The Sustainable Development Association (SDA) is a British non-profit association dedicated to promoting sustainable development and sustainable investment in China and Asia. SDA is experienced in the design and management of European Commission and other donor-funded technical assistance projects which support sustainable trade and sustainable development. Since our founding in 2005, SDA has brought together a wide network of industry, government and civil society stakeholders to address local and regional sustainability challenges by leveraging collective resources and international best practices.

SDA associates and cooperation partners include, among others, business organisations, including business associations; chambers of commerce and business coalitions; national firms and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); government agencies; civil society organisations and NGOs; and academia.

SDA's expertise lies in its extensive international and local experience in designing and implementing sustainable development programmes and partnerships. Recognising that Asia represents a significant market opportunity while posing a formidable challenge to establishing sustainable investment and business practices, SDA aims to establish sustainable development initiatives. SDA helps its associates and partners to identify market opportunities, appropriate development strategies, strategic partnerships and potential sources of funding in a sustainable way. Through a combination of technical assistance, capacity building, research, knowledge exchange and dialogue, SDA has maximised the capacity of its associates to deliver sustainable results, with an emphasis on building effective partnerships and networks across sectors and regions.

In collaboration with its associates and cooperation partners, SDA has produced comprehensive research on a wide range of sustainabililty issues, including standards compliance and harmonisation, environmental and industrial safety, environmental monitoring and recycling and various sectorbased sustainability issues including support to SME clusters and local agricultural regions, to name but a few. Drawing from its global experience in project management, monitoring and evaluation, SDA has also designed and delivered numerous technical assistance and capacity-building programmes for various sectors, regions and interest groups. These cases have served as a valuable demonstration as to how trade and investment in the Chinese market can deliver profits and contribute to local international efforts to achieve sustainable development outcomes.

SDA also provides a platform and numerous opportunities for stakeholder engagement and knowledge-transfer. SDA organises and participates in conferences, seminars and forums for raising awareness, facilitating dialogue, and transferring sustainability-related standards, technology and best practices in China and globally. To further promote understanding of the drivers behind international best practices, SDA organises study tours and exchanges between China, greater Asia, and Europe.