Independent policy advice in economic growth, business development and job creation

Simon is a globally recognised policy advisor, evaluator and team leader with over thirty years of experience in private sector development, business environment reform, inclusive economic growth, and job creation. His areas of expertise span business environment reform, market systems development, mobilising private investment for development, innovation, green growth, and local economic and SME development. Simon’s advisory and evaluation services are widely sought by international donor and development agencies, governments, business organisations, and civil society groups.
Throughout his career, Simon has worked in more than 40 countries across Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Australia, and Europe. His international portfolio includes over 30 programmes and strategic reviews and evaluations for 17 major agencies in more than 25 countries, as well as several global programme reviews. Simon’s clients include the World Bank Group, International Finance Corporation, Australia Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Donor Committee for Enterprise Development (DCED), Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Impact Fund Denmark, Swiss Development Corporation, German Technical Cooperation, International Labour Organisation, United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the United Nations, among others.
Simon is particularly noted for his deep technical knowledge and practical experience in the OECD DAC Principles for Evaluation of Development Assistance and the DCED Standard for Measuring Results in Private Sector Development. He has played pivotal roles in the formulation, evaluation, and implementation of evidence-based programmes, ensuring measurable impact and supporting adaptive programming. His programme design and evaluation work frequently address social inclusion, with a focus on women and young people, and he is experienced in applying the OECD DAC Rio Markers for Climate in programme design.
A significant part of Simon’s career has been dedicated to knowledge management and policy guidance. For over 20 years, he provided technical and knowledge management support to the DCED, authoring several key technical reports and donor guidance documents, including the influential DCED 2008 Donor Guidance on Business Environment Reform.
Simon is widely recognised for his collaborative leadership style, successfully guiding multidisciplinary teams and fostering strong partnerships to enhance project outcomes. His capacity to work across diverse economic contexts allows him to design sustainable, locally tailored solutions that deliver lasting impact. Beyond technical advisory roles, he is committed to capacity building and knowledge sharing, contributing to academia through teaching, curriculum design, and research activities.
Simon holds a PhD in Politics and International Relations from the University of Western Australia and a Master of Arts in Sustainability and Technology Policy from Murdoch University. He is a member of Economic Development Australia, the Australasian Evaluation Society, and a Visiting Fellow at Murdoch University.
Simon’s dedication to evidence-based policy, his global track record, and his commitment to knowledge sharing make him a trusted advisor and leader in private sector development and economic policy reform.Testimonials and case studies

See a selection of testimonials from previous clients.

Also see case studies of Simon White’s work. These include studies of public-private partnerships for industry development (Rwanda), asset-based regional economic development (Australia), sector-based business environment reform (global), business advocacy (Botswana), and sustainable enterprise development (global).

Selected publications

Simon is an experienced writer and is comfortable with a variety of writing formats. Below is a sample of his reports.

• 2023 PRISMA Indonesia Independent Evaluation - Final Report, Australian Department for Foreign Affairs
• White, S. (2021) Midterm evaluation of the Australia, New Zealand, International Finance Corporation: PNG Partnership - Final Report, Australian Department for Foreign Affairs
• White, S. and MacCarthy, M. (2020) Programme Completion Review: Market Development in Northern Ghana (MADE) programme; Supplemental Review Report, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, London
• International Labour Organization (2020) Enabling Environment for Sustainable Enterprises and the Post-COVID-19 Rapid Response, Enterprise Department, Geneva (written by Simon White)
• White, S. (2020) “Local content policies for regional economic development”, chapter in Pereira, E.G., R. Spencer and J. Moses (Eds) Sovereign Wealth Funds, Local Content Policies and CSR – Developments in the Extractives Sector, Springer Nature Switzerland AG
• White, S. (2020) Use of New Technologies in Regulatory Delivery; Policy Brief; Donor Committee for Enterprise Development, Cambridge
• White, S. and J. Bartlett (2019) Strongim Bisnis Independent Evaluation - Final Report, Australian Department for Foreign Affairs
• Lead Author (2019) Pharmaceutical industry in Sub-Sahara Africa; a guide for promoting pharmaceutical production in Africa, United Nations Industrial Development Organization, Vienna
• White, S. (2018) ‘Creating an Enabling Local Business Environment’, Conference Paper, Australian Regional Development Conference, 17-18 September 2018, Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia
• White, S. (2017) ‘A systemic framework for entrepreneurship and sustainability’, in Hartz-Karp, J. and Marinova, D. Methods for Sustainability Research, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham UK, Northampton, MA, USA
• White, S. and D. Aylward (2017) Scoping study on formalisation of the agricultural and agribusiness sectors, Business Environment Reform Facility and UK Department for International Development, London
• White, S. (2016) “Innovation and the drive for more dynamic and competitive local economies”, Economic Development Quarterly Vol. 9, No. 4, pp. 18-20
• White, S. (2016) “Supporting innovation in an age of disruption”, Asia and Pacific Policy Society –– Policy Forum, 12 October 2016
• White, S. (2016) “Regulating for local content: Limitations of legal and regulatory instruments in promoting small scale suppliers in extractive industries in developing economies” in The Extractive Industries and Society
• White, S. (2016) Beyond national business environment reform; a review of donor agency support for regional and local business environment reform, Donor Committee for Enterprise Development, Cambridge
• Principal Author (2016) Supporting Business Environment Reforms: Practical Guidance for Development Agencies – Annex: Supporting Business Environment Reforms within Industry Sectors, Donor Committee for Enterprise Development, Cambridge
• White, S. (2016) “The Local Dimension to Innovation”, Asia and Pacific Policy Society
• White, S. (2016) “Resisting the formulaic: measuring the impact of aid on entrepreneurship and development”, Paper delivered to the 2016 Australasian Aid Conference, Australia National University, Canberra, 10-11 February 2016
• White, S. & P. Fortune (2015) Business Environment Reform and Poverty, Rapid Evidence Assessment, DFID London
• White, S. & P. Fortune (2015) Business Environment Reform and Investment Promotion and Facilitation, Rapid Evidence Assessment, DFID London
• White, S. (2015) Supporting Sector-Focused Business Environment Reform in Developing Countries, Donor Committee for Enterprise Development, Cambridge
• White, S. (2014) Labour Laws, the Business Environment and the Growth of Micro and Small Enterprises in South Asia, International Labour Organization, Geneva
• Principal Author (2013): Supporting Business Environment Reforms: Practical Guidance for Development Agencies – Annex: Measuring Donor-Supported Business Environment Reform Results, Donor Committee for Enterprise Development, Cambridge
• White, S. (2013) Case Studies in the Measurement of Donor-Supported Business Environment Reform Results, Donor Committee for Enterprise Development, Cambridge
• Principal Author (2011): Supporting Business Environment Reforms: Practical Guidance for Development Agencies; Annex on How Business Environment Reform Can Promote Formalisation, Donor Committee for Enterprise Development, Cambridge
• White, S. (2011) 51 Lessons for Donor and Development Agencies Supporting Business Environment Reform, Donor Committee for Enterprise Development, Cambridge
• White, S. (2011) Measuring the Results of Business Environment Reform Support Programmes in Developing and Transition Economies; Toward a Framework for Assessing Programme Outcomes and Impacts, Donor Committee for Enterprise Development, Cambridge
• White, S., Azher, S., Quader, M., & Rahman, M. A. (2011) Review of Donor-Supported Business Environment Reforms Programmes and Practices in Bangladesh, Donor Committee for Enterprise Development, Cambridge
• White, S., Küsel, C., Hegazy, F., Killmeyer-Oleche, A., Wanyiri, A. & Heinrich, M. (2011) Review of Donor-Supported Business Environment Reforms Programmes and Practices in Rwanda, Donor Committee for Enterprise Development, Cambridge:
• White, S. (2012) Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Iraq; A Survey Analysis, ILO Regional Office for Arab States
• White, S., Winton, E. & Engels, S. (2010) Review of Donor-Supported Business Environment Reforms Programmes and Practices in Kenya, Donor Committee for Enterprise Development, Cambridge
• White, S. (2009) “Youth owned and managed enterprises: a career of choice or last resort?” in Youth Enterprise Journal Vol. 1, No. 1, January pp. 6-20
• White, S. (2008) Assessing the Business Environment for Women’s Entrepreneurship Development; Consultant’s Guide, Women’s Entrepreneurship Development and Gender Equality (WEDGE) Programme, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the International Labour Office, Geneva
• White, S. (2007) A Conceptual Framework to Guide Research on Private Sector Development in Developing Countries, International Development Research Centre, Canada
• White, S. (2008) Mapping of Commercial Alternative Dispute Resolution Programmes in Developing Economies: Donor and Development Agencies and Service Providers, International Finance Corporation, Washington DC
• White, S. (2006) Role of the Private Sector in Poverty Reduction Strategies; Synthesis of a Six-Country Study, International Labour Office, Geneva
• White, S. (2005) Assessing the influence of the business environment on small enterprise employment; An assessment guide, International Labour Office, Geneva
• White, S. (2005) State support for development initiatives in peripheral regions; enduring political centralism in an age of global localisation, a PhD thesis submitted in 2005 to the University of Western Australia
• White, S. & P. Fortune (2004) Review of DFID Activities in the Enabling Environment; Final Report, Investment, Competition and Enabling Environment Team, Policy Division, Department of International Development, London, December:
• Reinecke, G. & S. White (2004) Policies for small enterprises; creating the right environment for good jobs, International Labour Organization, Geneva (ISBN92-2-113724-4)
• White, S. (2004) Donor practices in designing initiatives for improving the business environment for small enterprises, Donor Committee for Enterprise Development, Cambridge
• White, S., Alamgir, D., Allcorn, C., Hossain, N., Hossain, N., Matsaert, F., & Kagohashi, H. (2004) Unleashing the Bengal Tiger; Realising Private Sector Potential in Bangladesh, DFID Bangladesh, Dhaka
• White, S. & J. Chacaltana (2002) Enabling small enterprise development through a better business environment; Donor experiences in supporting reforms in the business environment, Donor Committee for Enterprise Development

Affiliations 

Australian Credited Economic Developer (ACEcD) and Member of Economic Development Australia.

Member: Australasian Evaluation Society.

Visiting Fellow: Sir Walter Murdoch School of Public Policy and International Affairs, Murdoch University, Western Australia (2016-present)

Visiting Adjunct Professor: Graduate School of Public Development Management, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa (2009-2015)

Past clients

1. Afghanistan Investment Climate Programme (Harakat)
2. African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP)
3. Asian Development Bank
4. Australian Government (Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade)
5. Blueprint Group Pty. Ltd., South Africa
6. Botswana Confederation of Commerce, Industry and Manpower
7. Business Environment Reform Facility (DFID United Kingdom)
8. Cardno
9. City of Windhoek, Namibia
10. Coffey International Development
11. Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)
12. Commonwealth Secretariat, London
13. Commonwealth Youth Programme, London and Africa
14. Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Danida), Copenhagen and numerous embassies
15. De Beers, South Africa
16. Deloitte and Touch, London
17. Development Bank of Southern Africa
18. Donor Committee for Enterprise Development, Cambridge UK - Business Environment Working Group
19. Economic Research Forum, Egypt
20. Federation of Egyptian Industries
21. Federation of Kenya Employers
22. Flanders International Cooperation Agency
23. Ford Foundation
24. Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Namibia
25. European Commission, Brussels
26. Gaborone City Council, Botswana
27. Gauteng Provincial Government’s Department of Economic Development, Johannesburg
28. German International Development
29. Gladstone Regional Council, Central Queensland
30. Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa
31. Government of the Republic of South Africa, Department of Local and Provincial Government
32. Government of the Republic of South Africa, Department of Trade and Industry
33. Government of Botswana, Local Enterprise Authority
34. Government of Botswana, Ministry of Trade and Industry
35. Government of Botswana, Ministry of Youth Affairs
36. IBN (Banyjima, Milyuranpa Banyjima, Minadhu and Nyiyaparli Aboriginal Corporations), Part Hedland, Western Australia
37. International Finance Corporation
38. International Labour Organization (Geneva headquarters and many regional, sub-regional and country offices)
39. Independent Research and Development Council, Canada
40. Institute of Strategic and International Studies, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
41. International Training Centre, Turin, Italy
42. KPMG London
43. LandCorp, Western Australia
44. Local governments (numerous local governments across Australia)
45. Manufacturing, Engineering, and Related Services Education and Training Authority, South Africa
46. Mineworkers Development Agency, Lesotho
47. MINTEK, South Africa
48. Murdoch University, Australia
49. Namibia National Chamber of Commerce and Industry
50. National Economic Initiative, South Africa
51. National Native Title Tribunal, Australia
52. National Small Business Council, South Africa
53. National Youth Affairs Research Scheme, Australia
54. National Youth Council, Namibia
55. National Youth Commission, South Africa
56. NEPAD: New Partnership for Africa’s Development (the development agency of the African Union)
57. Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD)
58. Ntsika Enterprise Promotion Agency, South Africa
59. Okutumbatumba Hawkers’ Association, Namibia
60. Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Paris
61. Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Donor Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC), Paris
62. Oxfam UK and Ireland
63. Oxford Policy Management
64. PeaceNexus Foundation (Geneva)
65. PLATFORMA, the pan-European coalition of local and regional governments, Council of European Municipalities and Regions
66. South African National Youth Commission
67. Southern African Development Community
68. Spark, a Dutch NGO based in Amsterdam
69. Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), Stockholm
70. Transport Education and Training Authority, South Africa
71. Trust Africa, Senegal
72. UK Department for International Development (DFID), London and numerous embassies
73. Umsobomvu Youth Fund, South Africa
74. Urban Trust of Namibia
75. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Geneva)
76. United Nations Development Programme (New York)
77. United Nations Peace Building Support Office (New York)
78. United Nations Industrial Development Organization (Vienna)
79. University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
80. Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry
81. Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
82. World Bank Group, including International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Foreign Investment Advisory Service (FIAS)

Mastodon link.

International Experience

Dr. White has provided consulting services to clients in the following countries: Afghanistan, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Botswana, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Fiji, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lao, Lesotho, Maldives, Malaysia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine Territories, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe.