IDE - Powering entrepreneurs to end poverty

Powering entrepreneurs
to end poverty.

iDE Canada creates income and livelihood opportunities in developing countries around the world. We invest in local entrepreneurship, building businesses with a focus on agriculture and sanitation. With access to the right products, services and advice, farmers can transform their small farms into small businesses. With access to research and development, sanitation business owners can produce the life-saving products their customers want.

Beletu Bacha
is a role model.

BELETU BACHA IS A ROLE MODEL – not just for her children, but also for other women in her community in rural Ethiopia. As a single mother, she struggled in past growing seasons to generate enough income to sustain her family for the year, and could not afford school fees for her children.

After joining a Women’s Economic Group, Beletu received training and gained access to improved inputs and technologies. With a small opportunity, entrepreneurs like Beletu are able to transform not only their own fortunes, but also create new opportunities for others in their communities.

Our Initiatives

Innovate for Impact

iDE’s founder, Paul Polak, practiced and preached the importance of starting with people. With your support, local iDE teams use Human Centered Design to engage deeply with the people and communities we serve.

Innovation Fund Projects

Cambodia

| The Paul Polak Innovation Fund

Transform Smallholder Farming

Small-scale farmers grow 80% of the food available in rural areas but often live in poverty. Your support helps farmers increase their incomes by ensuring they have access to markets, high-quality seed and affordable irrigation.

Agricultural Projects

ETHIOPIA

| Agriculture resilience and dignity

NEPAL

| Dealing with new pests

Three women's standing side-by-side in a farm field.

A women is making toilet seats in a rural area using clay and mud.

Stop Diarrhea

Diarrhea kills over half a million under-5 children every year – more than malaria, tuberculosis and HIV combined. Diarrhea deprives many millions of children of the nutrients they need to reach their full physical and mental potential.