Purpose

We’re calling out the elephant in the room.

Global development systems are broken.

Disrupt Development is catalyzing
the movement of Disruptors who are
reimaging global development systems to become equitable and sustainable.

Disrupt Development is worlds first post-growth change agency in global development We work with leaders, nonprofits, social enterprises, corporates, public institutions and multilateral organisations on complex challenges. We serve as trusted advisors and thought leaders for anyone seeking to think outside the box, do things differently and solve pressing problems that lack solutions. Together we develop customised strategies, co-create learning experiences, launch new initiatives, and support the boldest ideas to become real, all working toward a radically better world for people and the planet.

Why Disrupt Development?

  • Despite the remarkable advancements humankind has made in the past century, a complex web of intertwined global crises now jeopardizes both humanity and our planet. These cascading crises are wreaking havoc on our food and nutrition systems, healthcare infrastructures, educational institutions, environmental balance, and global peace and stability. The relentless pursuit of relentless economic growth at the expense of environmental sustainability amplifies the negative repercussions of these crises, leaving no corner of the world untouched. This metacrisis – caused by our misunderstanding and misvaluing of reality – demands a radical shift in our approach. We must question the assumptions that have led us to this brink, reconnect with the cosmos, and focus on creating a new world instead of constantly solving crises. What does this reality look like on the ground?

    • The richest 1% in the world have more than double the wealth of 6.9 billion people.

    • The world is witnessing the highest level of forcibly displaced people since the recording of this data began (89.3 million people).

    • The world is facing a hunger catastrophe. 10% of the world's population lives on less than $1.90 a day. 828 million people go to bed hungry every night.

    • Pollution is one of the biggest killers of the age, affecting more than 100 million people worldwide. Pollution kills more than 1 million seabirds and 100 million mammals every year.

    • We are in midst of the 6th mass extinction. Almost 70% of animal populations have been wiped out since 1970. We have eradicated already 80% of our forests.

    • Globally 1 out of every 4 people will be impacted by mental illness at some point in their lives. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among young people worldwide.

  • Amidst the escalating global crises, humanity and nature are demonstrating remarkable resilience, adaptability, and resistance. Citizens are mobilizing en masse to demand meaningful change, activists are challenging unjust systems, social movements are harnessing collective power to transform the status quo, businesses are embracing a purpose-driven ethos over relentless profit maximization, civil society is providing unwavering support to those most vulnerable, and Mother Earth herself is demonstrating incredible regenerative capacity, showcasing her inherent ability to heal and restore.

  • To effect meaningful change, we must boldly challenge the status quo, disrupting mindsets, dismantling oppressive structures, and overhauling the systems that perpetuate inequality, poverty, exclusion, hunger, ecological destruction, conflicts, and the relentless pursuit of infinite financial growth. As humans, we must embark on a profound transformation of our inner compass, cultivating a deeper connection to ourselves, others, and the natural world, guided by kindness, empathy, and compassion. Nonprofits and public institutions must prioritize the maximization of social impact, prioritizing the well-being of people and planet over perpetuating outdated paradigms. Businesses and social enterprises must realign their strategies, placing people and the planet at the forefront of their endeavors, transcending the limitations of infinite financial growth. The longer we delay decisive action, the steeper the human and ecological cost will become. The time to disrupt the status quo and design a new future is now.