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 a highly accomplished Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) and Communications specialist with over fifteen years of experience in the field. With a background in International Relations, specializing in International Organizations, Viktoriia has held various CLA and Communications positions for projects supported by USAID, GIZ, Médecins Sans Frontières, and the Global Fund to…
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,…
Chemonics is proud to launch the inaugural Evidence and Learning for Scale Research Awards, a competitive process in which we sought out research proposals from 88 of our donor-funded projects around the world to help address critical cross-sectoral topics. For 2023, we selected two winning proposals aligned with the priority topic of social behavior change…
Lagos, Nigeria is a densely populated city with rapidly growing urban and peri-urban areas and over 200 informal settlements that pose unique challenges for water supply access. These challenges are exacerbated by poor performance of existing water utilities, inadequate public financing, insufficient water infrastructure, and lack of revenue generation. The lack of access to safe…
Growth prospects for the Philippines’ digital economy are promising; the internet economy grew by 32% from 2015 to 2019 and 93% from 2020 to 2021. However, the Philippines is falling behind regional peers in digital adoption. Longstanding distrust in digital transactions and limited digital infrastructure contributing to unequal access to services delivered via the internet…
Melissa Marland brings more than 20 years of experience in sustainable development, including 17 years with Chemonics in leadership positions spanning proposal strategy and design, work planning, and performance management. An expert in USAID business development, Melissa most recently served as principal advisor on the new business support team, providing mentorship, capacity building, and quality…
Trust is a vital but often overlooked element of international development. Whether in formal spaces such as state healthcare or informal projects like community campaigns, trust has the power to make or break development initiatives. If those involved in a project trust each other, the chances of its success and sustainability are vastly improved. Yet…
Trust flavors our life choices. It lays the foundations of our social and professional relationships. It colors the way we engage with organizations, services, and people. Globally, trust in public institutions appears to be decaying. The ‘fake news’ phenomenon has damaged perceptions of traditional media. The COVID-19 pandemic gave rise to widespread vaccine hesitancy, in some…