We design and implement economic growth programmes that mobilize private investment, reform business environments, and strengthen investment climates — $420M+ in private capital mobilized to date.
Featured Economic Growth Projects
Showcased projects demonstrating investment mobilization and measurable economic results.
FCDO | £50M | 2024-2026 | Multi-Country
Evaluating FCDO's flagship trade programme
Impact
- Multi-country trade and investment interventions assessed
- 2X Challenge and ESG frameworks integrated across multiple countries
- Gender-smart investment models validated for scale Challenge and green investment evaluation frameworks applied
Our Role
Technical advisor on assessing effectiveness of investment mobilization, trade facilitation, and gender-lens investing across FCDO's flagship multi-country programme.
DFAT | 2024-2026 | Indonesia
Climate-resilient infrastructure through PPPs
Impact
- AUD 374M government budget mobilized for infrastructure
- Gender and climate standards embedded in project design
6 climate-resilient PPP projects prepared with 2X integration
Our Role
Advisory support across PPP structuring, climate-resilient design, and gender-responsive infrastructure frameworks.
USAID | $17M | 2022-2025 | Pakistan
Unlocking FDI and increasing U.S. - Pakistan trade
Impact
$14.5M FDI mobilized across priority sectors
754 investor meetings facilitated (Dubai, Riyadh, NYC, SF)
$133M investment pipeline developed
Our Role
Trade and investment advisory support spanning investor roadshows, pipeline development, and institutional strengthening.
FCDO | £37.5M | 2020-2025 | Pakistan (KPK)
Fiscal reform and climate-smart investment in KP
Impact
£236M annual fiscal savings unlocked through PFM reforms
$4B investment pipeline developed; $150M+ investments facilitated
Climate-smart investment frameworks operationalized
Our Role
Strategic advisory support across public investment management, pension reform, private investment facilitation, and green finance structuring.
USAID | $105.7M | 2023-2024 | Afghanistan
Export competitiveness in fragile and transition contexts
Impact
Saffron, cashmere, carpet export value chains strengthened
Women's economic participation pathways expanded
Post-transition business recovery strategies developed
Our Role
Economic growth advisor assessing export competitiveness strategies, women's entrepreneurship programming, and private sector resilience building.
FCDO | £90M | 2021 | Global
Mobilising institutional capital at scale
Impact
Investment products listed on London, Johannesburg exchanges
Institutional capital mobilization models demonstrated at scale
Blended finance mechanisms validated for frontier markets
Our Role
Advisory support towards designing institutional capital mobilization strategies and blended finance structures for frontier markets.
Economic Growth Project Portfolio
Our portfolio demonstrates depth of expertise across diverse markets, clients, and development challenges
Growth Gateway Programme
Client: FCDO | Value: £50 million | Duration: 2024-2026 | Geography: Multi-country
Description: The £50m Growth Gateway Programme aims to drive increased two-way trade and investment between the UK and Low- and Middle-income Countries (LMICs) and deliver significant benefits to both. The programme works directly and indirectly with the private sector to: provide digital guidance on export readiness, import regulations and financing options; deliver support to UK and LMIC firms to advance opportunities with positive development impact; and, deliver technical analysis to unlock sectoral and cross-cutting barriers and develop opportunity pipelines. As a supplier to the programme, Development Executives is relied on to provide specialized trade and investment as well as monitoring evaluation and learning related expertise to the programme.
Key Results: Private capital mobilization evaluation methodologies | Market access barrier assessment frameworks | 2X Challenge framework application | Gender-smart investment effectiveness measurement
Philippines: Framework Agreement for Technical Assistance Completion Report Validations
Client: Asian Development Bank | Duration: 2023-2026 | Geography: Philippines/Regional
Description: Development Executives was retained under a Framework Agreement with the Asian Development Bank’s Independent Evaluation Department to support the validation of Technical Assistance Completion Reports. The work involved assessing relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of technical assistance operations and synthesising lessons learned across countries and sectors.
Key Results: Regional multilateral development bank evaluation partnership | Technical assistance evaluation expertise | Institutional capacity building assessment
UNDP Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) - GPN Express Roster for Independent Evaluators
Client: United Nations Development Programme | Duration: 2025-Ongoing | Geography: Global
Description: Development Executives approved as expert evaluator on UNDP’s Global Performance Network (GPN) Express Roster for Independent Evaluators, enabling deployment for independent evaluation assignments across UNDP’s global portfolio. The roster status facilitates rapid engagement for evaluation design, methodology development, stakeholder consultation, performance assessment, and impact measurement across country offices and regional programmes.
Key Metrics: Global roster qualification | Independent evaluation services | UNDP IEO standards compliance | Quantum procurement system integration
Key Expertise: Independent evaluation | UNDP compliance | Development impact assessment | Multilateral standards | Global deployment capacity
Kemitraan Indonesia Australia untuk Infrastruktur (KIAT)
Client: DFAT | Value: Multi-million AUD | Duration: 2024-2026 | Geography: Indonesia
Description: The KIAT is a 10-year facility supported by the Australian Government and its overarching goal is to support ‘sustainable and inclusive economic growth through improved access to infrastructure for all people’. To support this goal, KIAT works with the Government of Indonesia (GoI) and other development partners to help achieve: improved GoI policy and regulatory framework for infrastructure development; high quality projects prepared and financed by GoI, the private sector and/or MDBs; high quality infrastructure delivery, management, and maintenance by GoI; and, infrastructure policies, design and delivery that are more inclusive for women and people with disabilities. As a Technical Assistance Panel member, Development Executives supports KIAT by providing a range of pre-qualified specialists to undertake technical assistance work on the project.
Key Results: AUD 374 million government budget mobilized | Infrastructure financing frameworks developed | PPP regulatory effectiveness assessment | Climate-resilient infrastructure financing evaluation
Pakistan Investment Promotion Activity (IPA)
Client: USAID | Value: $17 million | Duration: 2022-2025 | Geography: Pakistan
Description: The purpose of the IPA was to strengthen Pakistan’s business enabling environment to build greater credibility of Pakistani institutions and improve the ecosystem for foreign direct investment and increase U.S.-Pakistan bi-lateral trade and investment. As a subcontractor, to this five year program, Development Executives will work closely with governments (federal and provincial) and private sector stakeholders (e.g., businesses, associations, investors, etc.) to strengthen the investment climate for foreign investors in Pakistan and promote opportunities for enhanced trade and investment between U.S. and Pakistan businesses.
Key Results: $14.5M FDI mobilized | 754 investor meetings facilitated | $133.2M investment inquiries generated | $9M in signed term sheets | $42M in FDI deals progressing | $46.1M bilateral trade increase | $15.3M private sector investments secured
Sustainable Energy and Economic Development Programme (SEED)
Client: FCDO | Value: £37.5 million | Duration: 2020-2025 | Geography: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Description: Development Executives was a key local subcontractor on the seven year SEED programme. The programme was geared towards supporting provincial economic development and sustainable energy in Pakistan. The programme supported the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), to plan and finance the infrastructure and investment it needed for growth, jobs and prosperity. The programme also addressed Pakistan’s energy crisis by providing innovative financial solutions to industry for the adoption of sustainable energy practices.
Key Results: £236M combined annual savings generated | £49M annual pension reform savings | £187M annual infrastructure savings | $120M direct investment facilitated | $4B investment pipeline identified
Afghanistan Competitiveness of Export Business Activity (ACEBA)
Client: USAID | Value: $105.7 million | Duration: 2023-2024 | Geography: Afghanistan
Description: Development Executives conducted a mid-term performance evaluation and examined the relevance and effectiveness of the USD 105 million ACEBA program. The evaluation assessed the effectiveness of the program in achieving intended results, supporting individuals and businesses, integrating women, and informing USAID on future programming options.
Key Results: Conflict-sensitive business enabling environment assessment | Export competitiveness evaluation across 4+ value chains | Women’s economic empowerment impact assessment | Programme adaptation recommendations post-crisis
Mobilising Institutional Capital Through Listed Product Structures (MOBILIST)
Client: FCDO | Value: £90 million | Duration: 2021 | Geography: Global
Description: MOBILIST is a £90 million FCDO programme targeting listed markets to mobilise large-scale institutional capital to emerging and frontier markets. Development Executives supported the programme by designing monitoring, evaluation, and learning approaches and developing results frameworks to track capital mobilisation, market development, and systemic change across public and private markets.
Key Results: MEL systems and theory of change developed | Institutional capital mobilization frameworks established | Listed product evaluation approaches designed
Investment Promotion Programme (IPP)
Client: FCDO | Value: £50 million | Duration: 2018-2021 | Geography: Multi-country (5 countries)
Description: Development Executives provided MEL and advisory support to IPP. The IPP was a £50 million programme which provided support across four work streams: capacity building of Investment Promotion Agencies; Investment Promotion campaigns and events; technical assistance to Public Private Partnership for investment projects; and, trade and investment integrity initiatives. Focus countries included Nigeria, South Africa, India, Pakistan and Philippines.
Key Results: Investment mobilization additionality measured across 5 countries | IFC transaction advisory partnership evaluation | Blended finance structuring assessment
Global Finance Programme (GFP)
Client: FCDO | Value: £68 million | Duration: 2018-2022 | Geography: Multi-country (11 countries)
Description: Development Executives provided MEL and advisory support to GFP. The GFP was a GBP £68 million programme which provided support across four work streams: strengthening banking systems; deepening capital markets; mainstreaming equitable usage of financial technologies (digital finance); and, fostering an environment of financial stability. Focus countries for GFP included Bangladesh, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, etc.
Key Results: Capital market development evaluation | Financial technology innovation assessment | Central bank collaboration frameworks | Currency exchange fund operations evaluation
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Sector Programme Evaluation
Client: DFID | Duration: 2017-2021 | Geography: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Description: Development Executives was part of a consortia that had been retained by DFID to provide performance and process evaluation support to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Sector Program (KESP). The objective of this program was to assess the effectiveness of KESP and its contribution (financial and technical) to the final outcomes (more children in school, staying longer and learning more). The project was also geared towards assessing whether specific strategies and approaches had had their intended impact, as well as, providing timely analysis around DFID’s contribution to the programme, as well as the role of technical assistance.
Key Results: Provincial institutional reform effectiveness assessment | Service delivery improvement evaluation | Education sector governance assessment
DFID's Global Evaluation Framework Agreement (GEFA)
Client: DFID | Duration: 2017-2019 | Geography: Global
Description: Development Executives was appointed to DFID’s Global Evaluation Framework Agreement as a framework supplier, enabling DFID to commission independent evaluation and analytical expertise across its global portfolio. The framework provided DFID with access to pre-qualified specialists to support evaluation, learning, and evidence generation across sectors and geographies, as required.
Key Results: Strategic evaluation partnership | Global evaluation expertise | Technical assistance across regions
Toolkit For Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation of Stabilization Activities
Client: USAID | Duration: 2017 | Geography: Iraq
Description: Development Executives was retained to develop a toolkit to guide assessment, monitoring and evaluation of USAID/Iraq’s stabilization activities. Stabilization includes all projects designed to attract back internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their original place of residence prior to being displaced as well those projects that will encourage them to stay (exclusive of demining and security). The toolkit covers all important factors and facets of developing and implementing a robust monitoring and evaluation program. The toolkit also provides information and analysis on best practices as well as recommendations for technological innovation that can be leveraged to increase the Mission’s effectiveness towards developing, managing and implementing stabilization activities.
Key Results: Real-time tracking systems for post-conflict operations | Third-party verification mechanisms | Innovative evaluation methodologies for constrained environments
Business Environment Reform Facility (BERF)
Client: DFID | Duration: 2016 | Geography: Pakistan
Description: Development Executives was retained to provide technical and advisory support for undertaking a research study for BERF focusing on identifying binding constraints and policy reform options for development of priority sectors in the Punjab province. The objectives of this research study were to: identify the binding constraints in the business environment to domestic investment and expansion in priority sectors (such as, agriculture, livestock, manufacturing and automotive sectors); assess potential of these sectors and implications of identified constraints in terms of economic growth, job creation, women’s economic empowerment, linkages with multinational firms and other spillovers to the local economy; and, provide policy reform recommendations.
Key Results: Agricultural regulatory framework improvements | Investment climate enhancement | Sector-specific reform implementation
FATA Investment Plan
Client: USAID | Duration: 2013-2014 | Geography: Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Pakistan
Description: Development Executives was retained to develop a broad-based investment plan for FATA. The need for developing FIPS stems from the idea that it is timely to undertake a stock take of progress realized through an economic growth lens and to provide stakeholders with a road map of investment options available for increasing economic activity across FATA. The investment plan was built upon in-depth analysis and assessment of key economic sectors (such as, agribusiness, livestock and dairy, fisheries, forests, trade, minerals, education and health) where growth could be realized. These investment plans doubled as both as strategic planning tools as well as guiding instruments for stakeholder’s activities in FATA.
Key Results: Investment options across five sectors developed | Market infrastructure rehabilitation planning | Supply chain linkage development
FATA Economic Stabilization Program
Client: USAID | Duration: 2014-2016 | Geography: Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Pakistan
Description: FESP was a four-year, $50 million project to create jobs and improve economic opportunity in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The program was designed to help farmers to move beyond food insecure subsistence and support non-farm entrepreneurs, and do so in ways that: improve their livelihood; increase returns from investments in infrastructure that the US Government had made in FATA; and, contribute to further stabilization of FATA by building viable economic alternatives to militancy. The program was meant to serve as a bridge between short-term stabilization activities and longer-term more sustainable development. Development Executives was tasked with leading implementation of Component 2 of the program which focused on non-agricultural activities, such as: strengthening and establishing micro and small enterprises; strengthening supply chains between business operators in the tribal areas and those in the settled areas markets; rehabilitating market infrastructure; and, developing local business and trade associations.
Key Results: Investment options across five sectors developed | Market infrastructure rehabilitation planning | Supply chain linkage development
Iraq Mid-term Evaluation of Financial Development Program
Client: USAID | Value: $53.3 million | Duration: 2012 | Geography: Iraq
Description: Development Executives was retained by USAID to assess performance of one of its largest livelihoods development programs geared towards development of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The evaluation: assessed FDP-LD’s progress in relation to its goals, objectives, activities and indicators; analyzed and evaluated long term, sustainable impact of FDP-LD’s investments and interventions; captured FDP-LD’s success or failure in adopting viable programmatic approaches and interventions; and, informed USAID on ways to improve future assistance to Pakistan.
Key Results: Retail payment system development with Central Bank of Iraq | Credit information bureau establishment | Policy reforms for financial institution expansion
Multi-Country Financial Sector Work
Client: DFID | Duration: 2006-2007 | Geography: 12 countries (Africa, Asia, Latin America)
Description: Development Executives’ core team member served as a Project Officer to the $65 million, multi donor technical assistance program, where he was responsible for simultaneously, leading and managing the development, approval, and implementation of over fifty technical assistance projects in different countries that focused on, accounting and auditing (e.g., Bostwana, Tanzania, etc.), banking systems (e.g., Burundi, El Salvador, etc.), capital markets (e.g., Vietnam, Costa Rica, etc.), regulatory/supervisory reform (e.g., Angola, Sudan, etc.), housing finance (e.g., Uganda, India, etc.), insurance (e.g., Indonesia, Chile, etc.), pensions and collective investment schemes (e.g., Indonesia, Rwanda), etc.
Key Results: Financial sector development across 12 countries | Digital finance innovation | Banking system strengthening | Capital markets development
Pakistan Country Assistance Programme Evaluation
Client: Asian Development Bank | Value: $1.6 billion portfolio | Duration: 2005-2006 | Geography: Pakistan
Description: Development Executives’ core team member was retained by Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the assessment and rationalization of over $1.6 billion in private sector development and financial sector development assistance to Pakistan over a twenty year period (1985 – 2005). Assessed ADB’s strategies and operations that supported development of a broad range of financial intermediaries e.g., banks (commercial, SME, micro-finance/rural finance banks, etc.), Development Financial Institutions, Stock and Commodity Exchanges, etc. Developed reports and recommendations that had significant impact on the design of ADB’s 2006 multi-year Country Assistance Strategy for Pakistan and the future allocation of ADB resources in the country’s financial sector.
Key Results: Significant impact on ADB’s 2006 Country Assistance Strategy for Pakistan | Future allocation of ADB resources in financial sector | 20-year development finance assessment
Saudi Arabia Developing Economic Reform Programme
Client: Government of Saudi Arabia | Value: Multi-billion dollar | Duration: 2004-2005 | Geography: Madinah Province
Description: Development Executives’ core team member was retained to provide technical and strategic advisory support towards designing a multi-billion dollar private sector development program for the Province of Madinah in Saudi Arabia. This involved: managing and leading teams of international experts to develop and recommend business models and financial structures that would enhance Madinah’s physical (e.g., Airport, Roads, Railways, Seaports, etc.), human (e.g., knowledge-based society, etc.), technological (e.g., SMART Cities, ICT innovation, etc.), and financial (e.g., e-Banking services, etc.) infrastructure; working with a global network of knowledge innovation experts to develop the first-ever Intellectual Capital Assessment Report for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia making it the second country for which such an assessment was developed; sourcing investment opportunities across key economic sectors in Madinah (such as, Mining, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Tourism, Small and Medium Enterprises, Business Services and Finance); and, developing information and analysis (such as, strategic studies, feasibility studies, business plans, presentations, etc.) required for investment decision making purposes.
Key Results: First-ever Intellectual Capital Assessment Report for Kingdom of Saudi Arabia | Investment opportunities across multiple sectors identified | Business models and financial structures
Pakistan Privatisation Support
Client: Government of Pakistan | Duration: 2003-2004 | Geography: Pakistan
Description: Development Executives’ core team member served as the transaction manager responsible for several high profile privatization transactions that involved disposal of state owned industrial and real estate assets into the private sector. Determined terms, timing, and method of sale to maximize value of assets being privatized and delivered organizational, valuation, and contractual due diligence to internal and external stakeholders. Simultaneously led and managed teams of investors, valuation experts, legal counsels, and other governmental and non-governmental agencies for effective execution of multiple transactions.
Key Results: Terms and sale method optimization for asset value maximization | Organizational, valuation, and contractual due diligence | Cross-functional team leadership
Pakistan Community Infrastructure Program
Client: World Bank | Duration: 2003 | Geography: Pakistan
Description: Development Executives’ core team member was retained by the World Bank to assess and strengthen the institutional linkages between various tiers found within Pakistan’s Local Government structure. Conducted detailed assessments of capacities, systems, and processes of local government bodies and identified gaps between their mandated institutional responsibilities and their ground-realities.
Key Results: Institutional linkages strengthened | Capacity gaps identified | Local government systems assessment
Pakistan UNDP Lachi Poverty Reduction Project
Client: UNDP (DFID-funded) | Duration: 2003-2005 | Geography: Lachi, Kohat District, Pakistan
Description: Development Executives core team member worked with UNDP’s Lachi Poverty Reduction Project as a Programme Manager. This multi- sectoral initiative was geared towards improving the livelihoods of over 100,000 inhabitants of the Lachi area of Kohat district in NWFP.
Key Results: Livelihood improvements for 100,000+ people | Multi-sectoral poverty reduction | Community-based development
Pakistan Gender Reform Action Plan (GRAP)
Client: Asian Development Bank | Duration: 2002-2003 | Geography: Pakistan
Description: Development Executives’ core team member was retained by Asian Development Bank to provide Technical Assistance to the Government of NWFP in order to assist in developing a Gender Reform Action Plan (GRAP). As the Institutional Reforms Specialist, he: identified policy and institutional gaps; provided recommendations that encouraged mainstreaming of gender issues in public policy; and, developed policy analysis and planning support which enabled the government to effectively design, approve, implement, and monitor its GRAP.
Key Results: Policy and institutional gaps identified | Recommendations for mainstreaming gender in public policy | GRAP implementation support
Pakistan Khushhali Bank Government of Pakistan
Client: ADB | Duration: 2001-2002 | Geography: Pakistan
Description: Development Executives’ core team member served as the Regional General Manager worked the largest micro finance institution (MFI) in Pakistan as which has been established with the support Government of Pakistan and Asian Development Bank. Its main objective is poverty alleviation through social mobilization. As the Regional General Manager I : (i) supervised the regional staff of professionals as well as developed regional and Field Unit teams (ii) designed and developed regional plans that effectively financed income-generating initiatives and provided saving facilities that encouraged capital formation (iii) developed and implemented the operational plan (action plans and annual work plans). (iv) implemented management information systems to effectively plan, monitor, and audit resource allocation.
Key Results: Regional staff development | Income-generating initiative financing | Savings facilities for capital formation | Management information systems
Balochistan Resource Management Programme (BRMP)
Client: ADB | Duration: 2001-2003 | Geography: Balochistan Province, Pakistan
Description: Development Executives’ core team member was retained by ADB to lead and manage the development of a broad-based Private Sector Development Strategy for Balochistan Province. The assignment required developing in-depth value chain assessments and analysis across a number of key economic sectors (such as, agriculture, horticulture, livestock, dairy, minerals and fisheries); advising businesses (domestic and foreign) and government on a range of public private partnership ownership and operating models; and, developing sector-specific action plans.
Key Results: Value chain assessments across key sectors | Public-private partnership models developed | Sector-specific action plans
United States: Freddie Mac Capital Markets
Client: Freddie Mac | Value: $800 billion portfolio | Duration: 1998-2003 | Geography: United States
Description: Development Executives’ core team member served as a key member of Freddie Mac’s strategy team where he worked closely with the largest retail banks and Wall Street investment banks on a variety of projects across multiple financial markets i.e., primary and secondary financial markets as well as the global debt markets. He routinely managed and led cross-functional teams on initiatives that involved investments, venture capital, new product development, new market assessments, competitor analysis, joint ventures, marketing and contracting arrangements, investment analysis and due diligence, business process improvement, technological innovation. Played a key role in developing electronic trading strategies for Freddie Mac’s portfolio of over $800 billion which would allow the company to effectively trade financial products, such as, mortgages, securities, and debt instruments.
Key Results: Electronic trading strategies for $800+ billion portfolio | Financial product trading systems | Cross-functional investment banking leadership
United States: Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA)
Client: GNMA / PricewaterhouseCoopers | Value: $550 billion portfolio | Duration: 1996-1998 | Geography: United States
Description: ADevelopment Executives’ core team member provided qualitative and quantitative analytical and management support to GNMA’s management team in order to manage risks associated with its $550 billion portfolio of Mortgage Backed Securities.
Key Results: Risk management for $550B MBS portfolio | Analytical support to executive management | Portfolio optimization strategies
United States: US Department of Education Financial Management System
Client: US Department of Education / PricewaterhouseCoopers | Duration: 1996-1998 | Geography: United States
Description: Development Executives’ core team member designed and developed a financial management system that enabled the US Department of Education to closely track the distribution and utilisation of grant money to Universities and Colleges across the country and also to target and monitor high-risk institutions.
Key Results: Grant tracking system for national university/college network | High-risk institution monitoring | Financial transparency enhancement
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