Adam Smith International

25/08/2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐

We’re delighted to share that ASI has been named one of Forbes’ World’s Best Management Consulting Firms 2026, receiving a four-star rating.

Four stars means ASI was “frequently recommended”, placing us among the top 10–40% of firms recognised in the ranking.

The ranking is based on recommendations from around 9,000 clients and senior consultants across 31 countries.

This recognition reflects the expertise, judgement and commitment of our colleagues and associates around the world, who deliver impact every day, often in some of the most challenging contexts.

We’re proud of this recognition and grateful to everyone who has contributed to it.

See the full list: https://www.forbes.com/lists/worlds-best-management-consulting-firms/

20/08/2026

In the markets of Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, traders are renewing business licences on their phones. Sales tax can be deducted automatically when customers pay by mobile money. Very little cash changes hands.

This is everyday economic life in Somalia's urban areas, and it points to something bigger: mobile money providers here process more than 155 million transactions a month, worth around US$2.7 billion. No part of the state reaches people this often.

So how does Somalia turn that everyday activity into a revenue system that citizens, businesses, federal states and the federal government can all trust?

Our Head of Africa, Suvojit Chattopadhyay, tackles exactly this in his latest article, i.e. on what mobile money and federalism could mean for Somalia's fiscal future, and why getting the politics of revenue-sharing right may matter just as much as the technology itself.

🔗 Read the full article here:

Somalia’s rapidly expanding mobile money ecosystem offers a unique opportunity to strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation. But unlocking that potential will require more than digital tax collection: it will depend on building trust, clarifying revenue-sharing arrangements between federal and stat...

22/07/2026

Rebuilding after a conflict or a war is about far more than repairing roads, schools and hospitals. It also means putting the right systems in place so governments can prioritise, fund and deliver the investments that matter most.

Strong public investment management helps ensure limited resources are spent where they will have the greatest impact, supporting a more effective and accountable recovery.

In Ukraine and Iraq, ASI is working alongside governments to strengthen these systems and lay the foundations for long-term stability and sustainable development.

🔗 Read the full article here: https://adamsmithinternational.com/articles/9335/

Public investment management is critical to rebuilding countries affected by conflict. Drawing on ASI's work in Ukraine and Iraq, this article explores how stronger planning, transparency and governance systems help governments prioritise infrastructure, attract investment, and deliver long-term rec...

17/07/2026

67 minutes can make a difference.

Every year on 18 July, people around the world mark Mandela Day by giving 67 minutes of their time in honour of Nelson Mandela's 67 years of service to justice, equality and human dignity.

Real change often starts with small acts of kindness, service and showing up for our communities.

This Mandela Day, we're sharing reflections from a couple of South African colleagues on what the day means to them, and celebrating colleagues whose volunteer work reflects the spirit of Mandela Day in action.

29/06/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐒𝐈 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞, 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚 𝐋𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞

Power losses don’t just affect utilities - they affect businesses, public services, and everyday life.

Through UK FCDO-funded support, ASI and Deloitte Ghana worked with Sierra Leone’s Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) to strengthen revenue protection, improve billing accuracy, and identify where electricity and revenue was being lost across parts of Freetown’s network.

The pilot uncovered practical interventions capable of unlocking more than USD 3 million in annual savings, while helping EDSA build stronger systems, better data, and greater operational oversight.

Stronger utilities mean more reliable electricity, greater investor confidence, and better foundations for long-term growth.

🔗 Read the full piece here: https://adamsmithinternational.com/articles/protecting-revenue-powering-progress-in-sierra-leone/ :all

24/06/2026

Not every climate story starts with a solar panel or a headline pledge.

Some start with zoning rules, procurement systems, bus corridors, station planning and the quiet institutional work that determines whether a city becomes more connected — or more congested.

For London Climate Action Week, we are sharing the latest article in our Green Cities, Infrastructure and Energy Programme (GCIEP) series, looking at what it takes to build future-ready urban transport systems.

Drawing on work in Vietnam, Laos, Sri Lanka and beyond, the article explores how cities can move away from reactive sprawl and towards transport systems that are planned, financed and governed for the long term.

These choices matter for the climate because they shape how people move, how cities grow, and whether countries lock in high-emission infrastructure for decades to come.

That is why the work behind the infrastructure matters too: the planning, financing and operating models that determine whether sustainable transport becomes part of daily life.

👉 Read the full article by Shubhankar (Shub) Agarwal, with contributions from Astrid Van de Voorde and Suvendu Samal, to see how future-ready cities are taking shape.

https://adamsmithinternational.com/articles/the-architecture-of-connection-how-future-ready-cities-take-shape/ :all

26/05/2026

⚡ 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫. 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦.

What does it really take to unlock private investment and deliver lasting reform in essential infrastructure sectors?

Join our next 𝐀𝐒𝐈 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦 for a discussion exploring the realities of attracting investment into energy and water systems in Sierra Leone - and what it means for long-term sector transformation.

This session will examine:
• how governments, donors, and delivery partners can create enabling conditions for sustainable investment
• the practical challenges of working in complex and evolving environments
• what adaptive delivery looks like in infrastructure and reform programming
• lessons from the FCDO-funded ESER and GCIEP programmes that can inform wider development practice

We’ll be joined by Memuna Forna, Tani Pratt, Daniel Yeo, and Roland Baah Teye - senior leaders with extensive experience across infrastructure, investment, governance, and programme delivery.

📅 Tuesday, 9 June 2026
🌍 Online
👉 Register via the link: aa9d5134-c3b9-46fe-afed-45ac60ab08bf@33f3783f-cdd2-442a-a9d2-1183fd1c4316" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/aa9d5134-c3b9-46fe-afed-45ac60ab08bf@33f3783f-cdd2-442a-a9d2-1183fd1c4316

27/04/2026

⏳𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭 - 𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐎𝐖

Join our next 𝐀𝐒𝐈 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦 for a timely discussion on how 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐭-𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐬.

This session will explore:
• how programme models can enable or constrain locally led impact
• what donors and implementers can do to move beyond localisation rhetoric
• how accountability, flexibility, and power-sharing can be embedded in delivery models
• lessons from multi-donor funds and locally led programming approaches

Speakers include:
• Vishalini Lawrence, Team Leader, Somali Civic Engagement Facility
• Ayan Mohamed, Democratisation and Local Governance Technical Lead, Somalia Stability Fund
• Martine Zeuthen, Deputy Team Leader, Deris Wanaag
• Chris Pycroft, Development Director, FCDO Somalia
• Ahmed Hassen, Civic Engagement and Governance Advisor, Civic Engagement Facility (CEF)
• Mohamed Yarrow, Executive Director, Centre For Peace And Democracy (CPD)
• Ismail Abdi Ali, FMIS, Governance, and Public Financial Management (PFM) Expert
• Suvojit Chattopadhyay, Head of Africa, ASI

📅 28 April 2026 | 🌍 Online | ⏰ 10:00 EAT
👉 Register now: ba2d959e-2ac2-4355-8aab-85fbc965cda9@33f3783f-cdd2-442a-a9d2-1183fd1c4316" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/ba2d959e-2ac2-4355-8aab-85fbc965cda9@33f3783f-cdd2-442a-a9d2-1183fd1c4316

16/04/2026

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐬?

Join our next 𝐀𝐒𝐈 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦 for a discussion exploring how localisation is being delivered in practice and where it’s falling short.

This session will unpack:
• how programme models can enable or constrain locally led impact
• what donors and implementers can do to move beyond localisation rhetoric
• how accountability, flexibility, and power sharing can be built into delivery models
• lessons from multi donor funds and locally led programming approaches

We will be joined by Chris Pycroft, Vishalini L., Ayan M., Martine Zeuthen and Suvojit Chattopadhyay, senior leaders with deep experience in governance, stabilisation, and inclusive development in complex environments.

📅 28 April 2026 | 🌍 Online | ⏰ 10:00 EAT
👉 Register here: ba2d959e-2ac2-4355-8aab-85fbc965cda9@33f3783f-cdd2-442a-a9d2-1183fd1c4316" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/ba2d959e-2ac2-4355-8aab-85fbc965cda9@33f3783f-cdd2-442a-a9d2-1183fd1c4316

15/04/2026

𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐑𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜. 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲.

So what does meaningful localisation actually look like in fragile and conflict-affected contexts?

Join our next 𝐀𝐒𝐈 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦 for a practitioner-led discussion exploring how localisation is being delivered in practice – and where it’s falling short.

We’ll unpack lessons from multi-donor programmes in Somalia, including the Somalia Stability Fund (SSF) and the Civic Engagement Facility (CEF), and examine how different programme models – from technical assistance to fund management – can enable or constrain locally led impact.

The session will also reflect on the current state of the localisation agenda, highlighting key challenges and opportunities for donors and implementers working in complex environments.

📅 28 April 2026 | 🌍 Online | ⏰ 10:00 EAT
👉 Register here: ba2d959e-2ac2-4355-8aab-85fbc965cda9@33f3783f-cdd2-442a-a9d2-1183fd1c4316" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/ba2d959e-2ac2-4355-8aab-85fbc965cda9@33f3783f-cdd2-442a-a9d2-1183fd1c4316