This case study explores how the Iraq Regional Program II (IRP) is promoting partners’ open reporting of challenges and failures by building trust, establishing collaborative learning platforms, and adopting techniques to be culturally appropriate. The study provides actionable recommendations on promoting transparent communication, relationship building, and contextualized programming to enhance stabilization outcomes.
Catherine (Kate) Maldonado is the Senior Advisor for the Agriculture and Food Security Practice. With 20 years of experience in international programs, Kate has designed and implemented agriculture, resilience, nutrition, and food security programs in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Kate served as the Chief of Staff to the USAID Bureau for Resilience and Food…
Why do certain educational reforms endure and flourish while others fade away, or only take root in specific schools or with certain teachers? What does it truly require to maintain new teaching practices at large scale over the long haul? In a concerted effort to answer these questions, earlier this year Chemonics spearheaded a collaboration…
This case study focuses on changes in how the USAID/Ukraine Agriculture Growing Rural Opportunities (AGRO) Activity team manages their relationships with local partners, handles communications, and continues to learn and adjust to maintain progress in project activities in response to instability caused by Russia’s war on Ukraine. CLA approaches have helped AGRO adjust to changing…
Chemonics’ Investment Readiness Learning Initiative is a first-of-its-kind, multi-year, multi-project learning initiative designed to deepen the evidence base for investment readiness factors, develop strategies for greater private sector engagement, and analyze other critical aspects of investment facilitation in emerging markets. The initiative, conducted in partnership with The Canopy Lab, works with two Chemonics-led, USAID-funded programs,…
Tim Sparkman is the Managing Partner, MEL Practice Lead at The Canopy Lab.
In fragile and conflict-affected regions, development projects encounter unique difficulties that require innovative solutions. The USAID Agriculture Growing Rural Opportunities (AGRO) project, which Chemonics began implementing in 2019, was designed to accelerate the economic development of rural Ukrainian communities with the greatest need through a better governed agricultural sector that encourages more productive, modern, and…
Viktoriia Gultai is the Collaboration, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) Advisor on the USAID Agriculture Growing Rural Opportunities Activity (AGRO) in Ukraine.
In the face of rapid urbanization and ongoing political unrest, Ethiopia’s secondary cities face significant challenges in meeting citizens’ needs while contending with overstretched resources, especially for essential WASH services. Ensuring that strong and reliable WASH services are available to everyone is paramount, especially within vulnerable communities. In addition, water and sanitation services must adapt…
The DCEO activity mitigates instability by promoting inclusive community development, generating employment opportunities, and promoting business entrepreneurship. 1. Please tell us a little bit about the work you do as a grant officer for the Chemonics-implemented DCEO project in Iraq. In my role as a grant officer, I am strongly involved in all phases of…
Laurence Yese is a monitoring and evaluation specialist with more than 15 years of experience designing and implementing monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) systems and tools for development programs in Nigeria, including water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), governance, and community health systems. Laurence holds a bachelor of science degree in statistics and computer science education…
USAID has made great strides in improving student learning outcomes in East Africa, particularly in primary school student reading skills. However, much work remains to be done, especially considering learning disruptions due to COVID-19. With the need to re-engage learners, it is critical to focus on early-grade reading for continued retention, success in future grades,…