As 2025 draws to a close, the social sector reflects on a year that has tested its foundations. Despite remarkable resilience in the face of shrinking resources, disrupted programs, and heightened pressure on underserved populations, the data confirms what we feel in practice: the sector is fighting to stay afloat.
Yet survival is not our ceiling. The challenges of this year present an opportunity not just to endure, but to reimagine how we support communities and vulnerable groups. At IDinsight, we have witnessed a quiet revolution: organizations are moving beyond defense and actively redesigning their approaches. Partners are doubling down on locally-led solutions, rigorously designing for scale, and embracing leaner, more cost-effective interventions guided by A/B testing. The rise of generative AI has added a powerful new toolkit, amplifying reach, effectiveness, and impact. Collectively, we are learning how to deploy these tools responsibly to uplift communities worldwide.
Reimagining Our Role
This moment has reaffirmed the vital role of data and evidence as a compass for navigating uncertainty and delivering meaningful impact. At IDinsight, we continue to support partners in understanding what works, scaling successful programs, and improving outcomes. Over the past year, we have expanded our focus in three key ways: accelerating impact at scale by supporting governments and NGOs in delivering proven solutions, helping organizations do more with fewer resources through rigorous cost-effectiveness and resource allocation analyses, and catalyzing responsible AI adoption by building solutions, advising partners, and rigorously evaluating AI applications to maximize their potential while minimizing risks.
Impactful Collaborations
Our deep partnerships with governments in LMICs demonstrate the power of embedding teams within delivery structures. In the Philippines, Kenya, Morocco, and India, our ‘learning partnership’ approach has enabled rapid, evidence-driven decision-making, influencing policies and programs that reach millions.
We have also informed NGO scale-up strategies through rigorous evaluations. For example, an impact study of World Bicycle Relief in rural Zambia revealed that reliable bicycles and local maintenance services improved income, consumption, and diet quality among adults. Multicountry evaluations, such as the DREAMS program led by Village Enterprise and Mercy Corps, are shaping strategies to strengthen resilience in refugee and host communities.
In the realm of AI, our early adoption and advisory work have positioned us to help organizations harness the technology effectively. From launching a fractional engineer program to building AI tools that amplify evidence-backed interventions, we have prioritized robust data systems and infrastructure as foundations for meaningful AI applications. Partnerships with organizations like IDRC, Google.org, and the Gates Foundation have allowed us to rigorously evaluate AI’s real-world impact, ensuring ethical and inclusive deployment.
Lessons Learned
We have learned that enthusiasm for AI must be balanced with constructive skepticism. Not every problem requires an AI solution, and technological innovation cannot replace lost resources. While AI offers transformative potential, its benefits depend on strong upstream data systems and downstream digital public goods. By pairing ambitious AI initiatives with rigorous evaluation, we can ensure technology genuinely improves lives.
The path to responsible AI in the social sector requires collaboration. No single organization can tackle these challenges alone. We are energized by a growing coalition of funders, governments, and civil society actors working together to build a robust ecosystem for AI-for-good.
Looking Forward
Impact remains our north star. As we enter 2026, we carry forward the lessons, tools, and partnerships of this transformative year. By combining data systems, evaluation, policy change, and innovative technologies, we aim to turn today’s moment of reinvention into real, lasting progress for the people we serve. Resilience, innovation, and partnership will continue to guide our work—and our commitment to social impact has never been stronger.
