Kaizen was founded on the belief that small, adaptive teams can solve complex public challenges—whether across continents or across counties.
While our roots lie in international development, our growth has taken us into new arenas, helping government agencies, nonprofits, and communities navigate transformation at every level.
Today, Kaizen works with partners around the world and across the United States, delivering strategy, workforce development, and organizational strengthening services to public sector clients in all contexts—from ministries and donor institutions to local governments and regional agencies. We are proud to help our clients rethink how they serve, operate, and lead in an era of constant change.
Whether we’re facilitating a city’s transition to more equitable services or helping a state workforce agency build the next generation of talent pipelines, our commitment remains the same: agile, human-centered support that delivers sustainable, systems-level impact.
In 2021, Kaizen joined Tetra Tech—a leading, global management consultancy with more than 40 years of experience delivering sustainable and equitable development solutions. As part of Tetra Tech, we are innovating smarter and designing cross-sector solutions backed by a global bench of multidisciplinary development experts.
Partnership energizes us.
Challenge
motivates us.
Change
inspires us.
Our Vision, Mission, Values
Kaizen catalyzes locally led institutional improvements, facilitates peer-to-peer learning, spurs entrepreneurship, and provides sustainable opportunities for people around the world.
Relying on Kaizen’s vision, mission, and values, we have provided support to hundreds of governments, private-sector, and nonprofit organizations in markets worldwide. Our projects have created solutions across a broad range of sectors, including access to finance, economic growth, education, governance, peace and resilience, and more.
Our History
Our company name, Kaizen, is a Japanese concept meaning “ongoing improvement at all levels, at all times.”
Since 2004, Kaizen has built a culture of continuous change for the better through innovative approaches and relentless hard work. Growing from a small shop to a robust, award-winning company has been an ongoing journey, one emboldened by our interdisciplinary approach and vision for the future. And we are only just getting started …
Recognition
- 2024: Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies – advanced to #8 from #24.
- 2023: Investor’s Business Daily 2023 Best ESG Companies special report #1 ranking for Human Capital and #2 ranking for Environment.
- 2022: U.S. Small Business Administration Dwight D. Eisenhower Award, Excellence in Service Category. Read more.
Our Team
Kaizen’s values and vision echo across our diverse and passionate team. In addition to our DC-based staff, we have multiple project teams and engage emerging development professionals through our year-round program.