Altamont Group

Why Sustainability is the Cornerstone of Development Projects

Introduction  In an era where global challenges such as climate change, resource depletion, and social inequality are at the forefront of public discourse, sustainability has emerged as a pivotal concept in development projects. It is no longer sufficient to pursue economic growth and infrastructural development without considering their long-term impacts on the environment, society, and future generations. This blog post delves into the essence of sustainability, best practices, evaluation methods, and highlights successful sustainable projects in the Global South. Additionally, it showcases Altamont Group’s approach to integrating sustainability into their projects and advisory services.  What is Sustainability?  Sustainability, in the context of development, refers to the practice of meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It encompasses three main pillars:  Best Practices  Implementing sustainability in development projects involves several best practices:  Evaluating Sustainability in Development Projects  Evaluation of sustainability in development projects is crucial to ensure that they meet their intended goals without adverse long-term impacts. Various Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) frameworks can be employed:  Examples of Successful Sustainable Projects in the Global South  Why Projects That Don’t Consider Long-Term Sustainability Fail  Projects that do not incorporate long-term sustainability often face significant challenges and can even exacerbate existing problems. Here are some reasons why such projects fail:  A project that failed to consider sustainability can be seen in the Aral Sea Disaster. In this case, the diversion of rivers for irrigation in the former Soviet Union led to the near disappearance of the Aral Sea, causing ecological catastrophe, loss of fisheries, and severe public health issues due to toxic dust from the dry seabed. Another example of such a project can be seen in the Mega-Dams in the Amazon. Projects like the Belo Monte Dam in Brazil have caused extensive environmental damage, displaced indigenous communities, and led to loss of biodiversity, illustrating the negative impacts of not considering environmental and social sustainability.  Altamont Group’s Commitment to Sustainability  Altamont Group, a women-owned advisory and investment entity, provides bespoke, sustainable solutions that maximize impact and ensure long-term success for clients across emerging and developed economies. Our approach is built on a foundation of sound business principles and DEAR values—Dedicated, Engaged, Entrepreneurial, Ethical, Agile, and Responsive.  Altamont Group has a proven track record in enhancing sustainability across various sectors. In the educational sector, we have integrated sustainability into school curricula, promoted eco-friendly school infrastructures, and trained educators on sustainable practices. Our efforts in developing eco-friendly schools have reduced energy consumption and fostered environmental awareness among students. In smart city development, our projects prioritize sustainability through green technologies, efficient waste management, and sustainable urban planning. For instance, our implementation of smart city projects that incorporate renewable energy sources, smart grids, and sustainable public transport systems has significantly improved urban living standards while minimizing environmental impact. In the humanitarian and development sector, we focus on ensuring the sustainability of initiatives by incorporating ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) responsibility, optimizing value at every step, and addressing contextual challenges. Our projects in areas such as water management and agriculture have promoted sustainable practices that enhance food security and resource conservation.  At Altamont Group, we are committed to delivering effective and sustainable solutions tailored to the unique needs of our clients. Our multidisciplinary approach and extensive experience across various sectors enable us to create impactful and long-lasting results. Reach out to us today to learn how we can help you achieve your development goals sustainably. 

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The Social Justice Approach to Development 

Introduction  In the field of international development, the social justice approach has emerged as a powerful and holistic framework for confronting systemic inequalities, advancing human rights, and ensuring the fair distribution of resources, opportunities and power across societies. Many leading development experts, institutions and grassroots movements have embraced this transformative rights-based model to address the root causes of entrenched poverty, marginalization and lack of access to basic services.  At its core, the social justice approach represents a fundamental shift in how we understand and tackle development challenges. Rather than reducing poverty and deprivation to purely technical or economic issues, it calls for recognizing the injustices and human rights violations inherent in unequal power structures, institutionalized discrimination, and the concentration of resources and decision-making authority in the hands of privileged groups. Overcoming these imbalances requires dismantling unjust systems and empowering marginalized communities to become agents of their own sustained social and economic progress.  The social justice lens pushes us to reject top-down, one-size-fits-all development programs in favor of initiatives shaped by the priorities, knowledge and participation of the poor and oppressed themselves. As writer José Saramago eloquently stated, global commitment to the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides a moral blueprint for advancing “a new, distributive and commutative justice” allowing all people to access their fundamental rights and liberties.  Key Principles and Theoretical Foundations  While there is no universally agreed-upon definition, the social justice approach finds its theoretical underpinnings across a rich multidisciplinary landscape including philosophy, economics, political science, sociology, human geography and many other fields. At its heart are core principles emphasizing:  Much of the theoretical discourse on distributive justice and social justice stems from the influential work of American philosopher John Rawls. His philosophies of justice emphasize the importance of fair allocation of societal resources, opportunities, rights and basic liberties through both robust procedural justice mechanisms and equitable distributions of benefits and burdens.  Other key contributors to the distributive paradigm include political theorists like David Miller, who outlines criteria for determining just distributions; Walter Garrison Runciman’s examination of relative deprivation and inequality; and William Galston’s liberal pluralism rooted in diversity. While Amartya Sen’s capabilities approach pushes the discourse beyond income poverty to enable true human freedoms and agency.  Significant critiques of distributive justice have arisen from theorists like Iris Young and Nancy Fraser, who argue that achieving social justice requires more expansive measures than merely redistributing resources and benefits. Young highlights the need to eliminate institutionalized cultural oppression, violence, exploitation and marginalization facing diverse social groups. Meanwhile, Fraser emphasizes overcoming injustices stemming from misrecognition and lack of participation in economic structures and decision-making.  From the realm of human geography, David Smith and David Harvey’s work explores the inherently spatial dimensions of social injustice, shaped by disparities in citizenship, property rights regimes, infrastructural development favoring certain communities, and socioeconomic segregation within the built environment.  Ultimately, while drawing from a rich range of multidisciplinary thought, the social justice approach tends to coalesce around several fundamental normative principles:  Applications in Policy and Practice  This holistic social justice philosophy has profound implications for how development challenges are conceptualized, policies are crafted, programs are implemented, and outcomes are measured. It represents a paradigm shift away from top-down, donor-driven initiatives towards community-led, rights-based approaches centering on the voices and knowledge of marginalized populations themselves.  On a practical level, the pursuit of social justice through development interventions encompasses a wide range of interconnected efforts across multiple sectors. Key applications include:  Fundamentally, the social justice approach rejects compartmentalized, sector-specific development programs narrowly focused on economic growth metrics or basic service delivery. It demands recognition that poverty, marginalization and rights deprivations are multi-dimensional and structural in nature, requiring comprehensive efforts transcending political, economic, social and spatial boundaries to truly transform unjust systems and power dynamics.  Challenges and Limitations  While compelling in premise, operationalizing the social justice approach faces a series of formidable philosophical, practical and systemic challenges:  Conclusion  The social justice approach offers a holistic vision ensuring development advances human dignity, rights and equitably shares benefits across society. Prioritizing justice, equity and community empowerment provides a counter-narrative to models focused solely on economic growth metrics. While facing complex philosophical, governance and implementation hurdles, this principled framework can guide inclusive solutions addressing systemic poverty and marginalization.  Altamont Group, a boutique advisory and investment firm, has implemented successful social justice projects spanning the Global South in sectors including female empowerment, sexual/reproductive health, equitable education, social welfare, and climate adaptation, and resilience. Working alongside local and international NGOs allows Altamont Group to uphold key social justice principles of participation and challenging power imbalances while tapping diverse expertise. 

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Building Resilience through Education: Strengthening Communities 

Introduction  Climate change is no longer a distant threat, but a dangerous reality facing communities globally. However, vulnerable groups in climate sensitive, developing regions shoulder the heaviest burdens. Climate volatility challenges social cohesion and adaptive capacity precisely where resilience is needed most. Building enduring communal resilience through inclusive climate education has therefore become a moral and practical imperative.  Climate change threatens communities globally, but its harshest impacts often fall upon developing nations. Recent disasters like floods in Pakistan and droughts in the Horn of Africa reveal the strains climate volatility places upon vulnerable communities. Building resilience to adapt and thrive has therefore become an urgent priority.  An Urgent Threat  Manifestations of climate chaos like unrelenting heatwaves and devastating floods reveal the strain worsening impacts place on social systems across Africa, Asia and Latin America. Urgent action is needed to foster cohesive, educated, engaged and resilient communities prepared to navigate intensifying volatility.  Beyond damaging infrastructure, housing and livelihoods, research shows climate shocks weaken community ties and governance structures vital for coping and adapting collectively. When social bonds fracture, so does the capacity to understand, assess and respond to risk scenarios through joint initiatives.  The Power of Education  Education serves a critical yet overlooked function in empowering communities to meet this challenge. Its role extends beyond training individuals to also promoting the social cohesion vital for collective action. Studies of climate adaptation successes in Nepal, Indonesia and other climate vulnerable nations highlight the central role of community-centered education programs. These foster risk understanding while preserving indigenous knowledge to align adaptation with local priorities. They train community leaders who can mobilize groups for resilience projects like restoring floodplains or climate-smart agriculture.  Education cultivates resilience by promoting climate literacy, collective risk assessment, and social cohesion for adaptation and sustainable development. Schools and nonformal programs build knowledge for evidence-based planning, while training leaders to mobilize community-centered projects like flood resilient housing, regenerative agriculture or mangrove restoration.  Education also strengthens communities by addressing structural marginalization that erodes resilience. Education campaigns in climate vulnerable regions of Africa and India demonstrate how transforming long-standing gender exclusion amplifies resilience. Educated women invest more in family and community health, driving adaptation measures. Indigenous education across Latin America is also revitalizing traditional knowledge and governance structures essential for community resilience.  Educational initiatives must consciously integrate marginalized groups like girls and indigenous communities by addressing structural barriers to amplify resilience. Education campaigns across Central and South Asia also demonstrate upside potential, with higher family and community health and wellbeing outcomes. Revitalizing indigenous knowledge systems also enhances locale-specific resilience by aligning strategies with community needs and norms.   Areas for Improvement  But realizing education’s potential to strengthen community resilience depends on availability, affordability and equality of access. Key gaps across climate vulnerable developing nations leave many without the knowledge to understand complex risk scenarios or training to lead local adaptation initiatives. Partnerships between international organizations, governments and local nonprofits can close these gaps through targeted finance and technical support.  Equal access remains an obstacle, as gaps in awareness, scientific literacy, technical skills and financing access leave many unable to navigate worsening climate scenarios. Targeted resilience education can close these gaps with training in climate modeling interpretations, climate-smart infra/agriculture, adaptation financing, and project leadership/management.  Work with Us!  The climate crisis poses grave uncertainties, but education offers hope by empowering communities to build inclusive and sustainable societies ready to adapt to any challenge. Now more than ever, we must leverage education to achieve resilient communities prepared to thrive in the face of uncertainty.  Here at Altamont Group, our projects range from resilience education curriculum development to training women as community climate leaders. We invite those engaged in similar education for resilience projects to reach out, so we may continue exchanging insights and amplifying impact.  We collaborate with international organizations, smaller nonprofits and regional actors across South Asia, the GCC, and Sub-Saharan Africa on academic resilience curriculum development and nonformal training programs. Our projects on gender equity and female empowerment have already amplified adaptation and resilience across multiple geographies. We invite partners equally committed to inclusive, community-driven resilience education to help achieve the goal of sustainable and inclusive education for all. 

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Leveraging the OECD-DAC Framework for Comprehensive Program and Project Evaluation in International Development

In the international development space, assessing the effectiveness and impact of programs and projects is crucial for ensuring resources are utilized efficiently and goals are achieved. One widely recognized and utilized framework for such evaluations is the OECD-DAC framework.

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Digital School 

Introduction  The world is witnessing massive efforts to respond to the learning crisis and the shocks felt across the education system. Alternative solutions, especially digital learning and home-based learning have gained more ground in all countries and created a reimagined method for learning systems. The emergence of digital schools marks a transformative shift in education, harnessing technology to personalize learning and enhance accessibility. As society embraces digital schools, the recognition of their ability to adapt to diverse learning styles fosters a collective realization of the need for a more inclusive and flexible educational landscape. Altamont Group stands as a beacon of expertise, showcasing a profound mastery in the seamless establishment of digital schools, redefining education through innovative technological integration. In this blog, we are going to write about digital schooling, why it is needed and lastly, see why you should partner with Altamont Group when you want to come up with a Digital School.  What is Digital School  Digital school is a term given to a school that works virtually or runs online classes. The largest disruption of education systems in history has been caused by the COVID-19 pandemic with closures of schools and other learning spaces; moreover, conflict-affected areas have been particularly hard hit. The whole education system is now running online, and the schools are also making themselves future-ready. In addition, a digital school concept provides remote learning in a smart and flexible way, where students can join from anywhere. It provides digital learning materials that are compatible with their respective national and international curricula and provides licensed teachers and their colleagues to interact through virtual classes, as well as provides a smart evaluation mechanism that helps students to self-learn, gain knowledge and skills, and obtain accredited credentials.  The graphic below paints a picture of a framework that positions the digital school within the education ecosystem:  The importance of Digital School  This is basically to answer the question, why is digital school needed? And before we get to outline the benefits of digital school, it is good to note that COVID-19 was the greatest disruptor of education systems in history. COVID-19, however, opened a window for alternative solutions, especially digital learning and home-based learning. These two have gained more ground in all countries and created a reimagined method for learning systems. It is also good to note that several electronic learning (e- learning), mobile learning (m-learning), and distance learning programs were initiated globally long before the emergence of COVID-19.  Now, the benefits of a digital school are uncountable. For instance, an individual no longer has to worry about going places to learn what they like, all they have to do is download an online teaching app and they are ready to indulge in as many courses they wish to be in. Through these mobile apps, one can learn from anywhere and at any point in time. With the coming up of this technology, anyone from any age group can learn without much difficulty and at a reasonable expenditure. People can combine courses from any field and learn them together. Professionals taking these courses are also given the ease to work and reach out to the world without any hassles.  This blog has outlined two benefits of digital school in detail. First one is, Better Networking – online education presents the students with the possibility to network with like-minded peers and teachers, across the globe. This more often than not leads to other chances or opportunities in line of partnership with their peers in the execution and completion of a project. And the second one is, Limited Geographical Boundaries – a student often had to travel great distances to obtain knowledge; but with the development of improved technology and digital classrooms, this has become less of an issue.  Challenges faced while setting up a Digital School  Setting up a digital school presents a dynamic array of challenges that encompass technological, pedagogical and logistical dimensions. The initial hurdle often revolves around securing reliable high-speed internet access for all students, ensuring equitable participation. Integrating a user- friendly and secure digital platform demands meticulous planning to address potential technical glitches and ensure smooth navigation for both students and educators. Adapting teaching methodologies to an online format, while maintaining student engagement and interactivity, demands creative pedagogical solutions. Moreover, training educators to proficiently navigate digital tools and fostering a sense of virtual community poses further challenges. Lastly, establishing a cohesive assessment framework that prevents cheating while evaluating true understanding adds another layer of complexity. Overcoming these challenges requires a holistic approach that combines technological prowess, educational innovation and effective communication.  Unforeseen events that affects traditional schools  It’s important for schools to have contingency plans in place to address these unforeseen events and ensure the safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and the overall educational process.  Altamont Group is the best partner in Digital School  Our comprehensive expertise streamlines the establishment of digital schools, offering tailored solutions that navigate challenges seamlessly from robust technological integration to pedagogical adaptation ensuring a successful transition to the digital learning landscape.  Altamont Group is a boutique investment and advisory firm that offers strategic and implementation expertise to many leading organizations globally. EdWorX, which is Altamont Group’s US-based partner, offers consultancy services in North America; and FleXademy, which is Altamont Group’s affiliate, offers learning solutions globally. Altamont Group offers the following services: Monitoring,  Evaluation, Research and Learning; eLearning/Capacity Development/Training/Workshops; Strategic Planning & Policy; and Accreditation & Quality Assurance.  Moreover, Altamont Group has a robust team of experienced consultants and specialists, who have extensive experience across K-12 education, TVET, and continuous/higher education across the formal and informal learning sectors.  Now, why partner with Altamont Group when you think of Digital School? Altamont Group has a deep education industry knowledge as well as strategy development expertise for the education, NGO, international organizations, and government sectors. Altamont Group understands the essential elements required to develop, launch, and implement such an initiative (Digital School). It also understands how a good strategy to implement

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Monitoring and Evaluation Plan 

Introduction  In pursuit of meaningful and lasting impacts, organizations and projects often find themselves navigating a complex landscape. This journey from conception to implementation can be fraught with uncertainties and challenges that demand constant adaptation. This is where Monitoring and Evaluation plans emerge as indispensable tools. M&E plans provide a structured framework for systematically assessing the progress, effectiveness, and efficiency of initiatives. By capturing real-time data and insights, these plans facilitate evidence-based decision making, foster accountability and enable strategic adjustments to ensure that projects stay aligned with their goals, ultimately leading to truly impactful outcomes. Amidst the landscape of organizations committed to achieving impactful outcomes, Altamont Group stands out as a distinguished player in the arena of advisory and investment services. With a proven track record of fostering successful initiatives across various sectors, we bring a wealth of experience, knowledge and strategic insight. The heart of our approach lies in our ability to craft and execute meticulous monitoring and evaluation plans that go beyond mere data collection. We understand that key to impactful outcomes lies in the nuanced interpretation of gathered insights, leading to adaptive strategies and refined project execution. In this blog we are going to write about a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan, why it is needed and lastly, delve into why Altamont Group is the ideal partner in developing the M&E Plan.  Monitoring and Evaluation Plan  A Monitoring and Evaluation plan is a guide that explains the goals and objectives of an M&E strategy and its key elements. Basically, a Monitoring and Evaluation plan is like a roadmap that describes how you will monitor and evaluate your program, as well as how you intend to use evaluation results for project improvement and decision making. An M&E plan helps to define, implement, track and improve a monitoring and evaluation strategy within a particular project or a group of projects which includes all the steps, elements and activities that need to happen from the project planning phase until the project reaches its goal and creates the intended impact.  Now, one thing that you need to keep in mind is that, the specifics of each project’s M&E plan will differ on a project-by-project basis, however, they should all follow the same basic structure and include the same key elements.  Lastly, an M&E entails steps, elements and activities. And the following are some of them:  The importance of a Monitoring and Evaluation Plan  As we have seen earlier in the definition of M&E Plan, a Monitoring and Evaluation  plan helps to define, implement, track and improve a monitoring and evaluation strategy within a particular project or a group of projects, and these includes all the steps, elements and activities that need to happen from the project planning phase until the project reaches its goal and creates the intended impact.  Development of an M&E Plan is an essential step to manage the process of assessing and reporting progress towards achieving project outputs and outcomes, and to identify what evaluation questions will be addressed through evaluation. They also help managers of projects and programs to manage and improve their implementation.  The Role of M&E  The role of monitoring and evaluation in decision making cannot be overstated. These processes provide essential insights that inform effective decision-making across various domains. Evaluation offers a comprehensive assessment of project performance, revealing what is working well and where improvements are needed. Monitoring on the other hand, offers real-time data on the progress of activities, enabling timely adjustments and corrective measures. Both processes enable organizations to make informed choices, allocate resources efficiently, and adapt strategies based on evidence rather than assumptions. However, challenges do exist, including the need for well-defined indicators, reliable data collection methods and the potential for biases in interpretation. Balancing the need for accurate measurement with the practical limitations of data collection can also pose difficulties.  Despite these challenges, embracing robust evaluation and monitoring practices enhances the quality of decision-making, fostering greater accountability, transparency and the achievement of impactful outcomes.  Altamont Group: The Ideal Partner in Developing M&E Plan.  Altamont Group plays a pivotal role in guiding organizations through the intricate landscape of monitoring and evaluation obstacles, ensuring sustained success. With our profound expertise, we adeptly address challenges that often arise during M&E implementation, offering tailored solutions that facilitate data-driven decision-making. Proficiency in designing effective M&E plans empowers clients to overcome common hurdles like defining relevant indicators, selecting appropriate data collection methods, and interpreting results accurately. Our commitment to excellence aligns seamlessly with the strategic use of M&E, as they recognize the transformative potential of thorough monitoring and evaluation. By embracing these practices, we not only enhance project outcomes but also embody our values of accountability, innovation and the pursuit of long-term impact.  Altamont Group has a robust team of experienced consultants and specialists, who have extensive experience across K-12 education, TVET, and continuous/higher education across the formal and informal learning sectors. To show you that Altamont Group has the best MERL expertise that will help you come up with the best M&E Plan, we have an example of an M&E Plan that we developed for our client. Our client is a nonprofit organization affiliated with Harvard University. Our client engaged Altamont Group to develop a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan to support their evolution and ensure alignment with the US Department of State (DoS’s) reporting requirements. Altamont Group, having the best MERL expertise, has developed an M&E Plan that considers client’s strategic goals, DoS indicators, and will enable a cycle of continuous improvement. Lastly, over the years, Altamont Group has been able to partner and work with global organizations such as the World Bank, NATO, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNHCR, CAMFED, the Global Innovation Fund, INEE, and Mercy Corps. Altamont Group also works extensively with governments including the US Secretary of State, the Kingdom of South Arabia, Global Affairs Canada, and the UAE to name a few. Finally, and this is to show our impeccable expertise. Altamont Group’s clients tend to be repeat clients, illustrating that

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Strategy Advisory

Introduction  In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, the need for strategic advisory services has never been more crucial. The complexities and uncertainties of the modern market demand insightful guidance to navigate challenges and seize opportunities effectively. It is within this context that Altamont Group emerges as a distinguished advisory and investment firm, poised to provide invaluable expertise to businesses seeking to thrive in the face of change. As we delve into this blog, our primary aim is to shed light on strategic insights that can shape and fortify business endeavours. Strategy Advisory offers meaningful, tailored, and personalised advice to enable organizational strategic decision making. In this blog, we will discuss what strategy advisory is, why it is needed and why Altamont Group is the ideal partner to offer strategy advisory.  Strategy Advisory  Strategy advisory offers meaningful, tailored, and personalized advice to enable organizational strategic decision. Within strategy advisory, advice is offered to organisations so that high-level decisions can be taken in an unbiased fashion, using deep industry knowledge to deliver the best results. Strategy advisory specialists advise their clients on key issues, leveraging industry knowledge and analytical rigor, to help them make informed decisions. Examples of strategy advisory projects include assessment of key when companies want to enter new regions or launch new products.  Strategic planning is also a key advisory service which can include long and short-term organizational strategies with key performance indicators, targets, and implementation plans. Strategy advisory aims to provide advice, guidance, and leadership support.  Importance of Strategy Advisory  Strategy advisory helps diverse businesses and organizations navigate the process of discovering who they are, where they want to go, how they will get there, and how to measure success. Strategy advisory is required is to help organizations plan for success through an objective and unbiased third- party lens that can help with decision-making. When decisions involve millions of dollars, a wrong move can topple the entire business. In the face of such uncertainty, strategy advisory provides research-driven and data-backed advice on the right step to take.  Strategy advisory is industry agnostic, cutting across private and public sector bodies on a wide range of issues so that organizations can plan for success across various aspects of their business. A few reasons strategy advisory is important:  Many companies look for strategy advisory in order to improve their long-term prospects, particularly when the team is too busy with operations and implementation or doesn’t have the internal expertise.  Strategy advisory can facilitate the complete regeneration of a company while simultaneously enabling the company to remain fully functional throughout, as well as accelerating getting up to speed once the strategy process is complete. Besides short-term gains, strategy advisory can provide insight into the long-run direction of the company.  Finally, when internal and external problems remain after business leaders have exhausted all avenues, strategy advisory come into the picture. Strategy advisory delves deeper than overall operations and management go. Above all, it seeks out the specific gaps and challenges unique to a company and designs customized solutions to address them. Strategy advisory assist companies by stepping into complex situations and developing cogent, coherent plans of action to meet defined goals.  In strategy advisory, the objective is to offer meaningful, tailored, and personalized advice to enable organizational strategic decision making. The graphic below explains the steps in strategy advisory that can guide an organization in the process of determining a tactical roadmap.  Why is Altamont Group the best strategy advisory partner?  Companies hire strategy advisory firms to gain a competitive edge, improve on stagnant areas, and produce solutions to specific problems where executives have no specialized expertise. Moreover, where more than one party participates in transitions or mergers, an advisory firm can also act as an independent party. Stepping into this scenario, strategy advisors meticulously balance considerations from both ends, sculpting the optimal strategy to span the divide – a realm where Altamont Group takes the spotlight.  Altamont Group is one of the most experienced advisory firms and has worked with leading organizations and government entities globally – across the emerging and emerged economies. Altamont Group has a reputation for being a trusted advisor to its clients and for maintaining the utmost discretion and confidentiality in undertakings with its clients.  Altamont Group is also known for developing customized strategy solutions. Altamont Group is well aware that the one size fits all approach is NOT correct and certainly NOT what the client needs.  Instead, Altamont Group starts with a deep dive into the company’s needs and goals; followed by research and fact finding. As a result, Altamont Group develops customized strategy solutions, that while drawing on global models, is always unique to meet specific client requirements.  In all their work, Altamont Group leverages global best practices within cultural contexts to optimize client results. Altamont Group focuses on robust research and data collection to deliver evidence-based findings. In fact, due to their deep expertise, critical global understanding, and customized approach, Altamont Group has been fortunate to support international and regional entities with various engagements including:  Consultants at Altamont Group are drawn from Ivy League and Top Tier institutions and have more than 45 years of experience within the strategy sector. Moreover, Altamont Group is committed to applying a gender lens internally on their policies as an organization and employer, in their CSR portfolio, and while collaborating with clients.  Conclusion  In the intricate dance of business, the role of strategy advisory emerges as a guiding beacon illuminating the path through uncertainties and complexities. The ability to objectively assess, carefully plan, and decisively execute can often make the difference between stagnation and growth. Herein lies the significance of strategic advisory services in today’s dynamic landscape. As organizations embark on this transformative journey, the partnership they choose can shape their trajectory. This is where Altamont Group brings a wealth of experience. Our commitment to understanding the unique DNA of each organization, coupled with our expertise in crafting tailored strategies, positions us as the ideal partner to navigate the

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Background Paper: Distance Education in Emergencies

Case Study Title  Background Paper: Distance Education in Emergencies  Date Published  06Aug2022  Type of Client  Humanitarian Organization  Focus Area  Education Case Synopsis  We were tasked with developing a background paper for our client on distance education in emergency settings. This background paper was commissioned by our client and authored by Altamont Group, led by Sajida H. Shroff with support from Colette Azzi, Elizabeth Bruce, and Sameen Fatima. The paper, which followed the structure of our client’s Minimum Standards, provided evidence-based tools and guidance for those working in distance education settings in emergency situations. Case Summary  Qualitative data gathering and close collaboration with our client’s Distance Education Reference Group (DERG) supported the development of the background paper, alongside multiple drafts for the exchange of feedback. The paper followed the structure of the client’s Minimum Standards and focused on four key areas identified by DERG, namely: •Building Teacher Capacity for Design and Delivery of Distance Education, •Enabling Policies for Distance Education and Digital Fluency, •Curating, Creating, and Contextualizing Content, and •The Ed Tech Landscape and Selection for use in Distance Education. We also developed a matrix of 325+ free, open access resources in various languages, including toolkits, platforms, resource banks, and white papers, mapped and curated according to their focus on the four key areas.  We delivered a slide deck and presentation of the background paper for three client webinars, providing evidence, tools, and guidance to those working in distance education settings in emergency situations.  Altamont Group, working in consultation with the client’s Distance Education Reference Group (DERG), adopted a participatory and collaborative process that allowed, to the extent possible, DERG members’ involvement in collecting resources in the development phases of the paper.  Over the years, Altamont Group has partnered and worked with global organizations such as the World Bank, NATO, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNHCR, CAMFED, the Global Innovation Fund, and Mercy Corps. Altamont Group also works extensively with governments, including the US Secretary of State, the Kingdom of South Arabia, Global Affairs Canada, and the UAE, to name a few. Altamont Group’s clients are frequently returning clients, illustrating that AG’s approach and its unique expertise are highly valued. Background The objectives of this paper were as follows: •To identify major challenges, opportunities, lessons learned, and the most frequently applied Distance Education practices;•To present quick guidance tips on three focus areas of Distance Education strategies, that is, Teacher Professional Development, Technology for education, and enabling policies for Distance Education in emergencies; •Present a mapping of existing resources on Distance Education in emergencies  Problem The problem sought was on Distance Education in Emergencies and this Paper authored by AG composed of an overview, followed by strategies to ensure that quality, safe, relevant, and equitable Distance Education is provided as required to all individuals affected by emergencies. These strategies were in keeping with the three focus areas: •Teacher Professional Development. •Technology for education. •Enabling policies for Distance Education in emergencies. Solution This Background Paper covered specific challenges, lessons learned, practices, and came up with actions that need to be considered when aiming to provide quality, principles-based distance education (DE) in emergencies. This Paper went further and highlighted inclusion and equity to be key guiding principles for education in general and called for their application across all education modalities, including Distance Education. The Paper presented three things: •Useful ideas and actions for planning, offering, or monitoring and evaluating DE in emergencies, accompanied by examples of possible adaptations of key actions in various situations to account for the wide range of contexts in which emergencies occur; •Background information and definitions to enhance clarity for all readers; and •Advice on three focus areas: Teacher Professional Development in DE, technology for education, and enabling policies for Distance Education in emergencies; this advice is complemented by evidence-based recommendations for tackling practical difficulties.  Impact Through this paper authored by Altamont Group, it was noted that requiring electricity, internet connectivity, and hardware is the primary technical challenge in accessing online Distance Education by people in low-income countries who are affected by emergencies. Moreover, researchers noted that the technologies used most often to provide access to education for refugee learners are mobile phones, tablets, computers, and, less frequently, radio. For instance, after the closing of schools due to COVID-19 and the swift transition to Distance Education around the world, EdTech innovations evolved, especially low-and hi-tech solutions. In this regard, international organizations in the humanitarian sector took part in promoting and implementing EdTech innovations. For example, our client initiated a review of the challenges, lessons learned, and best practices in the response to COVID-19, which resulted in our client Mapping Report: Distance Education in Emergencies.  Conclusion The paper which Altamont Group developed; •Followed the structure of client’s Minimum Standards, •Provided evidence-based tools and guidance for those working in distance education settings in emergency situations.  The qualitative data gathering and collaboration with the client Distance Education Reference Group (DERG) ensured the development of a well- informed and comprehensive background paper. The matrix of resources also provided access to over 325 free, open access resources, organized according to their focus on the four key areas identified by DERG, namely building teacher capacity, enabling policies, curating and creating content, and EdTech landscape and selection. The slide deck and presentation of the background paper during the three client webinars further helped to disseminate the valuable knowledge and resources to a wider audience. Overall, the paper and matrix of resources provided our client with a valuable tool to support distance education in emergency settings, ultimately helping to improve the quality of education in such situations. 

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