report on global food crises and participates actively in CFS sessions on gender, food systems, and policy.
• Global Network on the Right to Food and NutritioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSID is an active member of the Global Network for the Right to Food and Nutrition, a CSO and social movement initiative including peasants, fisherfolk, pastoralists, landless people, consumers, women, youth, and indigenous peoples. SID co-authors articles for the annual Right to Food and Nutrition Watch, including the 2025 edition on financial reform and the right to food.
• Reflection Group on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSID is an active member of the Reflection Group on the 2030 Agenda and contributes annually to the Spotlight Report on Sustainable Development, a key independent assessment of progress on the SDGs.
• Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSID and KNBS have collaborated since 2004 on inequality research in Kenya, producing landmark publications including 'Pulling Apart: Facts and Figures on Inequality in Kenya', 'Readings on Inequality in Kenya', 'Geographic Dimensions of Well-Being in Kenya', and 'Exploring Kenya's Inequality: Pulling Apart or Pooling Together?'
• Civil Society Financing for Development Mechanism (CS FfD Mechanism)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSID serves as the fiscal agent and facilitator for the Civil Society Financing for Development Mechanism, an open network of 800+ organizations and 1,000+ individuals engaged in the UN FfD process. SID manages Norad funding and coordinates civil society advocacy for economic justice and systemic reforms at FfD conferences.
• Committee on World Food Security (CFS) / FAOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSID actively engages with the food and nutrition agenda of the Rome-based agencies and the Committee on World Food Security. SID participates in CFS negotiations and processes, contributing to policy outcomes on food systems, gender, and food security.
• University of Oslo's Collective on the Political Determinants of HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Collective on the Political Determinants of Health, based at the University of Oslo, co-sponsored the international symposium on global health governance alongside WHO, Oxfam, and UNU-IIGH in Kuala Lumpur (April 2025), at which SID contributed.
• OxfamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOxfam co-sponsored the international symposium on global health governance convened by UNU-IIGH and Third World Network in Kuala Lumpur (April 2025), where SID participated as a contributor on inequality and health governance.
• World Health Organization (WHO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHO co-sponsored the international symposium on global health governance (Kuala Lumpur, April 2025) organized by UNU-IIGH and Third World Network. SID engages with WHO through G2H2 on global health governance, health financialization, and economic justice policy debates.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED): IIED is a policy and research organization working on sustainable development, climate justice, and inclusive economic governance. Its thematic overlap with SID (energy, climate, food, gender) and its convening/policy engagement model make it a directly comparable peer.
• Global Policy Forum: Global Policy Forum is a New York-based independent policy watchdog focused on UN economic governance, financing for development, and corporate accountability. It is a direct peer to SID in UN FfD civil society engagement and economic justice work.
• Geneva Global Health Hub (G2H2): G2H2 is a Geneva-based civil society hub focused on global health governance, with which SID co-organizes policy debates and WHO side events. The organizations are direct peers within the WHO/World Health Assembly advocacy ecosystem.
• Overseas Development Institute (ODI): ODI is a UK-based independent think tank on international development and humanitarian policy. Like SID, ODI produces research, convenes policy dialogues, and engages directly with multilateral processes (UN, FfD-adjacent), making it a directly comparable development think tank peer.
• Third World Network: Third World Network is a Malaysia-based international network conducting research and advocacy on global governance, trade, finance, and development from a Southern perspective. SID has co-convened events with TWN, and both organizations share a Southern-led, rights-based policy paradigm across overlapping UN processes.

Broad incumbents

• Center for Global Development (CGD): CGD is a larger, well-funded think tank producing research and policy analysis on global development, finance, and governance. It overlaps with SID on Financing for Development and economic governance work but operates at a far larger scale and with a broader portfolio.
• World Resources Institute (WRI): WRI is a global research organization working on environment, climate, energy, and sustainable development. SID's Energy, Environment and Climate Justice Program overlaps thematically with WRI's energy transition and climate finance work, though WRI operates at substantially larger scale.
• Oxfam International: Oxfam is a global confederation of NGOs working on inequality, climate, food, and health justice. SID has co-sponsored events with Oxfam and overlaps in global health governance and inequality research, but Oxfam operates at vastly larger scale across direct programming and advocacy.
• Heinrich Böll Stiftung: Heinrich Böll Stiftung is a German political foundation affiliated with the Greens that funds and conducts policy work on ecology, democracy, gender, and global justice. It is both an SID strategic partner (co-funder of the SEF Project) and a broader incumbent with overlapping climate, energy, and just transition agendas.

Emerging players

• Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP): IATP works on food systems, trade policy, and agroecology — closely mirroring SID's Food Systems, Nutrition and Agroecology Program. It is a smaller, specialized peer with overlapping engagement in the Committee on World Food Security.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SID_INT
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC4FizOKXR-Rr74r1bzwIidw
• Facebookfacebook.com/50559765184
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/society-for-international-development
• Instagraminstagram.com/sid.international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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M&A

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Frequently asked questions about Society for International Development