Established in 1983 as a voice of the poor to express their developmental needs and aspirations, CUTS International (www.cuts-international.org) is a leading Southern voice and face of consumer empowerment through its rights-based approach and activities for influencing the process and content of inclusive growth and development. From consumer protection work in India it has expanded its scope and interventions to subjects such as good governance and social accountability, trade and development, economic and business regulations including competition, investment and corporate governance issues, and human development, particularly women’s empowerment.

The organisation’s Vision is “consumer sovereignty” and mission is “consumer sovereignty in the framework of social justice and economic equality within and across borders”. It conducts action (policy) research and evidence-based advocacy for policy and practice changes to bridge the gaps between the core and the periphery, that between the state and non-state actors. It believes that consumer empowerment not only serves national interest but also addresses many challenges faced by the global public goods. It aims to take forward the consumer movement to the political space at sub-national, national and international level with a holistic and balanced objective.

With its headquarters and three programme centres in Jaipur, India (Centre for Consumer Action, Research & Training, Centre for International Trade, Economics & Environment, and Centre for Competition, Investment & Economic Regulation), one in Chittorgarh, India (Centre for Human Development), a liaison office in New Delhi, India and resource centres in Calcutta, India; Lusaka, Zambia; Nairobi, Kenya; Hanoi, Vietnam and in Geneva, Switzerland the organisation has established its relevance and impact in the policy-making circles and among the larger development community in the developing world and at the international level.

It has created and is part of several networks to cross-fertilise ideas and actions for fostering equity and accountability in economic governance through South-South and South-North cooperation between and among the state and non-state actors. It serves at several policy-making bodies of the Government of India, in some other developing countries, and at the international level. More on: www.cuts-international.org