DAI Global Belgium

DAI Global Belgium is part of DAI, an employee-owned international development and professional services firm that traces its origins to 1970, when three graduates of Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government founded the company. DAI describes itself as providing "solutions, capital, and global know-how" to businesses, investors, and governments, combining advisory, investment, and delivery capabilities across a wide range of development challenges. Its work spans humanitarian response, climate and market systems, economic growth, governance, global health, education, digital acceleration, and financial advisory. The firm's early reputation was built on analytical studies, notably a 1973 contract to analyze 36 U.S. Agency for International Development projects in Latin America and Africa, which produced the study "Strategies for Small Farmer Development." DAI then moved into managing major projects in partner countries, beginning with efforts to revitalize the agricultural economy in the North Shaba region of Zaire, followed by rural and agricultural development initiatives in Sudan and elsewhere. Over the decades it grew into a global professional services and advisory organization. DAI is employee-owned and operates through a network of global offices. Its stated values are integrity, responsibility, excellence, and good citizenship. The company works with clients including governments, investors, and businesses, and reports experience in more than 150 countries over 50 years. DAI Global Belgium represents the firm's presence and operations in Belgium, part of its broader European and global footprint. The Belgian entity is associated with DAI's European work, complementing the group's UK and international operations.

DAI was founded in 1970 by three graduates of Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government: Charlie Sweet, Don Mickelwait, and John Buck. The founders aimed to provide a more dynamic and effective brand of development assistance. DAI made its earliest mark through a series of analytical studies. In 1973, the firm won a contract to analyze 36 U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) projects in Latin America and Africa. The resulting study, "Strategies for Small Farmer Development," cemented the firm's growing reputation and led DAI to seek more substantial assignments managing projects in partner countries. DAI's first major project was to revitalize the agricultural economy in the North Shaba region of Zaire. Other initiatives in rural and agricultural development followed in Sudan and elsewhere. Tony Barclay, a Ph.D. anthropologist who did his field work in Kenya, joined the firm in 1977 to help implement the North Shaba program. He became company President in 1990 and served as CEO from 1999 to 2008. In his last year as CEO, Barclay was named Executive of the Year at the annual Government Contractor Awards. Among a new generation of DAI employees joining the firm in the 1980s was Barclay's successor Jim Boomgard, a Ph.D. economist who played a key role in developing an approach to small business promotion in emerging frontier markets and managed a landmark multicountry study called Growth and Equity through Micro-enterprise Investments and Institutions. Over the following decades DAI expanded into a global integrated professional services and advisory firm, providing project design and delivery, management consulting, and financial services to companies, investors, and governments worldwide. Today DAI is employee-owned and reports 50 years of work in more than 150 countries. Its stated purpose is to help clients address their most pressing challenges, guided by four core values: integrity, responsibility, excellence, and good citizenship. DAI Global Belgium forms part of this international network, representing the firm's Belgian operations within its European and global footprint.

• 2008

  Tony Barclay named Executive of the Year at the annual Government Contractor Awards in his last year as CEO.

• 1999

  Tony Barclay became CEO, serving until 2008.

• 1990

  Tony Barclay became company President.

• 1977

  Tony Barclay joined the firm to help implement the North Shaba program in Zaire.

• 1973

  Won a contract to analyze 36 USAID projects in Latin America and Africa, producing the study 'Strategies for Small Farmer Development.'

• 1970

  DAI founded by three graduates of Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government: Charlie Sweet, Don Mickelwait, and John Buck.

Integrated professional services and advisory firm providing solutions, capital, and global know-how to businesses, investors, and governments.

• DAI Advise

  Advisory services connecting analytics and design, policy and practice.

• DAI Invest

  Investment and capital solutions for clients.

• DAI Deliver

  Project design and delivery, management consulting, and financial services.

• Financial Advisory

  Financial advisory services supporting clients from concept to completion.

• Corporate Consulting

  Corporate consulting services for businesses, investors, and governments.

1. 1DAI ·dai.com
2. 2History · DAI: International Developmentdai.com
3. 3Values · DAI: International Developmentdai.com
4. 4Redirecting…dai.com
5. 5Wikidata Q132472641wikidata.org