Domestically and internationally, education in all its forms remains a central ingredient in human and social development. Early childhood and basic education are a foundation to poverty eradication. Secondary and technical-vocational education are a key to meeting the changing demands of the labour market, while higher education opens opportunities for developing countries to compete on an equal footing in the global economy. SDP Ltd. addresses this complex range of issues. Using multidisciplinary approaches and methods, our expertise allows us to examine questions about reforms to the education system and their impact on students, teachers and families; the quality and relevance of teaching and learning processes and curricula; the effectiveness of teaching-learning and training methods and materials, and the use of innovations and communications and information technologies in the delivery and monitoring of education. 

Health Systems and Health Care Services
    
Accessible and reliable health care is a crucial dimension of inclusive societies and the quest for increased social equity. Building capacities at various levels of the public health system to identify and respond to the health needs of the population and to monitor the performance of its programs and services are key to the management of scarce resources. SDP Ltd. focuses on the analysis and evaluation of health policies, programs and services; the impact of decentralized and privatized health services; the role of communities, the private sector and local governments in health provision; the use of technological innovations in health protection and promotion; and the quality of services provided to populations at risk, including children and the elderly.   

Poverty Reduction and Development Aid

Unrelenting poverty, deepening inequality, and mounting exclusion of significant segments of the world population demands redoubling efforts among countries to reduce poverty and further increase the effectiveness of official development assistance policies and programs. The unequal inter-dependence among countries in the global economy, the growing gap between rich and poor, and the weakening of social protection systems and safety nets pose new challenges to the world poor. SDP Ltd. focuses on the monitoring and evaluation of poverty alleviation policies and programs and the effectiveness of development aid; the role of private and public agencies in aid delivery; the performance of social protection systems and mechanisms set in place as part of poverty reduction strategies, and the identification and analysis of best practices.

Transparent Governance and Social Accountability
      
The well-being of societies in times of limited resources for social development, growing and multiple demands, and weakened traditional social protection practices depends to a considerable extent on the collective capacity to manage resources effectively and transparently. SDP Ltd. examines the interaction between the political, cultural and economic factors influencing public policy decision and practices that affect human development. It applies multidisciplinary approaches in the assessment of resource allocation and service provision; the practices of local government and communities in ensuring social accountability, and the role of information and communication technologies in facilitating transparency.