Episodes

  • Ep 24: USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives: 30 Years of Responding to Political Crises

    Ep 24: USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives: 30 Years of Responding to Political Crises
    May 17 2024
    Brittany Brown, Acting Assistant to the Administrator of USAID’s Bureau for Conflict Prevention and Stabilization, joins Mike Shanley to discuss the Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI). OTI has been an ongoing effort for 30 years, and Brittany shares some of their successes with working in other countries. Localization is a large aspect of the work that OTI is focused on, by working with local partners and change makers to ensure that everyone has a buy-in on the project a grant is funding. OTI partners with the National Security Council, State Department, and DOD in a variety of ways, and with someone from the OTI team on the Administration this year, they are seeing success with educating the government on impacts of certain decisions. IN THIS EPISODE: [1:17] Brittany covers some of the key successes and lessons learned across 30 years of OTI. [4:00] Brittany shares an example of the OTI’s work in Libya. [6:30] Brittany shares about the work that has been done in Columbia. [9:55] How does OTI work with local partners and what lessons can they share with other parts of USAID to best implement localization agendas and engage local partners? [18:22] Brittany explains how OTI engages with the National Security Council. [18:22] How does OTI work together with the State Department and DOD? [20:50] What are some of the innovations and challenges that OTI has come up with? [23:00] Brittany shares what initiatives and strategies she is excited about looking forward to with OTI. [28:22] Brittany talks about how impactful it is when everyone works together on a project. KEY TAKEAWAYS: [3:30] OTI goes to countries to create a collaborative model, where everyone has buy-in. It isn’t only the U.S. Government that determines what they need, instead it is the country requesting what they need, and then everyone working together to make that happen. [24:00] One of the reasons that OTI is an important organization is because they are limited and can be very targeted in the places they are engaging. They typically only have around 15 programs happening at any moment. [27:26] None of us are as smart as all of us thinking together. There are a lot of creative ways that can help get things done better and differently than before, and those ideas will come with everyone working together. QUOTES: [5:00] “We started asking the displaced people, what would it take for you to return? What is it, what do you need to return to Sirte, and then we immediately started doing the things they were asking for. So that meant we were just restoring regular services. It meant just government services, it meant sewage and trash collection, it meant running water, access to running water, it meant schools actually had to be functioning. It meant healthcare systems had to be stood up. We had to start cleaning up graffiti and signage that was left over from the ISIS occupation to make people feel like they actually had a future for themselves and their kids” - Brittany Brown [12:44] “We don’t have the brilliant ideas. It’s actually the people who live in these communities and understand the local context, the local dynamics about what is happening, and it’s using systems that already exist in these countries.” - Brittany Brown [27:25] “I think government bureaucrats get a bad rap for not being innovative and creative in these different ways. Everytime I interact with anyone in this building at the state department, anywhere else, there are these big, brilliant change makers in government that are thinking about how we do things better. They also are very open to ideas from the outside.” - Brittany Brown RESOURCES: Aid Market Podcast Aid Market Podcast YouTube BIOGRAPHY: Brittany Brown serves as Deputy Assistant Administrator of USAID’s Bureau for Conflict Prevention and Stabilization (CPS). She was appointed by the Biden-Harris Administration to also serve as the Director for the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) in CPS. Prior to OTI, Brittany worked as the Chief of Staff at the International Crisis Group after more than a decade in the U.S. Government, working for a range of government agencies, including USAID, the U.S. Departments of Justice, State, and Defense, and both the Obama and Trump White Houses. She served on the staff of the National Security Council as the acting Senior Director for African Affairs under the Trump Administration, and as the National Security Council's Horn of Africa Director under President Obama. Brittany began her government career as a Presidential Management Fellow with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Before joining the U.S. Government, she worked with juvenile detainees and children in the foster care system. She also managed a GED program for women awaiting trial at Chicago’s Cook County Jail. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in political science and sociology from ...
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    31 mins
  • 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.” ...
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    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
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    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)
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    8 mins
  • Ep 20: Local Partners on USAID’s Localization Initiative

    Ep 20: Local Partners on USAID’s Localization Initiative
    Mar 6 2024
    Today on The Aid Market Podcast, Mike Shanley is joined by Catalina Escobar, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of MAKAIA and Awele Okigbo, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Credo Advisory. Today’s discussion focuses on the concept of localization in development work, particularly in the context of USAID partnerships. Catalina Escobar and Awele Okigbo, share their perspectives on what localization means to them, the role of local partners, and the importance of empowering local actors in driving change and development interventions. Tune in today to hear from local partners with their perspective on USAID’s localization initiative, locally-led development, and how to best work with local partners. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:12] Awele and Catalina share their thoughts and perspective on localization and the importance of when and how local partners are involved in the project’s development and implementation. [05:30] Catalina shares what being a local partner means. [07:45] Awele believes that a local partner has a vested interest in the project because it is their community. [12:45] Catalina explains why it is critical to know the local systems and local policies, which can take years. [16:45] Awele discusses areas of USAID’s success and areas for growth in their localization efforts. How can other donors successfully incorporate this growth into their programs? [18:37] Catalina touches on strategy vs implementation. On paper, implementation can look straightforward, however the act of implementation can be more challenging. [27:28] Catalina breaks down the 5 principles of the Paris Declaration, which she believes are crucial for local development. She then explains how localization is measured and reported and what she will be looking at in 2024 to monitor and see how the conversation around localization is evolving. [30:37] Awele shares what she will be looking at to see how the localization conversation and priorities are evolving throughout 2024. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Localization is leveraging local actors and experts to become leaders. Localization involves recognizing and incorporating local knowledge, expertise, systems, and politics in project design and implementation. Nobody knows the community more than the members of the community and it is paramount that USAID includes local partners in the early stages of planning and implementation. Localization is meant to foster the empowerment of communities while building capacity and leveraging their social systems and structure to equip them with the resources and ability to become leaders. This is why it is crucial to increase the percentage of funds going to local organizations and ensure diversity in the organizations receiving international funding to avoid concentration of resources in a few entities. There is a need to measure the impact of development efforts not just in terms of successful project delivery but also in terms of how the local economy and talent pool have improved over time, highlighting the importance of local expertise and knowledge building. RESOURCES: Aid Market Podcast Aid Market Podcast YouTube Mike Shanley - LinkedIn Catalina Escobar - LinkedIn Awele Okigbo - LinkedIn BIOGRAPHIES: Catalina Escobar, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer, MAKAIA is a Civil society leader and social entrepreneur with more than 23 years of experience in social sector, digital development and international cooperation. During six years, Catalina worked with the World Bank managing web related projects that promote collaboration and knowledge sharing. She has led MAKAIA since its inception in 2006 and during 11 years, transforming an idea into an organization that has served thousands of people, non-profits and social projects in Latin America. Since June 2017, Catalina has held a different role in MAKAIA, as Chief Strategy Officer with the objective of designing the long term strategy of the organization. She has a Mechanical Engineering degree, an MBA, a specialization in International Cooperation for Development, and a Certificate in Non-Profit Management. MAKAIA (www.MAKAIA.org) is a not-for-profit organization that promotes capacities for social development through cooperation, technology and innovation. MAKAIA´s work is implemented based on two pillars: (1) Technology for Social Change, (2) International Cooperation and Partnerships. In 2013 MAKAIA developed www.nodoka.co, a data and information driven initiative to promote resource mobilization, knowledge sharing and effectiveness in social sector. MAKAIA has worked with thousands of social organizations and people in Colombia and Latin America. Awele Okigbo, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Credo Advisory is a leading strategic and development communications consultancy based in Abuja and Washington, DC. She is also the Host of Credo Voices, a podcast that highlights inspiring stories of everyday heroes – ordinary people doing extraordinary ...
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    33 mins
  • Ep 19: USAID, AI & Innovation: A Conversation with USAID Chief Innovation Officers

    Ep 19: USAID, AI & Innovation: A Conversation with USAID Chief Innovation Officers
    Feb 13 2024
    Mohamed Abdel-Kader, Chief Innovation Officer at USAID and Alexis Bonnell, Former Chief Innovation Officer at USAID, discussed the impact of AI and other machine learning tools. They explored the balance between the risks and rewards associated with these tools, reaching a consensus that AI can revolutionize USAID's impact when appropriately developed and utilized. The discussion emphasized the importance of developing AI to benefit all countries where USAID is active, not just English-speaking nations. Recognizing the rapid advancement of machine learning, the speakers stressed the need for precision and thoughtfulness in posing questions to AI, given its evolving nature. They also addressed issues of localization, pointing out the challenges when native languages are overlooked or when communities lack access to computers. Mike highlighted upcoming events for those interested in collaborating with USAID. On February 15th, SID-US will host its annual career fair, followed by the annual conference on April 26th in Washington, DC. He expressed his belief that this conference is a must-attend event of the year. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:53] Mike Shanley introduces today's guests and shares their backgrounds. [02:53] Mohamed describes his role at USAID as Chief Innovation Officer and talks about how technology is advancing with the advent of machine learning tools. [6:30] Mohamed touches on some of the early-use cases that he's seen of AI applications or other technologies. [12:47] Mohamed reflects on the potential risks AI presents and whether the good outweighs the bad. [17:04] Alexis comments that we are navigating at a different rate of change in technology; therefore, we need to be intentional about how we use AI, and she provides an example of an experiment she led. [26:08] Mohamed discusses the ethical development of AI, strengthening policies and systems that govern AI and accessing computing power in parts of the world where it's cost-prohibitive. [31:38] Alexis discusses how the cultures and identities of different countries impact how you work with them. She describes a sector who asked themselves if they have been as innovative as they think they have been and how AI revealed a surprising result to their question. [38:42] Mohamad discusses the significance of localization in AI, emphasizing the interconnected nature of our world and the necessity of incorporating it into our AI tools. He notes that numerous countries are enthusiastic about AI, viewing it as a tool to propel their advancement. [46:00] Alexis says that there's a gold mine for all of the entities to bring unique applications to USAID, suggesting you can recycle or reuse proposals. [52:34] The panelists leave advice to the listeners. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Led by Mohamed Abdel-Kader, USAID’s Innovation, Technology, and Research Hub, formerly known as the Global Development Lab, team is behind cutting edge tech development and approaches within the digital space. USAID strives to reach more people through innovative and cost effective approaches from cybersecurity, to emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, digital finance, digital inclusion, and digital literacy. AI is an extremely powerful tool that is evolving and changing daily. With this, comes the risk that a lot of people will be left behind. But there's also tremendous opportunity in the AI space. USAID actively works to intentionally shape this technology to be useful for everyone, while exploring the practicalities of how they might achieve this goal. USAID plays a unique role in fostering the ethical development of AI and other tools through various approaches. Mohamed and his team focus on utilizing the powerful tool of AI responsibly in environments where there are a lot of vulnerable people. USAID takes an ecosystem approach to discern how AI as a tool sits in the broader digital ecosystem within USAID’s partner countries and how USAID can support the responsible use of AI and continue to shape that global agenda. They do this by strengthening the underlying policies and systems and civil society environment that shapes how AI is designed, developed, and deployed in partner countries, including the quality and representative data sets that are used to build these particular tools. RESOURCES: Aid Market Podcast Aid Market Podcast YouTube Mike Shanley - LinkedIn Mohamed Abdel-Kader LinkedIn Alexis Bonnell LinkedIn Co-host Society for International Development-US USAID_Digital Twitter USAID Twitter USAID Innovates Twitter BIOGRAPHIES: Mohamed Abdel-Kader serves as USAID’s Chief Innovation Officer and Executive Director of the Innovation, Technology, and Research Hub. In these roles, he oversees various Agency mechanisms to promote the application of innovation, technology, and research for greater aid effectiveness within USAID and the inter-agency, and with our partners in the international development community, private sector, and civil...
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    1 hr
  • Ep 18: USAID, Global Health, and PEPFAR

    Ep 18: USAID, Global Health, and PEPFAR
    Jan 22 2024
    Today, panelists, Ashley Frost and James Maloney, Deputy Directors, Office of HIV/AIDS USAID, discussed USAID’s localization initiative, locally-led development, and the importance of diversified local partners. They discuss USAID’s Global Health work, how USAID supported PEPFAR and the successes it has enjoyed, including statistics of lives saved and changed.   James Maloney and Ashley Frost share the new PEPFAR five-year strategy, the USAID Approach to HIV and Optimized Programming (AHOP). AHOP is a framework for USAID to employ assets through efficient, measured, and simplified programmatic approaches to ensure resilient and country-led approaches to the HIV response. The AHOP defines five critical pathways through which USAID will assist countries in sustaining epidemic control and accelerating progress in those that have not yet achieved the 95-95-95 goals. Each pathway outlines planned results and time-bound milestones. If this resonates with you, share successes with Congress to fund the five-year reauthorization of PEPFAR.   IN THIS EPISODE: [00:32] Mike Shanley outlines key talking points regarding the accomplishments that PEPFAR has achieved over the last 20 years, delivering unprecedented impact in the global fight against HIV AIDS.  [02:57] Ashley Frost and James Maloney describe their roles at USAID as Deputy Directors.  [04:40] Discussion where funding originates, the investments they make at the primary healthcare level, and successes they have accomplished through PEPFAR, stating that USAID is the largest donor and they are advancing work in the HIV vaccine space.  [11:00] James shares statistics of the impact made in the world attributed to PEPFAR and reflects on the history of growth and prevention.  [14:50] Discussion of localization, local entities and partners and relationships within country-led staff and senior diplomats in their countries.         [20:06] Looking forward to goals and objectives, James discusses the AHOP framework in response to HIV.  [25:24] Ashley comments on the importance of keeping an open dialogue between all partners within the HIV AIDS space, and James outlines the importance of seeing the 5-year reauthorization of PEPFAR.    KEY TAKEAWAYS:  Oftentimes, hospitals and building new infrastructure is what gets a “ribbon cutting”, but in terms of buying the best health outcome with USAID’s investments from U.S. taxpayers, the first area of importance is investments made at a primary care level, which will most impact healthcare outcomes, saving lives and supporting healthy lives. The second thing that drives a lot of USAID’s investments across individual disease or health areas is health security. Much of PEPFAR’s success lies in engaging with local partners. With regard to localization, the Office of HIV AIDS and the Global Health Bureau have been the front runners in the agency and have been able to guide our agency in these spaces. Right now, about 58 percent of our resources are implemented through local entities, and those sets of partners have been diversified. Small business engagement in the U.S. is essential and has much to offer to the work we can accomplish together. More significant international partners have specific skill sets that are necessary for USAID. As we think about localization, everyone needs to think outside the box and remember that one size does not fit all.  By the end of 2025, the vision is to help countries reach what the USAID calls the global commitment of 95-95-95 goals. That means that 95 percent of those who have HIV know their status. 95 percent of those individuals are on treatment, and 95 percent of those individuals would be virally suppressed. The AHOP defines five critical pathways through which USAID will assist countries in attaining these goals.  RESOURCES: Aid Market Podcast Aid Market Podcast YouTube Mike Shanley - LinkedIn James Maloney - LinkedIn USAID Approach to HIV and Optimized Programming   BIOGRAPHIES:  James Maloney has served as the Deputy Director for the Office of HIV/AIDS (OHA) within the Global Health Bureau at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) since March 2020. OHA provides overall programmatic guidance for USAID’s implementation of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and oversight of $4 billion in 53 countries. In March 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, James was asked to support the National Security Council Global Health Development Directorate and serve as the Coordinator for the Ukraine and Regional Health working group. In October 2022, James was designated as the Senior Operations Official for the Global Mpox Response Team and has led coordination of the United States’ global response to mpox. Previously, James led the Supply Chain for Health Division at USAID overseeing over $700 million per year in HIV commodity procurement and supply chain management to advance HIV ...
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    32 mins
  • Ep 17: USAID Market Year in Review: Key 2023 Business Development Trends and Preparing for 2024

    Ep 17: USAID Market Year in Review: Key 2023 Business Development Trends and Preparing for 2024
    Jan 3 2024
    In a discussion about funding trends and market insights for business development at USAID, panelists highlighted key themes including the emphasis on localization, the impact of supplemental funding, and the necessity of adaptability in response to changing funding patterns.    The panelists stressed the importance of engaging with local and private sector actors for sustainable impact solutions and innovation. Additionally, they discussed effective preparation for phased procurements, addressing challenges like startup costs, and maintaining flexibility in response to changing funding patterns. They emphasized the need to be proactive and adaptive in navigating the evolving USAID partnering landscape.   IN THIS EPISODE:   [01:30] Discussion on the key trend of localization and locally-led development in 2023, with insights from Moges Gebremedhin[09:31] Caroline Denman discusses the conflict funding, program investments and transition initiatives[13:54] Matt Swaim shares insights on the integration of AI tools in the industry, emphasizing their potential to accelerate work and advance development goals[17:11] Caroline Denman discusses the trend of major prime implementers having regional offices around the world, emphasizing the importance of localized solutions and engagement with national partners[25:14] The link between private sector engagement and locally-led development, emphasizing the role of the private sector in sustaining initiatives[35:27] Insights on supplemental funding and the need for adaptability in response to changing funding patterns[39:19] Caroline Denman discusses the impact of naming key personnel and the challenges related to startup in project implementation[42:00] Transition to preparing for 2024, with panelists sharing their thoughts on key indicators and changes for the upcoming year[51:35] Christy wraps up with the key takeaways   KEY TAKEAWAYS:  Localization and locally-led development have been significant trends in USAID partnering in 2023. There is a strong emphasis on engaging local actors and building partnerships to facilitate sustainable business solutions and innovation. This trend has implications for project design, implementation, and the ability to deliver quick impactful resultsThe phased procurement process, particularly the changing requirements on timing to name key personnel, have implications for project startup and implementation. The process can be costly and requires adaptability and resources to ensure a strong start to project implementationPrivate sector engagement and the cost of engaging local partners are important considerations for sustainability in the localization initiative. The cost of writing a prime USAID proposal and the need to build partnerships with local firms are key factors in the evolving landscape of USAID partneringLooking ahead to 2024, an election year, considerations include potential government shutdowns, laddered budgets, and USAID procurement process.  RESOURCES: Aid Market Podcast Mike Shanley - LinkedIn Christy Hollywood - LinkedIn Matt Swaim - LinkedIn Matt Swaim Chemonics - Website Dragana Veskov - LinkedIn DraganaVeskov - Website Moges Gebremedhin Caroline Denman  RTI - LinkedIn   BIOGRAPHIES:     Dragana Veskov is a seasoned expert in business development and project management with over three decades of progressive leadership experience. In her recent role as Director of Business Development at FHI360, Dr. Veskov leads new business initiatives, overseeing an impressive annual sales volume of approximately $1 billion. Dr. Veskov has established and nurtured strong relationships with key stakeholders, including USAID, FCDO, NORAD, The World Bank, Millennium Challenge Corporation, and private donors.    Moges Gebremedhin is RTI’s Regional Director for Africa based in Nairobi, Kenya. Mr. Gebremedhin provides technical and operational support for RTI’s USAID-funded programs and partners in the region. Working across RTI’s technical divisions and experts, he connects RTI research and solutions with opportunities for impact in the region.    Matt Swaim has been with Chemonics for ten years and currently serves as the Business Development Advisor for the Asia Region. He specializes in writing winning proposals for USAID-funded contracts in the areas of economic growth, promoting sustainable agriculture, and advancing democratic governance. He also serves on Chemonics’ LGBTQ+ Inclusion Technical Working Group which develops approaches and thought leadership in advancing inclusion for the global community.   Caroline Denman15 years of field-based technical experience spans economic growth, good governance, stabilization and transition, education, refugee response, gender inclusion, and climate-smart agriculture in over 20 countries around the world, including long term assignments in the Middle East and North Africa. In her current role as Deputy Director for Business Development with DT Global,...
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    59 mins