From thinking and working politically to going viral with a shipment of watermelons, Chemonics’ staff have shared diverse opinions, insights, and technical approaches on our blog. Here are the 10 most popular blog posts in 2017: 10. Politics Matter: How Implementers Can Do Development Differently by Jennifer Swift-Morgan, director in Chemonics’ West and Central Africa and Haiti Division…
Effective public financial management (PFM) is a “cornerstone of good governance.” PFM, or the ability of governments to efficiently collect revenue and spend it in an accountable and transparent manner, is instrumental for nations seeking to expand their economic growth and increase available resources to pursue national objectives, including those relating to the United Nations’…
The USAID Kosovo Partnerships for Development (PFD) project recently won Chemonics’ Technology for Development (Tech4Dev) contest with a database and mobile app that lets citizens access all of Kosovo’s laws in one place. Deputy Chief of Party Kreshnik Kurtishi and Legal and Regulatory Specialist Liridon Shurdhani explain. How are you increasing transparency in Kosovo? A fundamental element of good…
Angélica Medina is the gender and vulnerable populations expert for the USAID Human Rights Activity (HRA) in Colombia. HRA responds to a history of human rights violations in Colombia by promoting a culture of human rights. Why is social inclusion important for the development of Colombia? Inequality in Colombia has largely overshadowed women’s progress to…
3 Questions with René Berger: Optimizing the Role of Community-Based Workers in HIV Service Delivery
René Berger was formerly a director in the Global Health Division of Chemonics. He has more than 17 years of experience working with USAID and implementing partners as an HIV/AIDS expert. Mr. Berger has been involved with the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) since its inception and brings a strong understanding of…
Building working models for evaluation and learning is important to assess the long-term impact and performance of a project. Models can range from conceptual frameworks to algorithms in electronic spreadsheets — or to more sophisticated computer-aided visual simulations. But how do we build a model from scratch when data is sparse to begin with? What methods can…
On December 10, 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a bold manifesto: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This document enshrined a series of principles that would be the birthright of every human on Earth and would change the way our global society thinks about human interaction. In the years since the…
With global shifts in how to effectively address environmental protection, citizen rights, and democratic values, civil society organizations (CSOs) are increasingly seen not only as advocates, but also as facilitators between the people and the government with the power to create meaningful change. CSOs have influenced inclusive and accountable development, transforming communities, landscapes, and institutions.…
The tourism industry plays a pivotal role in global economies. Today, tourism is the largest employer and generator of foreign exchange — this is especially vital for the economic growth of developing countries that strive to attract visitors from all around the world to explore their cultural and natural treasures. However, the importance of tourism…
Each year, an unlikely scene unfolds in Jordan. Hundreds of motorcyclists gather from across the globe to take part in the Jordan Rider Rally Weekend — an event organized by the Royal Motorcycle Club of Jordan and the Jordanian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Over the course of a weekend, hundreds of motorcyclists will depart…
More than 100,000 deaths per year in Africa are linked to counterfeit medicines, either because the medicines were substandard or simply contained no active ingredients at all. Using counterfeit medicines with an insufficient dosage of active ingredients can lead to drug resistance, particularly in the case of diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis. The problem…
With the signing of Colombia’s peace accord in 2016, new challenges have emerged regarding the country’s human rights agenda. The 2016 United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights annual report highlighted an increasing concern regarding the killings and attacks on Colombian human rights defenders and other social leaders. According to the Colombian NGO Somos Defensores, in…