An IDEA worth sharing.
Content
An IDEA worth sharing.
A year in review.
Office of Innovation and Development Alliances
Photo Credit: AFP/Marc Hofer
“There is no escaping our obligations: our moral obligations as a wise leader and good neighbor in the interdependent community of free nations – our economic obligations as the wealthiest people in a world of largely poor people, as a nation no longer dependent upon the loans from abroad that once helped us develop our own economy – and our political obligations as the single largest counter to the adversaries of freedom.” – John F. Kennedy
Photo Credit: Patrick Baz
“Dear USAID Colleagues, These words spoken by President John F. Kennedy are truer today than they were in 1961 when he established USAID as the singular point providing U.S. foreign development assistance “From the American People” for social and economic development. In 2010, President Barack Obama echoed President Kennedy’s words by signing the Presidential Policy Directive on Global Development (PPD), marking the first time a U.S. Administration has formally signaled international development for U.S. national security as “a strategic, economic, and moral imperative for the United States.” The PPD emphasizes new trends of game-changing innovations and development technologies, elevates locally sustainable systems and higher leveraged partnerships with the potential to solve long-standing development challenges. The Agency embodies the PPD principles and reforms in USAID Forward. New trends in international development are emerging and showing strong potential for improving the everyday lives of people around the world. With this in mind, USAID leadership founded the Office of Innovation and Development Alliances (IDEA) in 2011 to build on our collective experimenting, create systematic approaches for catalyzing these trends, elevate and integrate these new trends in the Agency’s fabric. The IDEA Office specifically addresses four systematic approaches: • Local Sustainability-Strengthening local solutions to local challenges by building capacity for sustainable development. • Global Partnerships-Building partnerships with the private sector for sustainable, costeffective development. • Mobile Solutions-Capitalizing on mobile technology for development. • Development Innovation Ventures-Testing and scaling cost-efficient development solutions In the work that we all do, we’re taking advantage of these trends, applying them in unique and complex environments, and drawing lessons. Diverse alliances across many sectors and areas of expertise are needed to advance local needs for lasting change and locally sustainable solutions. After one year, there are shining examples of innovation, partnerships, local sustainability, and mobile technology for development happening all across the Agency that the men and women of USAID in Missions around the world deliver every day. It is our pleasure to share just a handful of these impactful stories with you.
Local Sustainability
Local solutions to local challenges: Building capacity for sustainable development
In Indian villages without power, light often comes from hazardous kerosene lamps. Ten year old Divya* of Uttar Pradesh burned herself badly when a lamp spilled fuel on her clothes, catching fire. To offer a safe, clean, and affordable alternative to kerosene lamps, the nonprofit organization Humana People to People India (HPPI) - with funding from the demand-driven IDEA/LS Development Grants Program - set up 100 community-based solar charging stations for 6,000 solar-powered lamps to serve thousands of nonelectrified households like Divya’s. To secure financing for individuals to purchase lamps, over 300 women’s community savings groups were created to pool resources. These collective funds have financed other local efforts, including the establishment of grocery shops run by female entrepreneurs. IDEA/LS funding is intended to create sustainable programming capable of meeting local needs without depending on donor support. After the grant had ended in 2011, the HPPI program continued to grow through partnerships with private companies that have led to the creation of “mini-grids” – small, solar-based power units capable of providing basic household electricity to 40 households at a time. This year, HPPI and an Indian energy company partnered to set up 80 grids with up-front capital investments coming from village entrepreneurs. There is a strong - and growing - consensus among global donors on the importance of supporting sustainable development through the empowerment of local actors and responding to local demands. Building partnerships with local organizations requires time and investment, yet the payoffs can mean local stakeholders increase their capacity and ownership of development solutions. IDEA/LS works closely with more than 50 Missions, offering a variety of resources to strengthen local partners, from supporting cooperative development to providing risk capital to finance and learn from demand-driven local solutions. The division encourages Mission partnerships with local actors intimately aware of the context-specific challenges facing their communities, in order to foster the development of local solutions to local challenges.
*Name changed to protect identity.
Partner with IDEA/LS. We offer five programs designed to strengthen the capacity of local organizations to respond to development challenges. IDEA/LS is fostering the conditions for sustainable development by supporting NGOs, voluntary organizations, and cooperatives; expanding the reach of Missions through the Peace Corps; and connecting local organizations with the equipment necessary to achieve their goals. Find more information about the Local Sustainability Division or contact our team at
[email protected].
Photo Credit: People to People Humana India
Global Partnerships
Building partnerships to achieve sustainable development outcomes
Seven hundred thousand people die each year from counterfeit TB and malaria drugs. This is the challenge that Sproxil, Inc., a technology company in Kenya, set out to tackle with its prescription medication verification and tracking system. Sproxil’s solution was simple—a scratch card on each pack of medication revealing a numerical code that, when texted to a phone number verifies if the drug is genuine or fake. Today, Sproxil has introduced its products in five countries, where it reaches over 1 million consumers. 2011. Additionally, the LAC Bureau created a partnership to support Latin American small- and mediumsized entrepreneurs in July 2012 launched at the Global Diaspora Forum. As Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, “We’re going to find the best ideas and help them grow into successful businesses that create value and jobs throughout the hemisphere.”
The Global Partnerships (IDEA/GP) Division focuses on advancing partnerships that align business interests and capabilities with develSproxil was a winner of the opment objectives, and that African Diaspora Marketare cost-effective, scalable, place (ADM), a business and sustainable in the longplan competition designed term. We champion the to harness the dynamism Agency’s partnership efPhoto Credit: USAID African Diaspora Marketplace of Africa’s diaspora comforts in two primary waysmunities. USAID and Western Union partnered to -building Global Development Alliances (GDAs) to provided seed capital and technical assistance to address key Agency priorities, and supporting Missions jump-start businesses “back home” that also focused and Bureaus by providing advisory services, tools, and on local development outcomes. ADM seed capital training to help build impactful partnerships. had a multiplier effect, often spurring investment from other sources. First round winners leveraged their Partner with IDEA/GP Division: We welcome op$100,000 matching grants on average 10 to 1. portunities to work with Missions and Bureaus to identify ways to strategically leverage partnerships with the private The ADM model is an approach increasingly used sector and support our shared core development goals. by USAID Bureaus to engage and scale partnerships More information about our tools and technical assistance between diaspora communities and private sector are at www.usaid.gov/idea/gp. Contact our team or email companies. With our involvement, the Africa Bureau us at [email protected]. partnered with Western Union to build ADM II in
Photo Credit: The Coca-Cola Company
Highlighting Agency’s Innovation, Sustain
Select the image below to learn more.
ALLIaNCES:
ECONOMIC G
ROWTH
Photo Cred it: IBM
ALLIaNCES:
Corpora tion
iON: T A V INNO
EALTh H L GLOBA
FOOD
Photo Credit: US
Photo C
endra H redit: K
ive Innovat Scaling i s In Hait n io t lu o S
elmer
USAID and IB M bring corp orate expertise to developing a nd emerging ma rket in Africa
New A N
SUsTAINABILTY:
GLOBAL HEALT
Photo Credit: Hea rly G. Mayr, PAD F
h
Medical Equipmen t From Walter Reed Hospital H eads to Latin America and the Caribbean
NCES: a I L L A
TION A C U ED
red Photo C
it: Intel®
for partner l e t n I d n an USAID gy and educatio lo techno . in Africa
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Mobile Solutions
Capitalizing on mobile technology for development
Hakima’s family took refuge in Iran during Afghanistan’s brutal civil war. At the age of 10, she moved back, aspiring to help rebuild her country as a teacher. Now a student at Kabul University, Hakima is one of eight winners of the mobile app design competition supported by USAID, and her entry will help Afghan businesswomen get easy access to their money. “Mobile money will give women better control over their own money to support their businesses and families,” Hakima said. Hakima’s story is just one example of how the Mobile Solutions (IDEAS/MS) team is leveraging the power and reach of mobile technology to accelerate USAID’s development goals. Over the last year, MS helped launch the Better Than Cash Alliance, which aims to move the world toward a more transparent, efficient, inclusive cash-lite society, partnered with Citigroup to spur the adoption of mobile money in five countries, and supported the mWomen Design Challenge, which aims to develop a more intuitive mobile user experience for illiterate populations, particularly women. IDEA/MS is working with a number of Missions to launch mobile money programs in their countries as part of the USAID Forward Initiative. Over the last year, nearly 300,000 Afghans can now pay their electricity bills via their mobile phone, over 5 million transactions have been conducted via mobile money in Haiti, and soon, the Scaling Innovations in Mobile Money (SIMM) program in the Philippines will generate 1.3 million active mobile money users. The Phillippines is one of six countries that signed up for the USAID Forward Indicator for Mobile Money, which aims to increase mobile money usage to 20 percent of the mobile subscriber base by 2016. In the year ahead, IDEA/MS will expand its work in mobile money, mobile access, and launch its mobile data collection strategy to support evidence-based decision making and empower local populations to hold donors accountable. Partner with IDEA/MS: If you want to develop a program in mobile money, mobile data collection or mobile access, want help integrating mobile technology in existing programs, want to learn more about our existing partnerships or pitch an idea, we would love to hear from you. More information about Mobile Solutions is at our web page or contact our team at [email protected].
Photo Credit: Manpreet Romana
Development Innovation Ventures
Testing and Scaling cost-effective solutions
“14 Killed in Crash” is an all too common headline in Kenya, where minibus rides are notorious perils. In the next 20 years, Africa’s deaths from road accidents are set to be double those from malaria, and already cost the African continent $10 billion annually. A pair of Georgetown researchers devised an experiment to see if simple messaging could help save lives aboard Kenya’s minibuses. The researchers’ pilot study, which involved 2,400 vehicles, showed striking results: inside a random selection of the minibuses, stickers encouraged passengers to chide dangerous drivers. Compared to rates for buses without stickers, road accident insurance claims fell by half, and claims involving injury or death dropped by two-thirds. The cost of the pilot was a diminutive $8 per disabilityadjusted life year. With $290,000 from IDEA/DIV, the researchers are expanding the pilot to reach approximately 10,000 minibuses in Kenya. This example is just one of many innovative approaches seen over the past year. IDEA/DIV recognizes that good ideas can come from anywhere, and holds competitions open to any organization with innovative solutions to core development priorities. DIV tests these approaches and helps scale those that can drastically improve outcomes at a lower cost than standard development practice, and that could potentially reach millions of people. Through DIV’s model, USAID has invested in around 40 projects across 17 countries and 9 sectors. 23% of DIV winners are social enterprises and others in the private sector, 41% are non-profit organizations, and 34% are academics and research organizations.
Photo Credit: Georgetown University
Partner with IDEA/DIV: Discussing forthcoming projects in Haiti, USAID/Haiti Program Officer Rebecca Jones notes, “We’ve been thrilled at the diversity and ingenuity of proposed solutions to some of Haiti’s most difficult development challenges.We’re seeing that DIV is not just another opportunity but an inspiration to our Haitian partners and our own staff to think beyond the traditional approaches.” We welcome Bureaus and Missions’ assistance spreading the word to local organizations operating in-country, especially qualified non-traditional partners, about how to apply to DIV. We reach out to Missions and Bureaus for feedback on all finalist applications, and welcome opportunities to discuss co-funding and/or co-managing awards.We are glad to brief Missions with a DIV 101 session, and to disseminate lessons learned from the successes and challenges of particular approaches. More information about IDEA/DIV is available at www.usaid.gov/div.The IDEA/DIV team can be contacted at [email protected].
Photo Credit: AFP/Romeo Gacad
“We need to be bold in how we think about partnering, and not be afraid to set audacious goals for what we can achieve when we work together, as such audaciousness is what can inspire new partners to take action.”
– USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah June 19, 2012
Special Thanks to following contributors: Cynthia Jasso-Rotunno, Nicole Emmett, Thomas Carter, Gina Volynsky, Elvira Felix, Charley Johnson, Carolyn Edelstein, Dan Grant, Matthew Corso, Ricardo Michel and Kat Townsend.
Photo Credit: Jon Hrusa
Action Call for Ideas.
Today’s USAID is accelerating and elevating development solutions in ways unimagined when President Kennedy established it in 1961 thanks in part to President Obama and Secretary Clinton’s solid global development policy, the bold leadership of Dr. Shah, and over _x_ dedicated men and women of USAID around the globe. The Office of Innovation and Development Alliances aims to increase USAID’s ability to leverage new partnerships, innovations, and platforms that accelerate and amplify sustainable development outcomes.The four stories depicting innovation, partnerships, local sustainability, and mobile solution approaches represent a small sample of work delivered by the IDEA Office.Together with colleagues across the Agency, we strive to bring more cost effective, innovative solutions to some of the most intractable development challenges. Crowd sourcing diverse ideas from anywhere and encouraging new partnerships helps ensure that USAID interventions have a lasting impact. After 51 years delivering humanitarian assistance and promoting social and economic development, our USAID workforce and culture continue to serve as a reflection of core American values-values that are rooted in a belief for doing the right thing.Yet, we should constantly ask, “Are we doing our best to seek and find the most creative solutions that will help the world’s poor? Are we investing solutions in developing countries that will have the long-term benefit for the American people?” These questions can be answered if we bring all our collective energy, resources and know-how to the table and share learning across sectors and regions. That is why the IDEA Office needs your help.We take the “alliances” part of our name seriously. We want to learn together and disseminate what we learned in our first year, especially first-of-itskind development approaches. In year two, we will continue sharing stories of innovation, partnerships, local sustainability, and mobile solution trends through our IDEA E-zine. Look for our first E-zine [insert link] edition on Global Partnerships in mid-December. Together we can accomplish so much more by working in close collaboration with our fellow officers, stakeholders, traditional and non-traditional partners alike. Join us as we look forward to another year of great ideas, new partners and lasting change.We also encourage you to share your story with us at [email protected]. [Office1]Hyperlink Story Guidelines.
Back page
United States Agency for International Development 1300 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Washington, DC 20523 Tel: (202)-712-0000 Fax: (202)-712-0000 www.usaid.gov
Design by Elvira Felix Photo Credit: Marwan Naamani
A year in review.
Office of Innovation and Development Alliances
Photo Credit: AFP/Marc Hofer
“There is no escaping our obligations: our moral obligations as a wise leader and good neighbor in the interdependent community of free nations – our economic obligations as the wealthiest people in a world of largely poor people, as a nation no longer dependent upon the loans from abroad that once helped us develop our own economy – and our political obligations as the single largest counter to the adversaries of freedom.” – John F. Kennedy
Photo Credit: Patrick Baz
“Dear USAID Colleagues, These words spoken by President John F. Kennedy are truer today than they were in 1961 when he established USAID as the singular point providing U.S. foreign development assistance “From the American People” for social and economic development. In 2010, President Barack Obama echoed President Kennedy’s words by signing the Presidential Policy Directive on Global Development (PPD), marking the first time a U.S. Administration has formally signaled international development for U.S. national security as “a strategic, economic, and moral imperative for the United States.” The PPD emphasizes new trends of game-changing innovations and development technologies, elevates locally sustainable systems and higher leveraged partnerships with the potential to solve long-standing development challenges. The Agency embodies the PPD principles and reforms in USAID Forward. New trends in international development are emerging and showing strong potential for improving the everyday lives of people around the world. With this in mind, USAID leadership founded the Office of Innovation and Development Alliances (IDEA) in 2011 to build on our collective experimenting, create systematic approaches for catalyzing these trends, elevate and integrate these new trends in the Agency’s fabric. The IDEA Office specifically addresses four systematic approaches: • Local Sustainability-Strengthening local solutions to local challenges by building capacity for sustainable development. • Global Partnerships-Building partnerships with the private sector for sustainable, costeffective development. • Mobile Solutions-Capitalizing on mobile technology for development. • Development Innovation Ventures-Testing and scaling cost-efficient development solutions In the work that we all do, we’re taking advantage of these trends, applying them in unique and complex environments, and drawing lessons. Diverse alliances across many sectors and areas of expertise are needed to advance local needs for lasting change and locally sustainable solutions. After one year, there are shining examples of innovation, partnerships, local sustainability, and mobile technology for development happening all across the Agency that the men and women of USAID in Missions around the world deliver every day. It is our pleasure to share just a handful of these impactful stories with you.
Local Sustainability
Local solutions to local challenges: Building capacity for sustainable development
In Indian villages without power, light often comes from hazardous kerosene lamps. Ten year old Divya* of Uttar Pradesh burned herself badly when a lamp spilled fuel on her clothes, catching fire. To offer a safe, clean, and affordable alternative to kerosene lamps, the nonprofit organization Humana People to People India (HPPI) - with funding from the demand-driven IDEA/LS Development Grants Program - set up 100 community-based solar charging stations for 6,000 solar-powered lamps to serve thousands of nonelectrified households like Divya’s. To secure financing for individuals to purchase lamps, over 300 women’s community savings groups were created to pool resources. These collective funds have financed other local efforts, including the establishment of grocery shops run by female entrepreneurs. IDEA/LS funding is intended to create sustainable programming capable of meeting local needs without depending on donor support. After the grant had ended in 2011, the HPPI program continued to grow through partnerships with private companies that have led to the creation of “mini-grids” – small, solar-based power units capable of providing basic household electricity to 40 households at a time. This year, HPPI and an Indian energy company partnered to set up 80 grids with up-front capital investments coming from village entrepreneurs. There is a strong - and growing - consensus among global donors on the importance of supporting sustainable development through the empowerment of local actors and responding to local demands. Building partnerships with local organizations requires time and investment, yet the payoffs can mean local stakeholders increase their capacity and ownership of development solutions. IDEA/LS works closely with more than 50 Missions, offering a variety of resources to strengthen local partners, from supporting cooperative development to providing risk capital to finance and learn from demand-driven local solutions. The division encourages Mission partnerships with local actors intimately aware of the context-specific challenges facing their communities, in order to foster the development of local solutions to local challenges.
*Name changed to protect identity.
Partner with IDEA/LS. We offer five programs designed to strengthen the capacity of local organizations to respond to development challenges. IDEA/LS is fostering the conditions for sustainable development by supporting NGOs, voluntary organizations, and cooperatives; expanding the reach of Missions through the Peace Corps; and connecting local organizations with the equipment necessary to achieve their goals. Find more information about the Local Sustainability Division or contact our team at
[email protected].
Photo Credit: People to People Humana India
Global Partnerships
Building partnerships to achieve sustainable development outcomes
Seven hundred thousand people die each year from counterfeit TB and malaria drugs. This is the challenge that Sproxil, Inc., a technology company in Kenya, set out to tackle with its prescription medication verification and tracking system. Sproxil’s solution was simple—a scratch card on each pack of medication revealing a numerical code that, when texted to a phone number verifies if the drug is genuine or fake. Today, Sproxil has introduced its products in five countries, where it reaches over 1 million consumers. 2011. Additionally, the LAC Bureau created a partnership to support Latin American small- and mediumsized entrepreneurs in July 2012 launched at the Global Diaspora Forum. As Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, “We’re going to find the best ideas and help them grow into successful businesses that create value and jobs throughout the hemisphere.”
The Global Partnerships (IDEA/GP) Division focuses on advancing partnerships that align business interests and capabilities with develSproxil was a winner of the opment objectives, and that African Diaspora Marketare cost-effective, scalable, place (ADM), a business and sustainable in the longplan competition designed term. We champion the to harness the dynamism Agency’s partnership efPhoto Credit: USAID African Diaspora Marketplace of Africa’s diaspora comforts in two primary waysmunities. USAID and Western Union partnered to -building Global Development Alliances (GDAs) to provided seed capital and technical assistance to address key Agency priorities, and supporting Missions jump-start businesses “back home” that also focused and Bureaus by providing advisory services, tools, and on local development outcomes. ADM seed capital training to help build impactful partnerships. had a multiplier effect, often spurring investment from other sources. First round winners leveraged their Partner with IDEA/GP Division: We welcome op$100,000 matching grants on average 10 to 1. portunities to work with Missions and Bureaus to identify ways to strategically leverage partnerships with the private The ADM model is an approach increasingly used sector and support our shared core development goals. by USAID Bureaus to engage and scale partnerships More information about our tools and technical assistance between diaspora communities and private sector are at www.usaid.gov/idea/gp. Contact our team or email companies. With our involvement, the Africa Bureau us at [email protected]. partnered with Western Union to build ADM II in
Photo Credit: The Coca-Cola Company
Highlighting Agency’s Innovation, Sustain
Select the image below to learn more.
ALLIaNCES:
ECONOMIC G
ROWTH
Photo Cred it: IBM
ALLIaNCES:
Corpora tion
iON: T A V INNO
EALTh H L GLOBA
FOOD
Photo Credit: US
Photo C
endra H redit: K
ive Innovat Scaling i s In Hait n io t lu o S
elmer
USAID and IB M bring corp orate expertise to developing a nd emerging ma rket in Africa
New A N
SUsTAINABILTY:
GLOBAL HEALT
Photo Credit: Hea rly G. Mayr, PAD F
h
Medical Equipmen t From Walter Reed Hospital H eads to Latin America and the Caribbean
NCES: a I L L A
TION A C U ED
red Photo C
it: Intel®
for partner l e t n I d n an USAID gy and educatio lo techno . in Africa
nability and Alliances
SECURITY
OV AT iON
D M &E G OCR
D
OV ACY ERN AN
:
CE
SAID/Afghanistan
INN
Pho
to C
Cas
redit
: Jan
hing
Chip
chas
A
Photo C
Alliance for Food and Nutrition Security
Ou in A t of Co r fgha nista ruption n
e
ES: C N a LLI
ACY NCE R C O M A DEG VERN O &
and itation lo p x e g. Fighting raffickin t n a m hu
redit: M TV Exit
iON:
Photo C
redit: Sa
INNOVAT
nergy
N: O i T A NNOV
ENeRGY
ALI U Q E GENDER
TY
Photo C
redit: Sa
nergy
Turning Poop int oP in Kenya ower
I
Photo Credit: AFP/NASA Earth Observatory
Photo C
redit: U
SAID
Mobile Solutions
Capitalizing on mobile technology for development
Hakima’s family took refuge in Iran during Afghanistan’s brutal civil war. At the age of 10, she moved back, aspiring to help rebuild her country as a teacher. Now a student at Kabul University, Hakima is one of eight winners of the mobile app design competition supported by USAID, and her entry will help Afghan businesswomen get easy access to their money. “Mobile money will give women better control over their own money to support their businesses and families,” Hakima said. Hakima’s story is just one example of how the Mobile Solutions (IDEAS/MS) team is leveraging the power and reach of mobile technology to accelerate USAID’s development goals. Over the last year, MS helped launch the Better Than Cash Alliance, which aims to move the world toward a more transparent, efficient, inclusive cash-lite society, partnered with Citigroup to spur the adoption of mobile money in five countries, and supported the mWomen Design Challenge, which aims to develop a more intuitive mobile user experience for illiterate populations, particularly women. IDEA/MS is working with a number of Missions to launch mobile money programs in their countries as part of the USAID Forward Initiative. Over the last year, nearly 300,000 Afghans can now pay their electricity bills via their mobile phone, over 5 million transactions have been conducted via mobile money in Haiti, and soon, the Scaling Innovations in Mobile Money (SIMM) program in the Philippines will generate 1.3 million active mobile money users. The Phillippines is one of six countries that signed up for the USAID Forward Indicator for Mobile Money, which aims to increase mobile money usage to 20 percent of the mobile subscriber base by 2016. In the year ahead, IDEA/MS will expand its work in mobile money, mobile access, and launch its mobile data collection strategy to support evidence-based decision making and empower local populations to hold donors accountable. Partner with IDEA/MS: If you want to develop a program in mobile money, mobile data collection or mobile access, want help integrating mobile technology in existing programs, want to learn more about our existing partnerships or pitch an idea, we would love to hear from you. More information about Mobile Solutions is at our web page or contact our team at [email protected].
Photo Credit: Manpreet Romana
Development Innovation Ventures
Testing and Scaling cost-effective solutions
“14 Killed in Crash” is an all too common headline in Kenya, where minibus rides are notorious perils. In the next 20 years, Africa’s deaths from road accidents are set to be double those from malaria, and already cost the African continent $10 billion annually. A pair of Georgetown researchers devised an experiment to see if simple messaging could help save lives aboard Kenya’s minibuses. The researchers’ pilot study, which involved 2,400 vehicles, showed striking results: inside a random selection of the minibuses, stickers encouraged passengers to chide dangerous drivers. Compared to rates for buses without stickers, road accident insurance claims fell by half, and claims involving injury or death dropped by two-thirds. The cost of the pilot was a diminutive $8 per disabilityadjusted life year. With $290,000 from IDEA/DIV, the researchers are expanding the pilot to reach approximately 10,000 minibuses in Kenya. This example is just one of many innovative approaches seen over the past year. IDEA/DIV recognizes that good ideas can come from anywhere, and holds competitions open to any organization with innovative solutions to core development priorities. DIV tests these approaches and helps scale those that can drastically improve outcomes at a lower cost than standard development practice, and that could potentially reach millions of people. Through DIV’s model, USAID has invested in around 40 projects across 17 countries and 9 sectors. 23% of DIV winners are social enterprises and others in the private sector, 41% are non-profit organizations, and 34% are academics and research organizations.
Photo Credit: Georgetown University
Partner with IDEA/DIV: Discussing forthcoming projects in Haiti, USAID/Haiti Program Officer Rebecca Jones notes, “We’ve been thrilled at the diversity and ingenuity of proposed solutions to some of Haiti’s most difficult development challenges.We’re seeing that DIV is not just another opportunity but an inspiration to our Haitian partners and our own staff to think beyond the traditional approaches.” We welcome Bureaus and Missions’ assistance spreading the word to local organizations operating in-country, especially qualified non-traditional partners, about how to apply to DIV. We reach out to Missions and Bureaus for feedback on all finalist applications, and welcome opportunities to discuss co-funding and/or co-managing awards.We are glad to brief Missions with a DIV 101 session, and to disseminate lessons learned from the successes and challenges of particular approaches. More information about IDEA/DIV is available at www.usaid.gov/div.The IDEA/DIV team can be contacted at [email protected].
Photo Credit: AFP/Romeo Gacad
“We need to be bold in how we think about partnering, and not be afraid to set audacious goals for what we can achieve when we work together, as such audaciousness is what can inspire new partners to take action.”
– USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah June 19, 2012
Special Thanks to following contributors: Cynthia Jasso-Rotunno, Nicole Emmett, Thomas Carter, Gina Volynsky, Elvira Felix, Charley Johnson, Carolyn Edelstein, Dan Grant, Matthew Corso, Ricardo Michel and Kat Townsend.
Photo Credit: Jon Hrusa
Action Call for Ideas.
Today’s USAID is accelerating and elevating development solutions in ways unimagined when President Kennedy established it in 1961 thanks in part to President Obama and Secretary Clinton’s solid global development policy, the bold leadership of Dr. Shah, and over _x_ dedicated men and women of USAID around the globe. The Office of Innovation and Development Alliances aims to increase USAID’s ability to leverage new partnerships, innovations, and platforms that accelerate and amplify sustainable development outcomes.The four stories depicting innovation, partnerships, local sustainability, and mobile solution approaches represent a small sample of work delivered by the IDEA Office.Together with colleagues across the Agency, we strive to bring more cost effective, innovative solutions to some of the most intractable development challenges. Crowd sourcing diverse ideas from anywhere and encouraging new partnerships helps ensure that USAID interventions have a lasting impact. After 51 years delivering humanitarian assistance and promoting social and economic development, our USAID workforce and culture continue to serve as a reflection of core American values-values that are rooted in a belief for doing the right thing.Yet, we should constantly ask, “Are we doing our best to seek and find the most creative solutions that will help the world’s poor? Are we investing solutions in developing countries that will have the long-term benefit for the American people?” These questions can be answered if we bring all our collective energy, resources and know-how to the table and share learning across sectors and regions. That is why the IDEA Office needs your help.We take the “alliances” part of our name seriously. We want to learn together and disseminate what we learned in our first year, especially first-of-itskind development approaches. In year two, we will continue sharing stories of innovation, partnerships, local sustainability, and mobile solution trends through our IDEA E-zine. Look for our first E-zine [insert link] edition on Global Partnerships in mid-December. Together we can accomplish so much more by working in close collaboration with our fellow officers, stakeholders, traditional and non-traditional partners alike. Join us as we look forward to another year of great ideas, new partners and lasting change.We also encourage you to share your story with us at [email protected]. [Office1]Hyperlink Story Guidelines.
Back page
United States Agency for International Development 1300 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Washington, DC 20523 Tel: (202)-712-0000 Fax: (202)-712-0000 www.usaid.gov
Design by Elvira Felix Photo Credit: Marwan Naamani
