About Us
Bold Ideas. Real Results.
Abt Associates is an engine for social impact, fueled by caring, curiosity and cutting-edge research that moves people from vulnerability to security. Whether it's welfare or weather disasters, the environment or economics, agriculture or HIV and AIDS, we address the world's most pressing issues. Our work is diverse and so is our bold workforce. We never fail to ask "What if?" We identify patterns, we search for the best way.
Our Mission and Values
Our mission is to improve the quality of life and economic well-being of people worldwide. We are a collaborative, global community, driven by our mission and our commitment to excellence as we strive to meet and exceed the highest professional standards. Our work with vulnerable populations makes a real impact; we are accountable for that work and how we do it. To ensure we’re able to bring our best to clients and colleagues, we promote a healthy balance between our personal and professional lives.
Abt implemented programs to expand access to HIV testing and treatment, strengthen health systems, harness the private sector and help governments make sustainable decisions.
Our Values
Awards & Honors
UNGC is a voluntary initiative based on CEO commitments to implement universal sustainability principles. We're a proud Ten Principles Signatory since 2017.
We've been a partner since 2012 and received the Climate Registered™ Platinum status in 2019-2020.
Abt is the first-ever professional services organization in the world to become NSF certified.
Proud winner of the 2023 Commuter Connections Employer Recognition Award for Telework Category and 2020 Award for Incentives Category.
The first U.S. government implementing partner to achieve EDGE certification, the leading global assessment and business certification for gender equality in the workplace.
Our near-term science-based target was validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Abt is committed to Business Ambition for 1.5°C and Race to Net Zero since 2021.
Awarded the Silver Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health by Mental Health America and recognized as an employer striving to create a mentally healthy workplace.
Historical Timeline Introduction
- Beginnings
- 1st large-scale social experiment conducted
- Global health systems and financing work begins
- Survey Research Group launched
- Pioneering research leads to drug law reform
- Company lands first NASA contract
- Abt begins landmark HIV/AIDS research
- Environmental services expand
- First USG Implementing Partner to Earn EDGE Certification
- First Global Evidence on Social Competencies in Health
Clark Abt opens a two-room office situated above a machine shop in West Cambridge. In the cramped office, 30 employees—scientists, educators, engineers and administrative aides—roll up their sleeves to support the founder's dream of offering clients in industry, government and education an evidence-based, interdisciplinary approach to solving social and economic problems.
Abt Global develops a rigorous experimental design for HUD to analyze the effect of demand-based subsidies on disadvantaged families in two cities. The randomized control trial study—the Housing Allowance Demand Experiment—lays the foundation for design and adoption of the Section 8 voucher program, the nation’s predominant low-income safety-net housing program for the next 30 years.
Abt's 30+ years of health system strengthening work with USAID begins, leading to seven generations of flagship programs spanning 50+ countries and health reforms in financing, policy, workforce, governance, and more.
The Survey Research Group is established. One of its contracts is with the Transportation Systems Center of the U.S. Department of Transportation which calls for a survey of mass transit rider's attitudes on transit system innovations. This is the first time that transportation planners and system operators had examined the attitudes of their ridership.
A Company study for the Justice Department reveals that racial disparities in federal sentencing for drug convictions stem from the 1986 Anti-Drug Abuse Act. The imposition of harsh mandatory minimum sentences for crack cocaine trafficking is found to disproportionately affect African Americans. Abt Global’ findings—which eventually contribute to passage of the 2010 Fair Sentencing Act—are cited by the Supreme Court in 2012 in a related case.
Abt Global begins its long-term relationship with NASA. Early work includes studies on the transfer of NASA technology to urban construction, using science and technology as an instrument for social and economic change, and adapting NASA-developed environmental systems—energy efficiency—to earthbound companies. Later studies will focus on NASA’s pioneering projects aimed at attracting underserved youth to the science and technology fields.
The rapid spread of HIV/AIDS hastens the need for more information and interventions. Abt Global responds on a variety of fronts—tracking the incidence of the disease among imprisoned inmates, developing an annotated bibliography of AIDS research, and developing a three-year demonstration of a model outreach, education and intervention program for women involved in activities such as prostitution that pose the potential for transmitting HIV. Later, in 1993, with no cure for AIDS in sight, prevention protocols are seen as the most practical step to slow the transmission of HIV. Abt Global is awarded the master contract to provide scientific and administrative leadership for the HIV Network of Prevention Trials in the U.S. This project results in the enrollment of nearly 20,000 individuals in 17 scientific protocols, clearly demonstrating the feasibility of conducting Phase III efficacy trials.
Demand for work with EPA builds, beginning in 1986. By the mid-90s, Abt conducts an acid rain allowance market analysis, a risk/benefit analysis of fungicides used on fruit crops, an ecological risk assessment of dioxin in the paper industry, and studies the global warming impacts of increased use of ethanol. The Company’s work supports EPA’s efforts to improve the nation’s air quality. a major study on toxic substances and Demand for Abt Global’ environmental services dramatically builds, with an economic and regulatory analysis project for EPA’s Office of Water.
Abt is awarded EDGE Certification, becoming the first U.S. government implementing partner to meet the prestigious global business standard for gender equality. Abt is one of just 20 organizations in the U.S. to attain this certification.
Globally, poor understanding of the social determinants of health shapes bias endemic in medicine. Through LHSS, Abt generated the first-ever global evidence for social competencies in health care that improve health equity. New evidence spanning 11 countries shows the difference that specific interventions have on health workers’ attitudes, quality of care, and health outcomes for their patients—as well as the core competencies that should be part of primary health education to prevent stigma, bias, and racism in medicine.
Abt at A Glance
For almost 60 years, Abt has tackled society’s toughest problems, creating evidence and innovation that improves policy, systems, and lives.
Whether we’re addressing & climate change, vector-borne disease, health policy and systems, or economic growth, equity, and homelessness—our global teams cross boundaries and disciplines to bring integrated solutions for equitable outcomes and lasting change.
Introducing Our Amazing Leadership
Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer
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