The Movement for Community-led Development

What The Movement for Community-led Development does

The Movement for Community-led Development (MCLD) is a Majority World-led global network of networks founded in 2015 that advances community-led development (CLD) practice through a membership structure comprising 3,000+ local and community-based organizations, 30 international NGOs, and 25 National Associations across more than 40 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Northern America, and increasingly Europe. Its core technical assets are proprietary research tools built around a nine-point CLD framework: the Participatory CLD Assessment Tool (a multilingual Progressive Web App available in eight languages including Amharic, Arabic, Bangla, English, French, Luganda, Nyanja, and Spanish) and the Quality Appraisal Tool for CLD Evaluations (a 13-question Excel-based instrument). Both tools are released under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0. Research outputs include the Unpacking CLD Report (a collaborative study of 173 programs across 65 countries produced by 35 researchers from 23 organizations), the InCLuDe Rapid Realist Review on CLD and food security, and sectoral position papers covering WASH, Health, and Livelihoods.

MCLD's business model is non-commercial for most assets and relies on a diversified mix of individual donations (collected via PayPal on its website), undisclosed membership dues, and grants from institutional funders including USAID's IDEAL Activity, the Ford Foundation, and the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. Limited commercial revenue comes from royalties on its December 2024 Routledge publication and custom training engagements, while its standard certificate training on the Assessment Tool is offered free of charge. Distribution occurs through National Association networks, monthly global calls, (Un)Learning Labs, working groups (Youth Task Force, CLD-MEL Community of Practice, Gender Working Group), and presence at multilateral forums such as UNGA, CSW, and Financing for Development. A small Secretariat team coordinates a distributed volunteer network with regional coordinators across East Africa, West Africa, Southern Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Europe.

The organization completed its transition from a program within The Hunger Project to an independent 501c3 nonprofit incorporated in Virginia (EIN 92-2398648) in 2024, marking its first year of managing its own finances and completing its first audit. Governance is democratic, with National Associations electing members to a Global Assembly; elections held in July 2025 deepened shared leadership, and a collectively developed Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 was finalized to guide the next growth phase. Customer segments span local/community-based organizations (primary), international NGOs, sub-national governments (notably Makueni County in Kenya), youth leaders, and national policymakers engaged through policy advocacy for locally-led development.

Name

The Movement for Community-led Development

Legal name

The Movement for Community-led Development

Website

https://mcld.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

MCLD is a Majority World-led global network of 3,000+ organizations across 40+ countries that advances community-led development through proprietary assessment tools, research, training, and policy advocacy. It became an independent 501c3 nonprofit in 2024.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning (MEL) & Reporting for Donor Programs (BPADAOAL)

Keywords

• Community development
• Nonprofit network
• International development
• Capacity building
• Membership organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: MCLD accepts donations through its website, which is linked to PayPal for secure online credit-card gifts. MCLD US is a IRS 501c3 independent tax-exempt non-profit eligible for tax-deductible contributions (EIN 92-2398648), incorporated in Virginia. The organization states it does not sell personal information and keeps donor records confidential.
2. Membership Dues: MCLD operates as a membership organization with National Associations. Organizations and individuals join MCLD through existing National Associations or by forming new ones. While specific membership dues are not publicly disclosed, the organization provides pathways for individuals and organizations to join.
3. Grants and Foundation Funding: MCLD has received grant funding from organizations including The Implementer Led Design, Evidence, Analysis and Learning (IDEAL) Activity / USAID. The organization also receives program-related income through trainings on the Participatory CLD Assessment Tool.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Movement for Community-led Development (MCLD) is a global membership network that advances community-led development (CLD) by convening 3,000+ local and community-based organizations, 30 international NGOs, and 25 national associations across 40+ countries. It produces research, frameworks, assessment tools, and training programs, and advocates for CLD principles within the international development sector. The organization is an independent 501c3 nonprofit incorporated in Virginia, USA, originating from The Hunger Project's network in 2015.

Product overview

The Movement for Community-led Development (MCLD) is a Majority World-led network of networks dedicated to fostering gender-focused community-led development. MCLD offers a portfolio of interconnected products and services: two core research and assessment tools (the Participatory CLD Assessment Tool and Quality Appraisal Tool for CLD Evaluations) for strengthening and evaluating CLD practice; published research outputs including the Unpacking CLD Report and InCLuDE Rapid Realist Review Report covering 173 programs across 65 countries; sectoral position papers on CLD in WASH, Health, and Livelihoods; and training programs including the Kenya School for Devolution and CLD and certificate trainings on the Participatory CLD Assessment Tool. The organization also facilitates event series (Global Monthly Calls, (Un)Learning Labs), supports working groups (Youth Task Force, CLD-MEL Community of Practice, Gender Working Group), and runs programs like ACT Now and the Collective Action Accelerator. MCLD published the book 'Community-Led Development in Practice: We Power Our Own Change' with Routledge in December 2024.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Participatory CLD Assessment Tool
• Quality Appraisal Tool
• Unpacking CLD Report
• InCLuDE Report
• Sectoral Position Papers
• Training Programs
• CLD Book

Quantifiable outcome

• MCLD Nigeria's 2023 election violence prevention campaign contributed to a 40% reduction in election-related violence in Nigeria
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ABCG (Africa Biodiversity Collaborative Group)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2023MCLD and ABCG signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Nairobi, Kenya in September 2023 to formalize their partnership for collaborative work on community-led development in Africa.
• Peace DirectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCLD partnered with Peace Direct, CIVICUS, and UNOY to shape Peace Direct's Funder Report Card, a self-assessment tool for Minority World funders. MCLD members were part of consultations in 2023-2024 to ensure the tool was shaped by Majority World perspectives.
• CIVICUScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIVICUS co-organized the 'Local Action, Global Accountability' event at UNGA 79 with MCLD, NEAR, Peace Direct, and WINGS. CIVICUS is a key civil society accountability partner for MCLD's advocacy work.
• UNOY (United Network of Young Peacebuilders)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerUNOY partnered with MCLD as part of the Funder Report Card consultations to ensure youth and peacebuilding perspectives were incorporated.
• NEAR (Network for Ending Extreme Poverty)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEAR co-organized the 'Local Action, Global Accountability' event at UNGA 79 alongside MCLD, CIVICUS, Peace Direct, and WINGS, focusing on translating global commitments into local action.
• WINGS (Worldwide INITiative for Grantmaker Support)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWINGS participated in the co-organization of the 'Local Action, Global Accountability' event at UNGA 79 with MCLD and other partners, focusing on funder accountability and locally-led development.
• County Government of Makueni, KenyacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn March 2023, MCLD Kenya signed an MoU with Makueni County to co-establish the Kenya School for Devolution and Community-Led Development. The school trains government officers, civil society, and community leaders on participatory governance and CLD. Over 100 participants have been trained since 2023.
• Kenya School for Devolution and Community-Led DevelopmentcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerA joint initiative co-established by MCLD and the County Government of Makueni in 2023 to build practical capacities for effective devolution and community-led development. Offers short courses including Environmental, Social, Occupational Health, Climate and Disaster Risk Mainstreaming in Project Management.
• The Hunger ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Hunger Project is MCLD's strongest institutional partner. It hosted MCLD's secretariat for 7 years before MCLD transitioned to an autonomous structure in 2024. THP continues to support MCLD's global secretariat and contributes to MCLD's governance and programs.
• Routledge Taylor & Francis GroupminorOthersRoutledge published 'Community-Led Development in Practice: We Power Our Own Change' edited by Elene Cloete and Gunjan Veda in December 2024, bringing together insights from 30+ global experts on CLD.
• Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCLD co-organized a regional webinar on CLD in Southern Africa with LUANAR's Department of Human Ecology, gathering young leaders, academics, civil society, and policymakers from Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Eswatini.
• World BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSusan Wong, World Bank Global Lead for Community-Driven Development, has spoken at MCLD events and highlighted MCLD's research as potentially the largest study on community-led development. MCLD engages with the World Bank on CLD policy and funding frameworks.
• Collective Paths FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollective Paths Foundation is collaborating with MCLD Asia to organize a workshop for members focused on exploring and strategizing around alternative funding approaches, starting a longer journey toward sustainable funding models.
• Bond (UK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBond is a UK-based network of NGOs. MCLD coordinates with Bond and other European INGO networks (Concord, Dóchas, Fingo, Forus-International, ICVA, ICS Centre, Partos, Venro) for locally-led development advocacy within European policy spaces.
• Concord (Europe)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCLD coordinates with Concord on European INGO advocacy for locally-led development and community-led approaches.
• ICVA (Switzerland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCLD coordinates with ICVA on humanitarian and development policy as part of its European network engagement.
• Partos (Netherlands)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCLD collaborates with Partos on development practice and hosted virtual events with them on CLD topics.
• Venro (Germany)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCLD coordinates with Venro as part of its European INGO network engagement on locally-led development.
• United Cities and Local and Regional Governments (UCLG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCLD collaborates with UCLG based in Barcelona, where MCLD is in the process of formally registering MCLD-Europe.
• Heifer InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeifer International contributed to MCLD's early research through Silvya Kananu (Irex) and Eric Muñoz (Oxfam) who provided feedback on MCLD's livelihoods position paper.
• OxfamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Laté Lawson-Lartego (Oxfam America) provided feedback on MCLD's position papers. MCLD engages with Oxfam on CLD advocacy and research.
• International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFPRI hosted a panel event with MCLD in April 2021 to examine state community-led development programming.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Peace Direct: Peace Direct is a UK-based nonprofit that funds and amplifies local peacebuilders — directly comparable to MCLD's locally-led development mission. The two organizations co-developed the Funder Report Card and routinely partner on UNGA advocacy, making them near-twins in the locally-led space.
• CIVICUS: CIVICUS is a global civil society alliance and MCLD's closest peer as a membership-based network advocating for civic space and local actor empowerment. The two co-organized the 'Local Action, Global Accountability' event at UNGA 79 and partner on multilateral advocacy.
• Restless Development: Restless Development is a youth-led international development agency and network, comparable to MCLD's Youth Task Force and youth CLD programming. Both organizations operate as federated, membership-anchored networks focused on empowering local young leaders.
• Coady International Institute: Coady is a Canadian institute focused on community development education and leadership training globally — closely aligned with MCLD's Kenya School for Devolution and capacity-strengthening work. Both serve similar grassroots and CSO segments with training and applied research.
• WINGS (Worldwide Initiative for Grantmaker Support): WINGS is a global network of philanthropy-support organizations — directly comparable to MCLD as a network-of-networks influencing funder behavior. The two co-organized UNGA 79 events and align on shifting power to local actors through funder accountability.
• NEAR (Network for Ending Extreme Poverty): NEAR is a US-based network of Southern civil society organizations advancing locally-led development — overlapping strongly with MCLD's mission and member base. NEAR is a core partner on UNGA advocacy and the Funder Report Card, and competes for the same funder relationships.

Regional players

• Bond (UK): Bond is a UK network of INGOs working on international development — a regional peer to MCLD's European advocacy efforts. MCLD actively coordinates with Bond on European policy and locally-led development advocacy, making it a key comparator in the European INGO ecosystem.
• Concord (Europe): Concord is the European confederation of NGOs working on sustainable development and global justice — a regional peer coordinating European-level development advocacy. MCLD works with Concord on European INGO engagement for locally-led development, making it a comparable advocacy network in a different geography.

Broad incumbents

• Habitat for Humanity International: Habitat for Humanity is a large, established community development organization with global presence and a federated national-association structure. While focused on housing, its federated operating model and grassroots empowerment philosophy mirror MCLD's National Association architecture.
• The Hunger Project: The Hunger Project is a large international NGO that incubated MCLD for 7 years and remains its strongest institutional partner. While much larger in budget and program scope, THP shares MCLD's commitment to community-led, bottom-up development — making it the closest broader-incumbent analog.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCe7Sj0Q_VKQ6l8cT25UvOgQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/communityleddev
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/communityleddev
• Instagraminstagram.com/communityleddev

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Movement for Community-led Development