Nairobi, Kenya
BDI works to reduce poverty and hunger, strengthen livelihoods, and promote peaceful, resilient communities — starting with what communities already know about themselves.
We believe development should create lasting opportunity. That means listening to communities, responding to real needs, building practical skills and livelihoods, and measuring the change created. Our focus is simple: helping people move from vulnerability toward dignity, resilience, and economic independence.
Bankable Development International is a Kenyan development organization committed to creating practical pathways out of poverty, hunger, exclusion, and vulnerability.
BDI works with underserved communities — especially low-income households, women, youth, smallholder farmers, informal producers, and unemployed or underemployed people.
Our name reflects our belief that development must be more than an idea. It must be practical, credible, sustainable, and capable of producing real results in people's lives.
Thriving, peaceful, resilient, and self-reliant communities where every person has a fair opportunity to live with dignity and contribute to sustainable development.
To reduce poverty and hunger, strengthen livelihoods, build resilient communities, and promote peaceful and inclusive societies through practical, community-led, measurable development initiatives.
Three areas, one aim — helping people move toward dignity, resilience, and independence.
Economic opportunity is central to dignity and self-reliance. We support vulnerable people to build the skills, knowledge, networks, and confidence needed to earn sustainable incomes.
Goal: improve real economic security and the ability to support one's own family — not simply deliver training.
Hunger and poverty are closely connected. We work with communities to strengthen their ability to produce, access, and afford nutritious food while adapting to economic and climate-related pressures.
Goal: stronger households with improved food security, productive capacity, and resilience.
Communities cannot prosper where exclusion, conflict, mistrust, or instability prevent people from working together. We support inclusive, community-led efforts that strengthen cooperation.
Goal: communities that are more united, inclusive, peaceful, and able to shape their shared future.
Urgent priority
In parts of northern and eastern Kenya, Kala-azar continues to threaten the lives of some of the country’s most vulnerable communities.
Also known as visceral leishmaniasis, Kala-azar is spread by infected sandflies. It can cause persistent fever, severe weight loss, extreme weakness, and life-threatening complications when treatment is delayed.
Through the work of Dr. Said — one of BDI’s directors and a practicing doctor in Mwingi — we have seen the reality of this disease at community level. His direct experience with patients has shown us that, although other organizations are already doing important work, the number of cases and the level of community vulnerability remain deeply concerning.
For BDI, this is not just another health statistic. It is a humanitarian priority that demands immediate action — a chance to create measurable impact, reach communities that are still being left behind, and help save lives through stronger awareness and coordinated action.
No family should lose a loved one to a disease that can be detected and treated.
We don't believe in one-size-fits-all development. Every community has its own strengths, challenges, and priorities — so our process starts and ends with them.
We begin by listening. Communities understand their own realities, priorities, and strengths, and we work with them to identify practical solutions that reflect local needs.
We focus on results, not activity alone: what problem are we solving, who benefits, what change should happen, how will we measure it, and what will make it last.
We aim to move people from short-term assistance toward skills, income, resilience, and independence wherever possible.
Meaningful development requires collaboration with communities, government, civil society, development partners, foundations, universities, and responsible private-sector partners.
We are committed to responsible stewardship of resources, transparent decision-making, proper financial management, and conflict-of-interest controls.
Progress that can be seen and measured.
BDI is building a model of development that is practical, accountable, and evidence-led. As programmes grow, this page will share verified information on:
We will report what we do, what we learn, and the difference our work makes — check back as our programmes grow.
Building an institution people can trust. BDI is guided by a governance structure that separates oversight from daily management.
Financial records, audits, and internal controls support accountability and responsible use of resources. BDI's funds and assets are used solely to advance its charitable objectives — we are committed to transparency, ethical leadership, and responsible management.
Strong communities are built through strong partnerships. BDI welcomes collaboration with:
Whether you want to support a programme, share expertise, co-design a project, fund an initiative, or explore a strategic partnership, we would be pleased to hear from you.
Become a partnerDo you want to partner with BDI, support our work, or learn more about our programmes?
