The Aid Market Podcast By cover art

The Aid Market Podcast

By: Mike Shanley
Listen for free

  • Summary

  • Welcome to The Aid Market Podcast, where international development and humanitarian aid organizations connect to learn about funding trends and market insight. Join us as we hear from foreign aid leaders with USAID and other large donors, with updates and insight on their work. We explore topics including localization, artificial intelligence, proposal and grant funding best practices, and analyze data sources like the USAID Business Forecast. The Aid Market podcast is your comprehensive guide to positioning your organization for success and securing vital funding from USAID and other foreign aid donors. Each episode features in-depth conversations with esteemed guests, including current and former Senior USAID officials, executives from prominent foreign aid partner organizations, and influential thought leaders in the field. Together, we delve into the pressing issues of international development and humanitarian aid, shedding light on the latest trends, strategies, and best practices. Stay informed and gain a competitive edge as we explore key topics such as funding strategies, donor priorities, partnership opportunities, and effective approaches to navigating the complex aid landscape. Our podcast equips you with the knowledge and tools necessary to make informed decisions and unlock new avenues for funding. The Aid Market Podcast is your trusted and comprehensive source for actionable insights and expert advice. Tune in now and join us on this journey to maximize your organization's potential and make a lasting impact on the global stage. ABOUT THE HOST: The podcast is hosted by Mike Shanley, Founder and CEO of Konektid International and AidKonekt Data, the leading USAID partner support firms that help clients to grow their USAID funding portfolios. Mike has nearly two decades of experience in working with USAID projects and funding opportunities. His USAID funding expertise has been recognized by the largest aid and development associations, partners, and conferences, including by USAID, Devex, British Expertise International, AidEx, and by the Society for International Development-US where he also serves as Board Member. Konektid International Konektid has a decade of experience supporting new and established USAID partners to accelerate and streamline their business development work. Konektid’s global team of seasoned USAID market specialists can provide surge support for your USAID proposal development, design and support your USAID market entry or growth strategy, and support other USAID partnering needs to help your team better work with USAID. AidKonekt Data AidKonekt is the trusted funding intel software for USAID partners. AidKonekt allows partners to easily monitor funding changes and track their pipeline. It also streamlines USAID market intel research, capture reports, competitor insight, and much more. Accelerate your USAID partnering with AidKonekt today! Websites: Konektid International: www.konektid.com AidKonekt Data: https://www.aidkonekt.com/usaid-biz-dev Connect with Mike Shanley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/konektid-usaid-specialists/ The Aid Market Podcast, foreign aid, funding trends, market dynamics, USAID, foreign aid donors, international development, humanitarian aid, funding strategies, donor priorities, partnership opportunities, aid landscape, podcast, actionable insights, expert advice, maximize organization's potential, global stage
    2023
    Show more Show less
Episodes
  • Ep 23: USAID and Private Sector Engagement

    Ep 23: USAID and Private Sector Engagement
    Apr 25 2024
    Randy Tift, Former USAID Chief A&A Policy Officer, joins Mike Shanley as co-host, along with guest Michael Metzler, Executive Director of USAID’s Private Sector Engagement (PSE) Hub. As the first formalized private sector engagement office, USAID is the longest running donor in the space. USAID’s influence continues to evolve, especially as more U.S. foreign assistance professionals are shifting their focus towards the local development of communities and engaging in the private sector space. With this shift comes the need for new policies and strategies necessary to streamline future projects and to support complex relationships between USAID and private sectors. This impactful discussion focuses on USAID's Private Sector Engagement’s (PSE) priorities and progress, learning from PSE USAID projects, PSE and localization, and USAID and impact investing. IN THIS EPISODE: [3:53] Michael Metzler gives a rundown of the history of USAID's Private Sector Engagement. [7:00] What inspired USAID to shift their focus to the commercial interests of their private sector partners and how has this shift benefited USAID and their private partners? [12:44] Michael touches on why USAID is such a great resource for private sectors and local partners trying to establish themselves to tap into. [15:00] Randy introduces PSE Modernize, the overarching term for several initiatives that USAID has launched to track the agency's private sector partnerships, and to bring data to bear for USAID planners, both in the missions and in DC. This has brought more order to managing PSE partners, resulting in a real system for customer relationship management and knowledge management. Michael shares his thoughts on the launch. [23:00] Michael discusses Compass, the Salesforce-based enterprise customer relationship management system that USAID is preparing to launch. He also touches on the staff that will be running and implementing Compass. [28:25] Randy asks Michael how USAID will engage with companies that work through supply chains, that cross borders, or work across sectors and industries? How will USAID incentivize the support for those complex relationships with their workforce? [34:00] Discussion of the A&A Strategy and the Private Sector Engagement Policy, both launched in December of 2018. What has been accomplished and learned throughout the years since these launches? [42:00] Michael touches on the Unlock Aid Organization. [45:43] How has USAID developed and updated their systems to better assist local partners and private sectors? [52:38] Randy inquires about the continuing role of nongovernmental organizations and nonprofits in private sector engagement and relationships with the Development Finance Corporation. [58:30] Michael touches on the Edge Fund and why it was created. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Many U.S. foreign assistance professionals disagreed on the importance of engaging with multinational corporations, and even local firms, whose primary motive is mere profit. But there's really been a major shift in terms of the development community and engaging the private sector. USAID founded the first formalized private sector engagement office in 2000 with the intention to formalize an approach and its thinking around engaging with the private sector. The Private Sector Engagement Policy and the A&A Strategy, both firsts of their kind, were both released in December of 2018. Michael reflects on that time period and what the resulting awards have accomplished. When the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) was created, there was a significant hole in the agency in terms of its ability to transact. Thus, the Mission Transaction Unit was created to allow for the transaction that USAID brings into the DFC. QUOTES: “Focusing on the actual commercial interests of our private sector partners is not only a good thing to do, it's an absolutely necessary thing to do. In fact, we went further than that and said, it's actually a history of how we are going to do development into the future. So out of that recognition came the first ever PSE policy for the agency, and, if you read the policy, you will see that it presents a very bold vision.” - Michael Metzler “USAID has one of the best networks in the business community, as well as a wide team of experts in all technical areas. These are areas that private sectors would like to tap into. USAID has some of the best reputations and the best connections with government officials that can be leveraged. For a company that's coming from the outside that is trying to establish themselves, that is gold.” - Michael Metzler “It’s remarkable for partners to know that for any private sector engagement concern, they can find out who those people are. For various reasons, including security, most technical leads for health or food security are not listed, you have to do research to find out who they are. But with PSE, you know who they are, it's public.” ...
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 1 min
  • Ep 22: USAID Proposal and Business Development Trends with Konektid International

    Ep 22: USAID Proposal and Business Development Trends with Konektid International
    Apr 12 2024
    Today’s episode features Chief Operating Officer, Christy Hollywood and Manager, Olivia Tisa from the Konektid International team. This discussion focuses on various trends in the USAID funding market, including business development, small business expansion, budget updates, and proposal trends. Christy highlights the importance of transparency in contract mechanisms and discusses budget cuts and increases in different funding areas. Olivia mentions opportunity and changes in proposal presentation, emphasizing the significance of go/no-go decisions and small business opportunities. The team also touches on the impact they are seeing from AI tools and the upcoming small business conference. Join today’s conversation for an inside look into Konektid International’s work and trajectory for 2024. IN THIS EPISODE: [1:00] Christy Hollywood discusses Konektid’s market trends, budget, and business developments in the USAID’s funding market. [4:27] Olivia Tisa shares USAID proposal trends for this spring and how they are similar and different from last spring. [5:45] QASP, known as the Quality Assurance Plan, and Performance Work Statements have become mainstream at USAID. [6:50] Olivia discusses the intentionality of go/no-go decisions among small business proposals as well as how AI is impacting client portfolios. [8:25] Mike touches on USAID’s upcoming small business conference in mid-May and shares how to register. [9:00] 2024 is an election year. Christy shares how this could potentially affect the USAID market and partners. [13:00] Christy and Mike discuss what organizations should focus on and questions they should ask when preparing for the 2024 election. [16:20] Olivia shares her takeaways from Administrator Samantha Powers’s key note speech. [21:30] Despite oncoming changes due to the election, some things will stay the same. Olivia notes what matters most is the important work that needs to be done. [22:00] Christy shares what she believes will stay the same, regardless of the election results. [22:30] Mike notes that past performance and expertise is never compromised, even when new initiatives are implemented. 24:30] Christy advises organizations to start early and utilize your local partner network. Olivia’s advice is to diversify your organization and adapt in order to meet the moment and changing trends. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Olivia notes the delays in RFP releases, which can impact the organizational capacity of USAID partners and konektid clients as they are preparing for opportunities and changes they will face this spring. Now is the time to start scenario planning for the 2024 election, to prepare for any changes that may come based on the outcome of the 2024 election. Christy suggests that organizations think about how a change in leadership could affect their operations, regardless of the election outcome. She anticipates continued streamlining of procurement processes and an increase in localization of partner bases, with the intensity of these trends varying based on the election results. Christy advises organizations to assess their current portfolios and align them with different potential priorities based on the election results. By focusing on impact, return on investment, and the why behind their work, organizations can better position themselves for potential changes in government priorities. With the upcoming election, many things will stay the same and some changes can be expected. Regardless of the results of the election, there will still be work that needs to be done and that work matters. Quotes: “This is a great time to start scenario planning, eight to nine months out from January, and to really think about what a change might mean for your organization as you are planning. Regardless of who wins the election this time, we are going to see some continued streamlining of procurement and increased localization of the partner-base, which will vary in intensity, depending on who wins.” - Christy Hollywood “What’s going to stay the same is the emphasis on localization and working with partners. The work here is still important, there is still work that needs to be done that is needed, however what it manifests as in terms of how it’s proposed or what focus areas are prioritized are going to be what we see changing.” Olivia Tisa “With my time in the market, what I’ve seen over and over is that even with new initiatives, whether it is USAID forward, localization, or new partnership initiative, one thing that is never compromised is past performance and expertise.” Mike Shanley RESOURCES: Aid Market Podcast Mike Shanley - LinkedIn Christy Hollywood LinkedIn Olivia Tisa LinkedIn
    Show more Show less
    29 mins
  • Ep 21: Leymah Gbowee Nobel Peace Prize

    Ep 21: Leymah Gbowee Nobel Peace Prize
    Mar 25 2024

    This Aid Market Podcast episode features an interview with Nobel Peace Prize winner Leymah Gbowee, focusing on her peacebuilding work in Liberia and offering advice to peacebuilding organizations and donors. The conversation touches on the success factors of her peace movement, the role of international organizations in conflict prevention, and the challenges faced by grassroots women's organizations.

    Thank you to Ebenezer Norman and A New Dimension of Hope (https://ndhope.org/) for co-hosting this episode.

    IN THIS EPISODE:

    • [01:18] Leymah discusses the success factors of her peace movement, highlighting the unity of the group and their shared ambition to end the war as key drivers.

    • [04:41] The discussion shifts to the role of large donors like USAID and the UN, where Leymah criticizes the way funding is often channeled through middle or large humanitarian organizations instead of directly supporting grassroots organizations.

    • [07:12] The episode concludes with information on how to support Leymah Gbowee's organization, the Gbowee Peace Foundation.

    KEY TAKEAWAYS:

    • The success of Leymah Gbowee's peace movement in Liberia was driven by the unity of the group, which transcended divisions and brought together people from various backgrounds, including different religious and political affiliations.

    • Large international donors should direct more funding and support to grassroots organizations, especially those led by women, which often face challenges in accessing resources due to their lack of formal registration.

    • Those interested in supporting Leymah Gbowee's organization can visit the Gbowee Peace Foundation's website or social media profiles to donate or learn more about their work.

    Quotes:

    "Our ability to transcend the issues that divided us, we recognize that we have more to gain by being together, and we have a lot more to lose by being apart." - Leymah Gbowee

    RESOURCES:

    Aid Market Podcast

    Mike Shanley - LinkedIn

    Gbowee Peace Foundation

    A New Dimension of Hope Website

    Co-Host: https://www.ndhope.org/

    Leymah Roberta Gbowee (Leymah Roberta Gbowee was born on February 1, 1972, in Monrovia, Liberia. She was seventeen years old when the Liberian civil war started and turned her, in her own words, “from a child into an adult in a matter of hours.” Inspired by a dream and as a person of faith, she organized her fellow Christian women to mobilize for peace. She then collaborated with a Muslim partner to build an unprecedented coalition with Muslim women, giving rise to the interfaith movement known as the Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace (which operated under the auspices of WIPNET).

    (Source: https://gboweepeaceafrica.org/our-story)
    Show more Show less
    8 mins
Management Economics
Show more Show less

What listeners say about The Aid Market Podcast

Average customer ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Audible.com reviews

Amazon reviews
No Reviews are Available