About Us

Development Professionals was formed in August 2009, as a small woman-minority owned business. Our mission is to improve the lives of citizens by advancing and facilitating rule of law reform in developing countries. We achieve this by providing the highest quality technical assistance and best practices to institutions implementing activities that foster good governance, transparency, encourage broad political participation, and access to justice to the disadvantaged and vulnerable populations

DPI’s is accustomed to operating in difficult environments such as countries with repressive regimes and countries embroiled in conflict or emerging from conflict. Like many of our competitors, DPI provides local institutions with international best practices know how and high quality technical guidance to  achieve broad based justice reform goals.

HOW WE STAND APART

We stand apart in our commitment to encourage and cultivate local actors to develop solutions that are feasible and sustainable in their country context. To achieve this we pledge that all DPI programs will be implemented with and designed by local organizations and actors leading the way.

DPI is born out of a passion and commitment to rule of law and democracy and governance. Our founders and staff originate from some of the very regions that have benefitted and continue to benefit from the support and assistance that USAID provides. We seek to work in countries where our staff speak the local language and have the in-country connections that make the added difference when implementing assistance programs.

Our principals have extensive practical in country and field experience. We have served both at headquarters and implemented large scale programs in the countries that are benefitting from USAID assistance today. We also have extensive experience operating USAID programs in conflict, post conflict and fragile countries. 

DPI has a vast network of technical experts with unique subject matter and language expertise. Our experts are accomplished in their respective countries and bring that wealth of expertise to rule of law and democracy and governance programs. Their expertise coupled with global best practices ensures that DPI programs are implemented in a manner that ensures effective solutions to the challenges of rule of law and democracy and governance reform.

Some of DPI’s staff continue to practice law on a very limited basis and serve on Maryland State Bar Associations Standing Committee for Continuing Legal Education. We believe that remaining involved in the practice of law and local justice sector reform initiatives can provide important examples and resources for future programming in developing countries.