CIDC Now

March 14, 2023

March seems to be coming in like a lion, but there is little indication that it will change into a lamb any time soon as PSC and CIDC will be fully engaged with both the White House and federal agencies on both the FY24 proposed budget and its potential impact on our members. PSC’s President & CEO called on Congress and the Biden Administration to work together expeditiously and avoid another series of Continuing Resolutions.

 

Speaking of continuing, this week we will continue our conversations started in January with USAID’s Assistant Administrator for Europe & Eurasia, Erin McKee at our monthly CIDC meeting here at PSC. Immediately following that, we will hold another Procurement Task Force meeting with USAID’s Industry Liaison Matthew Johnson joining us virtually. Finally, CIDC’s General Counsel Working Group will meet virtually March 22nd from 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. ET.

 

Below you will see a recap of the March 9 Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Localization to which PSC submitted written testimony. Don’t forget to register for our April 25 CIDC on the Hill event.

 

Our “From the Field” stories this month highlight the vital healthcare work Crown Agents is providing in South Sudan. Social Impact details its Monitoring and Evaluation workshops in Vietnam as part of the USAID Learn activity. Please contact me to help us get the word out about the great work CIDC members are doing to make the world a better place.

 

Paul Foldi

Vice President, International Development Affairs

Professional Services Council

Next Up 

When:

Thursday, March 16; from 12 – 1 p.m.

Speaker:

USAID    
Assistant Administrator for Europe & Eurasia
Erin McKee

Where:

Hybrid – Please log in and register via PSC’s Events Page

[NOTE: We have capped in-person attendance at 45]

Thanks to our sponsor:

From the Field

A Boma Health Worker is delivering basic healthcare packages in his community.

The Boma Health Initiative

By Holly Morton, Health Consultant, Crown Agents.

 

In South Sudan, poor access to health services coupled with severe shortages in health workers have resulted in some of the world’s worst health indicators. Neonatal and under-five mortality rates are at one in ten. Having experienced nearly continuous political and inter-communal conflict since 1955, there have been massive displacements of citizens to remote areas where basic health services are scarcely available. 56% of the population lives more than 5km from a health facility, and the country’s road network is limited- during wet season 60% of the country is flooded.

Learning Dojo Track Group Collaboration - Hanoi, 2022

USAID Learns Activity in Vietnam

By Nora Chamma, Program Manager – Program Management Unit 

 

Through the USAID Learns activity, Social Impact is supporting USAID/Vietnam to streamline monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) capacity across Mission teams, increase hands-on capacity building for local organizations and entities, implement innovative approaches, support effective collaboration among stakeholders, and develop a highly utilized M&E system.

PSC Matters

PSC Ukraine Compendium Highlights Members’ Work

February 24 marked the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. More than a dozen PSC members contributed to this widely-disseminated compendium which detailed how PSC member companies are involved in supporting the Ukrainian government, civil society, agriculture and the economy.  Thanks again to those members who contributed their information and resources to make this possible. Click on the image above to read their stories.

 

CIDC Procurement Task Force Meets – March 16; 1 p.m. ET

USAID’s Industry Liaison Matthew Johnson will join us to discuss the agency’s just-released Acquisition & Assistance Strategy and how they intend to meet with CIDC regarding member ideas and comments on the Implementation Plan. Please log in to your PSC account and register for this hybrid event on our Events page.

 

CIDC General Counsels Working Group Meeting – March 22; 1 - 2 p.m. ET

Please join us for the 2023 inaugural meeting of our GC Working Group where we will discuss both legal and regulatory issues impacting our members. Please log in to our you PSC account and register for this virtual meeting on our Events page.

Congress Matters

PSC Submits Testimony to SFRC Hearing on Localization

On March 9, the USAID Subcommittee of Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing: USAID Localization: Challenges, Opportunities, and Next Steps to Further Development Initiatives on the Local Level. Chaired by Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) with Ranking Member Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), others in attendance included Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE), and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ). USAID’s Assistant Administrator for Policy Planning and Learning spoke on behalf of USAID. At the request of the Ranking Member, PSC’s President & CEO David Berteau submitted written testimony which reinforced support for greater local engagement, recognized the agency’s focus on bureaucratic burden busting and reinforced the need for additional contracting officers to assist in program development, award, and management.  

CIDC on the Hill Returns – April 25

Following a COVID-hiatus, on Tuesday, April 25, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. ET. we will re-start our CIDC on the Hill events. This is an exceptional opportunity to interact directly with both members of Congress and their staffs to highlight the importance and impact of U.S. foreign assistance. Please visit the PSC Events page and register for a table today.

Member News

Dr. Sam Hanna, most recently Senior Advisor at USAID/PEPFAR, joined Abt Associates as the new Chief Solutions Officer.

Cadmus Group announced it had acquired international consultancy Nathan Associates, Inc. on February 16, forming the new International Development Division.

DAI’s Center for Digital Acceleration published its latest research on the digital economy in emerging markets.

Deloitte published a report on how the use natural gas in Africa can reduce its carbon footprint.