International Development

Working in partnership with development agencies, governments, and private donors, we use our distinctive capabilities, deep expertise, and innovative delivery methods to achieve rapid and lasting impact.

Recent economic shocks, questions about the effectiveness of aid in stimulating growth and improving outcomes, and the need to demonstrate value for money have added to the complexity of the international development challenge. McKinsey brings fresh perspectives, analytical rigor, and innovative solutions to bear on the most urgent and complex issues in international development today. Working across all sectors, functions, and regions, we help government leaders and donor organizations to shape development programs that deliver tangible results quickly and improve the lives of millions.

Examples of our work

Over the past five years we have completed almost 500 development-focused projects worldwide. We support leading international development agencies, governments, and private donors in making their operations more efficient and effective, developing cutting-edge strategies and initiatives, and bringing projects to a successful conclusion on the ground.

Launching a global health partnership

We helped shape the governance, operations, and financing of a public–private partnership that invests billions a year in countries across the globe. Grants from the fund have helped treat 11 million people for HIV/AIDS, treat 17 million people for tuberculosis, and save 20 million lives.

Forging a new direction

An international development organization asked us to help develop a new operating model and three-year strategic plan. The results secured broad stakeholder support, gave staff clarity on direction, and prompted major agencies to agree to a 50 percent increase in funding.

Securing better educational outcomes

A ministry in a developing country sought our help to develop a model for basic education, a performance culture, and extensive teacher training. In its first year, the project trained almost 90,000 teachers, delivered 18 million textbooks, and improved learners’ language skills by over 8 percent.

Defining an agricultural strategy

A country in Africa faced agriculture productivity challenges that ranged from difficult market access to underdeveloped irrigation. The strategy-development program established a dedicated delivery unit, piloted solutions, trained farmers, and is set to increase GDP by $20 billion by 2025.

Supporting post-Ebola recovery

The presidential team of a country in Africa needed help restoring healthcare services, getting children back to school, and supporting vulnerable groups. Its national recovery plan secured $280 billion in donor funding and brought tangible gains in health, education, energy, water, and private-sector development.

Reforming schools in South Asia

A province reformed its educational system to fix poor outcomes, teacher shortages, and static enrolment. In three years, it got 1 million more pupils onto primary-school rolls, repaired or built more than 50,000 facilities, and boosted daily attendance rates from less than 80 to more than 90 percent.

Video

Battling polio in Nigeria

This video explains how the Nigerian government and its international partners, including McKinsey, used an innovative approach to drastically reduce the number of polio cases in the country.

How we work

Our expertise spans economic development and trade, education and youth empowerment, public health, disaster relief and reconstruction, agriculture and rural development, green growth, power and energy, financial inclusion, migration, and social inclusion.

Our deep expertise in the public and social sectors is complemented with more than 90 years of private-sector experience across all industries and functions.
We work as a trusted partner with heads of state, government ministers, and senior leaders of development agencies on their most pressing challenges.
We support our clients with projects from start to finish, using our proven delivery methods, tools, and solutions for diagnostics, analysis, strategy development, capability building, and implementation.
Focused units, such as our Africa Delivery Hub, enable us to gear our support to the pace and requirements of our clients in this sector.
We help shape the global development debate by investing in proprietary research, fresh thinking, and an extensive publishing program.
The McKinsey Global Institute and McKinsey Center for Government address critical economic and social challenges facing public and private institutions.