# Local Leadership Projects International Development Exchange was Founded in 1985 By Tiana Reid | Published 2013-03-30 | Social Good Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/international-development-exchange References: [facebook](https://www.facebook.com/idex.org) & [idex.org](http://www.idex.org/) Founded in 1985, the International Development Exchange (IDEX) has been around before social entrepreneurship as industry and field began to gain traction but in many ways, its focus not on aid but on focusing on local innovative strategies for change has preempted its conversation with the sphere more widely. IDEX works in Guatemala, India, Mexico, Nepal, South Africa and Zimbabwe on a number of various leadership and grassroots projects. "We need to have field experience, especially in economic justice work. We need to experience what economic injustice looks like," Vini Bhansali, CEO of the International Development Exchange (IDEX), [told the Huffington Post](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonathan-lewis/get-your-social-justice-c_b_2837572.html?utm_source=Alert-blogger&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Email%2BNotifications)'s Jonathan Lewis (and founder/host of iOnPoverty). **Contact Information** International Development Exchange [website](http://www.idex.org/) IDEX on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/idex.org) IDEX on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/idex) IDEX on [YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/user/IDEXorg) ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.4/10 - Popularity: 16% | Activity: 47% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: South America, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Social Good](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialgood) > [Social Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialbusiness) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Local Innovative Strategies:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop new approaches for local communities to address economic injustice. - **Grassroots Projects:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create scalable models for grassroots initiatives in various regions. - **Focus on Economic Justice:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Design solutions that tackle economic inequality at a local level. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Social Entrepreneurship:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrate social entrepreneurship principles in international development projects. - **Community Development:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Leverage local leadership to drive sustainable community development initiatives. - **International Aid:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Shift the focus from traditional aid to empowering local communities through innovative approaches. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Adventurous Pedal-Powered Electric Bicycles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pedalpowered-electric-bicycle.md) - [Beauty Entrepreneurship Incubators](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beauty-entrepreneurship.md) - [First-Of-Its-Kind Pet Diagnostic Panels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/diagnostic-panel.md) - [App Idea Networks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/croidea.md) - [Indigenous Tourism Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/indigenous-tourism.md) - [Social Isolation-Combating Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/healthfirst-foundation.md) - [Deaf Youth-Supporting Partnerships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hands-of-hope-laos.md) - [AI Diversity Coalitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/World-Leaders-In-Data.md) - [Indie Maker Directories](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/indiehub1.md)