ODI Global

Founded in 1960 as the Overseas Development Institute, we have evolved to become a multidisciplinary and international organisation focused on inclusive growth, equity, social justice, and sustainability – challenges that affect rich and poor countries alike. Our new name, ODI Global, reflects our conviction that global challenges will not be solved through a narrow focus on development and humanitarian action, as well as our commitment to decolonisation, which we are working to embed into all that we do.

The Overseas Development Institute was established in 1960, in a world adjusting to the end of European colonialism and the emergence of ‘development’ as a distinct field of policy and practice. Sixty years later, in a radically different landscape, the assumptions, expectations and relationships that underpinned the development project have come increasingly into question, prompting us to rethink our purpose and mission as a global think tank concerned with issues of injustice and inequality.

The most critical challenges – the climate emergency, conflict, inequality, pandemics, racial injustice and a backlash against rights – are global in reach and effect, and will not be addressed through a narrow focus on development and humanitarian action. These challenges require creative and comprehensive approaches that acknowledge their deeply political nature, linked to vested interests resistant to change. As an organisation that seeks positive change in the world, we must acknowledge and respond to this new reality.

Our current strategy sets out our ambitions to move from a UK-based think tank focused on international development and humanitarian affairs to a truly global organisation with a greater emphasis on how economic, foreign, security, social, climate and other policies impact on global challenges. We are committed to making the focus on equity, inclusive growth, social justice and sustainability even more central to what we do.

We have launched three new entities, ODI Europe, ODI Global Washington and ODI Global Advisory, strengthened our engagement at the country and grassroots level, and committed to integrating the values of decolonisation across our business and ways of working.

Our new name – ODI Global, launched in 2024 – reflects these changes by removing the outdated notion of ‘overseas development’, which no longer represents our work, ethos or values as an organisation, our multidisciplinary approach and our international presence and reach. As ODI Global, we will build on our past and look to the future to lead new thinking and drive new agendas to deliver transformational change.