Thoughts to inform USAID’s Effective Partnering and Procurement Reform
The afternoon session of MTN’s Managing Adaptively track really epitomized why USAID holds the Moving the Needle event. “Adaptive Partnering: A Conversation with USAID” was a significant opportunity for more than 40 participants to share their experience and help shape USAID’s procurement practices by providing candid feedback and input into the reforms under consideration through the Agency’s Transformation effort on Effective Partnering and Procurement Reform (EPPR). EPPR is one of the ways that USAID is trying to create an agile and flexible Agency that can adapt to changes on the ground to improve the effectiveness and impact of its activities, including in fragile states and non-permissive environments. EPPR is also concerned about diversifying the Agency’s partner base and empowering its partners.
EPPR representatives Randy Tift, Senior Advisor, Office of Acquisition and Assistance (OAA), Gayle Girod Chief Innovation Counsel, Office of the General Counsel, and Stephanie Fugate, Branch Chief and Supervisory Contracting Officer (OAA) briefly kicked off the session by explaining the EPPR effort, but the bulk of the time was dedicated to deeply engaging table conversations on four key topics of interest to EPPR:
- Adaptive Strategies and Culture
- Adaptive Activity Design Tools
- Adaptive Activity Management Tools
- Data/Evidence-Driven Adaptation
Here are some highlights from those discussions (NB: Not verbatim quotes):
Adaptive Strategies and Culture
Adaptive Activity Design Tools
Adaptive Activity Management Tools
Data/Evidence-Driven Adaptation
To read about the morning session of MTN’s Managing Adaptively track, “From Learning to Action: Adaptive Management in Support of Self-Reliance,” check out my Learning Lab blog post.