Combating Climate Change with Data-Driven Development

The mechanics of drilling a well are straightforward. Knowing where, how, and whether to drill that well amid extreme conditions wrought by climate change poses a whole new challenge. International development experts, confronting the complexities of rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, and extreme weather, are adding new data-driven approaches to their toolkits to drill that…

Connecting Space to Village

Earth-observing satellites and geospatial technologies collect valuable information that can shape how developing countries manage climate risks and land use. A joint initiative of USAID and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), SERVIR puts this information in the hands of communities who need it most. With the data and tools provided by SERVIR programs,…

Final Report: Feed the Future Uganda Enabling Environment for Agriculture Activity

The Feed the Future Uganda Enabling Environment for Agriculture Activity (EEA) was a USAID-funded project aimed at reducing regulatory barriers for agribusiness and local farmers in Uganda. This final report summarizes how the activity achieved this through building the capacity of both public and private sectors to assist Ugandan government farmers, traders, producers, and agricultural…

USAID Investment Facilitation Activity in the DRC Fact Sheet

USAID’s Investment Facilitation Activity in the DRC (USAID Invest) is a five-year program that aims at fostering private investments into the DRC by operating as an investment facilitation platform, providing support to businesses and investors. The Activity seeks to mobilize $100 million in private capital to the DRC between March 2021 and February 2026. Reach…

Namibian Farmers Fight Effects of Climate Change with Conservation Agriculture

Farmers who work the rich soil of the Okavango River Basin in the Kavango region of Namibia depend on rainfall to water their crops. In 2018 and 2019, the rain didn’t fall, and the worst drought in 90 years devastated fields, killed thousands of livestock, and left a third of Namibians without adequate food. Some…

Final Report: South Africa Low Emissions Development Program

This final report summarizes the achievements and outcomes of the South Africa Low Emissions Development (SA-LED) Program. This project worked with municipalities to provide targeted technical assistance to develop LED projects, build capacity and create an enabling environment for LED at the sub-national level to produce sustainable results. Focused on helping South African municipalities move…

Vulnerability and Adaptation in the Mara River Basin

The Mara River Basin (MRB) is home to more than 1.28 million people in Kenya and Tanzania and supports a number of critically important wildlife areas. However, pressures such as population growth and land use change threaten water resources, and the threat to water resources in turn threatens development of key economic sectors such as…

Engaging the Private Sector in Green Infrastructure Development and Financing

Through case study analyses, this USAID report provides recommended steps that city officials and the donor community can take to engage private sector partners in green infrastructure (GI) development and financing in developing countries. Four case studies of successful GI that yield both climate resilience and mitigation benefits in urban settings are provided to showcase…

Kirk Ramer

Kirk Ramer has over 25 years of experience managing projects to promote agricultural and small-and medium-sized enterprise development in southeastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. He is currently the chief of party of the Rural Competitiveness and Resilience Activity (RCRA) in Moldova. Kirk has worked to promote trade and investment and improve business education,…

Marcos Moreno

Marcos Moreno is a managing director in Latin America and the Caribbean, leading a diverse portfolio of people-centered justice, youth-at-risk and violence prevention, and gender-based violence prevention projects in the Dominican Republic, Colombia, El Salvador, and Guatemala. He is a versatile agribusiness and youth development expert with over 35 years of experience, including 23 years…