Breadth of Impact

iDE’s services extend to socially and economically alike environments, specifically to low-income agricultural communities. They currently work in six Sub-Saharan African countries, three Asian countries (with affiliates in others) and two Central American countries (with plans to expand to other Latin American countries).

Depth of Impact

Their impact creates enormous positive change in the lives of beneficiaries. Water is the most critical commodity for communities dependent on agriculture production, and with iDE’s help these communities are able to sustain their livelihood. iDE’s development of new markets and supply chain linkages stimulates economic growth in local communities as well.

Legal Structure

iDE’s not-for-profit legal status enables them to raise funding for their work, and meet the mission of cultivating potential in rural communities. They’ve received substantial contributions from philanthropic champions like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Ford Foundation and the World Bank.

This organization has been recognized for its initiatives to create:

Products for a Better World

IDE’s impact is purely to the benefit of the world. Their stakeholder engagement structure creates fair and efficient supply chains while localizing production. The products they design service the bottom of the pyramid, a huge, underserved demographic. This creates jobs and entrepreneurialism where they’re needed most.

Pleased Investors

Each dollar donated to iDE translates to an average of $10 dollars generated by the beneficiaries, creating extraordinary social return on investments. Sustainable financial contributions are a huge piece of the new game and iDE’s funders love seeing their dollars at work.

Industry Collaboration

As iDE states, they depend on collaboration with like-minded organizations to make a true impact on the problem of global poverty. Most notably they work with IDEO (another GameChangers 500 org) to create the Human Centered Design toolkit, which helps organizations that work on agriculture better listen to farmers, and better translate their experience and expertise into new design solutions.

Ethical Supply Chains

iDE’s focus on localized supply chains ensures higher levels of transparency and supports efficient, sensible systems.

Local Economic Growth

Their focus on local economies earns them big points in this category. Through concerted efforts, iDE’s experienced grassroots consultants help local economies flourish.

This organization showcases its Eco-Design through:

Environmentally Conscious Materials

iDE uses local, basic materials like wood and clay to cultivate water. Without much embodied energy at all, these inputs work with the local environment.

Biodegradable, Recyclable or Reusable Breakdown

Because they come from local, natural sources, at the end of a pump’s lifecycle iDE’s products biodegrade. Reusable parts always find a home, due largely to the fact that iDE works with underserved, resourceful communities.

Renewable Energy Use

iDE’s Treadle Pump is human-powered. Pumping is activated by stepping up and down on treadles which drive pistons, creating cylinder suction that draws groundwater to the surface. Human energy is easily renewed!

Low Impact Transportation

This org was founded through the creation of donkey carts, and to this day the organization values simple, environmentally efficient modes of transportation for the produce they help grow.

Water Conserving Systems

iDE is currently developing rainwater harvesting contraptions to be used on farms. By sourcing water from natural points of entry, the need for destructive infrastructure and associated expenses is lowered substantially.

Waste Minimizing Initiatives

Working with low-income communities necessitates low levels of waste. iDE goes to great lengths to repurpose hardware whenever possible.