Providing Clarity in Complex Environments

GIST works with governments, international organisations, and private-sector partners to provide contextual clarity in complex and rapidly changing settings. Our work spans more than 20 countries, combining rigorous research, strategic design, and operational expertise to help partners forecast, plan, and respond with more confidence.

Our Approach
Discover · Design · Deliver

Our Discover · Design · Deliver approach connects field research, analysis, and strategy. Each stage builds on the last, from uncovering realities and designing evidence-based strategies to strengthening institutional capacity and improving operational foresight.

  • Discover – Research & Insight

    We uncover the realities that matter through human networks, local partnerships, and mixed-method research. Combining field data and open-source analysis to understand local dynamics and decision environments.

  • Design – Strategy & Foresight

    We translate evidence into strategies and foresight models that help partners anticipate emerging risks, align priorities, and strengthen collaboration across agencies and systems

  • Deliver – Advisory, Applied Analysis & Capacity Building

    We provide tailored analytical and advisory support that bridges research and practice — helping partners apply evidence, refine policy, and strengthen institutional capacity through targeted training and knowledge transfer.

What We Do

Research and Analysis

We deliver clear, evidence-based understanding through integrated field research, data analysis, and local insight, giving partners the clarity needed to assess risk and design informed strategies.Core competencies:

  • Context and conflict analysis
  • Sectoral and market assessments
  • Open-source and data integration
  • Due diligence and risk evaluation
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Strategy and Foresight

We help partners anticipate change and plan with confidence. Our teams design strategies, foresight frameworks, and adaptive plans that align priorities and support long-term resilience.
Core competencies:

  • Strategic and policy design
  • Scenario and foresight analysis
  • Programme adaptation and planning
  • Investment and operational strategy
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Capacity Building

We strengthen institutions and teams to operate effectively in complex settings. Through targeted training and embedded advisory, we help partners enhance leadership, coordination, and institutional performance.
Core competencies:

  • Institutional development and reform
  • Leadership and management training
  • Cross-agency coordination
  • Technical assistance and mentoring
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Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

We design systems that measure progress and drive improvement. Combining data analytics and field research, we provide transparent, actionable insight to strengthen accountability and learning.
Core competencies:

  • MEL system and framework design
  • Third-party monitoring and verification
  • Strategic evaluations
  • Learning and adaptive management
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In-depth assessments and due diligence in high-risk environments

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Fragile context monitoring, strategic foresight, early warning

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Strategy design and operational planning in complex settings

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Building institutional capacity and cross-agency collaboration

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Our Work in Action

Recent examples:
Case study 1 Fragile Context Monitoring and Strategic Foresight
Across Central Africa and the Great Lakes region, government agencies and development partners sought to better understand shifting dynamics in humanitarian aid, resource management, and security. GIST was commissioned to design and operate multi-source platforms that provide continuous, data-informed context analysis to support strategy and programme adaptation.

Using field research, network mapping, and remote monitoring, GIST’s teams fuse open-source information, satellite imagery, and locally collected data to deliver real-time insights. These systems help clients identify emerging risks, track conflict dynamics, and adjust responses before they escalate.

This approach reflects GIST’s commitment to bridging technology and human expertise, delivering early and proactive foresight in fragile and fast-evolving situations.

Related Experience:
GIST operates similar context monitoring platforms across Central, Eastern, and Sahelian Africa, providing continuous situational awareness to donor consortia, UN agencies, and private clients seeking to mitigate operational and reputational risk.
Case study 2 Strategy Design and Operational Planning in Complex Settings
When a multilateral agency and philanthropic investment fund sought to refine their investment strategies in Africa, GIST provided market and contextual analysis across the Lake Chad Basin, Central Africa, and the Horn of Africa.

Combining local field access with sectoral expertise, GIST identified high-return, context-responsive opportunities and supported the development of grounded strategies tailored to regional realities. The resulting analysis helped partners align priorities, strengthen resilience, and allocate resources more effectively.

Through similar engagements, GIST continues to support multilateral and bilateral partners in developing policy and programme strategies that remain adaptive under uncertainty.

Related Experience:
GIST has supported strategy design for governments, foundations, and financial institutions across a wide range of fragile contexts, applying foresight, scenario planning, and market insight to strengthen governance and investment outcomes.
Case study 3 Building Institutional Capacity and Cross-Agency Collaboration
In the Middle East, GIST works with judiciary institutions to strengthen case management systems and improve coordination with international counterparts handling transnational cases.Through embedded technical expertise and tailored training, GIST supports the development of sustainable information-sharing frameworks and operational processes that enable institutions to respond more effectively to complex cross-border challenges.

Our capacity-building initiatives integrate policy advisory, technical mentoring, and institutional development — helping partners strengthen systems and accelerate reform implementation.

Related Experience:
‍GIST delivers institutional strengthening and cross-agency collaboration projects across Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East, supporting justice, governance, and security institutions in improving performance and accountability.
Case study 4 In-Depth Assessments and Due Diligence in High-Risk Environments
When an international development bank sought to review its strategy in light of shifting conditions in the Horn of Africa, GIST delivered a series of sector assessments across agriculture, energy, and infrastructure — supported by comprehensive due diligence on state and non-state actors with critical influence over local markets and operations.

Combining field research, network analysis, and open-source investigation, GIST provided the evidence needed to reassess risk exposure, refine engagement strategies, and strengthen investment planning.

Our teams have since applied similar methodologies to analyse hybrid conflict economies, illicit financial flows, and community-level service delivery in fragile regions, giving partners a clearer understanding of both opportunity and risk.

Related Experience:
GIST conducts due diligence and risk assessments for multilateral agencies, governments, and private investors across Africa, the Middle East, and East Asia — helping them operate responsibly and make informed decisions in high-risk environments.

Partners and Collaborations

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Every engagement is unique.

To learn more about our work or discuss how we can support your strategic and operational planning needs:
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