Bridges Development Consortium is a politically autonomous research and development delivery organization that addresses challenges around strengthening states, monitoring governance, and empowering civil society. The Consortium is involved in evaluating and predicting outcomes of existing and emerging development policies, while offering short-term solutions to the worst victims of persistent poverty. Bridges was established by a group of accomplished development specialists from Europe and the United States, with roots and years of hands-on experience in Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. As a Consortium, these experts have pooled together their efforts, intellect and in-depth understanding of local needs and sensibilities to contribute to bridging the development divide, both, between, and within nations. Bridges experts specialize in Rule of Law, Civil Society, Governance, Applied Research, Poverty Reduction, Education including Early Childhood Education (ECE), and Human Rights.