Coles Development Consulting Ltd. (CDC) provides short-term consultancy services in the design, implementation and review of inclusive, sustainable development initiatives. Our Director, Dr. Chris Coles, is a senior private sector development practitioner and published author in conservation ecology and development economics. In autumn 2023, he became a tenant crofter on the Isle of Lewis, practicing permaculture and regenerative agriculture.

We have particular expertise in reconciling natural resources management with economic development concerns. Our approaches include including Market Systems Development (MSD), Value Chain Analysis and Development, the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework in addition to desk studies and a range of research techniques including systematic review.

In addition, we provide bespoke client support services in areas including:

  • Strategy, analysis and business development
  • Peer review, proof reading and drafting of proposals and documents
  • Event facilitation and moderation

Clients of our technical advice and facilitation services have included the UK DFID/FCDO, Sida, the International Development Research Center (IDRC), UN FAO and UNIDO, The World Bank, the EU, Agora Global, Nathan Associates, DAI Europe, GRM, Adam Smith International, Landell Mills, LTS International, PwC London, and GIZ German Development Agency.

Our sectoral expertise includes agriculture, horticulture, livestock and fisheries (marine, freshwater, capture and farmed), forest and natural products, and non-traditional industries such as infrastructure development, and financial and utilities services. In addition, we have expertise in pro-poor and pro-local tourism analysis and development, examining the economic linkages between tourism and the wider economy, and development of eco-, activity and special interest tourism products.

Our geographical experience spans Europe, North, Southern, Central, West and East Africa, the Middle East, and South and South East Asia.


Download Chris Coles’ CV