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SBAIC

Dear SBAIC members,

I hope that this newsletter finds each of our members doing well and preparing for the traditional end-of-the-Federal-fiscal-year bid frenzy. Taking advantage of the FY-2017 proposal season is of particular importance in light of the Administration proposed budget changes for FY-2018/2019.

Because of our concern for a downward sloping budget in international development, we have focused this newsletter on the incredible work our members are doing around the world. This newsletter is being shared with each member firm and our external constituents. We are proud to spotlight the innovative partnerships SBAIC members have formed as well as highlight key accomplishments of some of our member companies.

As you take a moment to review these articles, you will see a common thread running through all of them – they all emphasize the importance of small businesses and their roles as invaluable partners in international development. I would like to encourage everyone to consider participating in our ongoing advocacy for an increased international development budget. SBAIC cannot do this without your individual involvement and support. Please consider reaching out to one of the committees, and finding out information on how you can participate.

On a different topic, we have exciting developments ahead. We are looking forward to launching our newly designed website by the end of this month.

In addition, we anticipate enthusiastic SBAIC member participation in USAID 10th Annual Small Business Conference on June 28th. SBAIC will once again host our SBAIC Annual Networking Reception immediately following the USAID conference on June 28th at the City Club of Washington from 4:30 – 7PM. This well attended networking event will bring together members, non-members and USAID Headquarters and Field staff. We hope to see you there!

Lastly, a big “Thanks” to our Communications Committee Co-Chairs, Jasmine Gould (Strategic Consulting Partners), and Julia Wilson (Wilson Global Communications), for managing the publishing of this newsletter, and for organizing the upcoming reception.

Remember, this is YOUR quarterly newsletter. It is your readership, your timely input, and thoughtful discourse that will make the publication a valuable and interactive communications tool that helps to maintain SBAIC as an influential organization working on behalf of U.S. small businesses.

Carlos RiveraYours sincerely,

Carlos G. Rivera
SBAIC Chair

Bixal’s ESW Trade Document Management System ‘Opens the Window’ to Quick, Paperless Free Trade in Barbados

Bixal’s ESW Trade Document Management System ‘Opens the Window’ to Quick, Paperless Free Trade in Barbados

By: Carla Briceno, Bixal

International trade is essential to the economy of Barbados, whose imports totaled more than 45 percent of the country’s GDP in 2015. However, Barbados’ spot in the Global Competitiveness Index had fallen in recent years, due, in part, to inefficiencies in government processes...

China Education Program Plays Pivotal Role in International Development for American Students; Enhances Relations between China and the U.S.

China Education Program Plays Pivotal Role in International Development for American Students; Enhances Relations between China and the U.S.

By: Julia A. Wilson, Wilson Global Communications

When the International Monetary Fund and The World Bank announced in Dec. 2014, that China had surpassed the U.S. as the world’s leading economy, based on their respective citizens’ real purchasing power (Purchasing Power Parity), it was a real wake-up call for western economists and U.S. government leaders. By 2030, China is expected to emerge as the world’s No. 1 economy with a 7% annual economic growth rate compared to the U.S.’ 2% growth...

GeoPoll Harnesses Mobile Technology to Support Liberia’s Domestic Revenue Mobilization Efforts

GeoPoll Harnesses Mobile Technology to Support Liberia’s Domestic Revenue Mobilization Efforts

By: Njeri Wangari, GeoPoll

In March 2017, GeoPoll conducted a text messaging campaign to 37,000 should-be Liberian taxpayers in advance of the upcoming tax deadline. The campaign provided information, including the payment deadline and a phone number for the taxpayer support call center, in order to promote awareness, education, and compliance with tax payments. As a result of this campaign, the call center—which typically receives five to eight inquiries per month—reported 189 calls in March, with questions on how to file, make payments and avoid penalties...

Connexus’ Facilitates Thought Leadership to Promote Food Security

Connexus’ Facilitates Thought Leadership to Promote Food Security

By: Anita Campion, Connexus

Started in 2007, Connexus Corp. is a U.S.-based, woman-owned small business that provides a broad range of consulting and advisory services, primarily in the areas of finance and enterprise development. Connexus organizes an annual learning event entitled Cracking the Nut®. These CTN exercises bring together public and private-sector thought leaders in an effort to address the “tough nuts” or difficult challenges facing the international development community...

Initiatives Inc. Takes Global Initiative to End Tuberculosis by Expanding Public- & Private-Sector Efforts

Initiatives Inc. Takes Global Initiative to End Tuberculosis by Expanding Public- & Private-Sector Efforts

By: Rebecca Furth, Initiatives Inc.

Initiatives Inc. is working in support of USAID’s core tuberculosis objective to strengthen national tuberculosis strategies and programs in 23 priority countries.

To improve TB case detection, diagnosis and treatment in countries with high TB burdens, Initiatives assists national Ministries of Health in improving their planning and coordination for greater public- and private-sector engagement in TB control.

Making Cents International Leads Positive Youth Development Globally

Making Cents International Leads Positive Youth Development Globally

By: Dr. Christy Olenik, Making Cents International

The UN has designated 2015 the International Year of Soils, an effort to bring attention to the long overlooked role and value of soils in addressing many of the world's challenges, including providing for more productive and healthier food production, building resilience against erosion, nutrient loss, and drought, supporting the livelihoods of smallholder farmers with improved production and more efficient use of inputs, and even as a sink for excess carbon dioxide emissions contributing to climate change...

EnCompass Engenders Improved Development Outcomes

EnCompass Engenders Improved Development Outcomes

By: Jelena B. Simmons, EnCompass LLC

It is a well-known fact that women comprise half of the world’s population. But it is a lesser-known fact that they also make up 40 percent of the global work force. According to the UN Statistics Division’s 2015 report on The World’s Women, when both paid and unpaid work (e.g., household chores and caring for children) are taken into account, women work longer hours than men—an average of 30 minutes a day longer in developed countries and 50 minutes in developing countries...

Innovations in Global Health: How to strengthen health systems

Innovations in Global Health: How to strengthen health systems

By: Elvira Beracochea, Realizing Global Health

A health system is the vehicle countries have to deliver the healthcare services that people need. It is composed of various sub-systems: government, private sector, civil and faith-based organizations and academic institutions. They all deliver services and need to do it in a coordinated and efficient manner...

Design Studio Picture Impact Exemplifies Small Businesses’ Creativity, Agility & Ability to Affordably Deliver

Design Studio Picture Impact Exemplifies Small Businesses’ Creativity, Agility & Ability to Affordably Deliver

By: Sara Thompson, Picture Impact

In a multi-billion dollar global industry and in an environment full of multi-million dollar firms, small businesses play a crucial role. We may not have resources of large contractors, but what we lack in size, we make up for in our ability to think boldly and pivot quickly, helping our partners innovate and perform...

U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Aims to Eradicate Corruption Endemic in the Nation States of Sub-Saharan Africa

U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Aims to Eradicate Corruption Endemic in the Nation States of Sub-Saharan Africa

By: Herbert A. Igbanugo, Igbanugo Partners

Of all the continents, Africa is said to be the most fascinating and promising; but she also poses the greatest challenges. Africa is the 21st century’s land of opportunities. And, as the missing link in the global economy, Africa now stands at the cornerstone of economic development and opportunity. For newcomers to the scene, Africa is now “in play” and has long generated some of the highest returns on deployed capital. With 20 percent of the world’s total landmass, a population of 900 million (14 percent of the world’s total) and a galaxy of mineral resources, the continent has been appropriately dubbed a “sleeping beauty.”...

Vermont’s Role in Foreign Affairs

Vermont’s Role in Foreign Affairs

By: Steve Schmida, SSG Advisors

Many Vermonters may not know about the important role Vermont plays in U.S. foreign affairs. In a recent article in the Burlington Free Press, Steve Schmida, founder and managing director of SSG Advisors, a local global solutions firm, writes about Vermont's growing contribution to foreign affairs programs and the need for a strong foreign aid budget...

Famine Early Warning through Rapid Data Analysis: The FEWS NET Data Warehouse

Famine Early Warning through Rapid Data Analysis: The FEWS NET Data Warehouse

By: Carla Murphy, Kimetrica

The need for speedy, robust, and authoritative data sharing to manage and coordinate humanitarian response could not be more evident. This February, the United Nations made its first declaration of famine in six years for parts of South Sudan. More than 100,000 face starvation and a million are on the brink of famine. In three other countries—Yemen, Nigeria, and Somalia—it is estimated that another 20 million are also at risk...

OmniSystems, Inc. Plays Key Role in Drafting Belize National Cyber Security Framework and Action Plan

OmniSystems, Inc. Plays Key Role in Drafting Belize National Cyber Security Framework and Action Plan

By: Walter M. Batts, OmniSystems

Addressing what Belize Public Utilities Commission Chairman John Avery warned as an exponential increase in cyber attacks on electronic commerce, the private sector and government agencies, OmniSystems, Inc., a company specializing in information technology solutions and security, this April, helped draft Belize’s first National Cyber Security Framework and Action Plan...

PMCG Overcomes Systemic Challenges to Successfully Launch Improved Kabul Municipality Construction Permitting System

PMCG Overcomes Systemic Challenges to Successfully Launch Improved Kabul Municipality Construction Permitting System

By: Zaza Broladze, PMCG

Kabul, Afghanistan has successfully introduced a simpler and more efficient construction permitting system, thanks to an innovative re-engineered business process implemented by the Policy and Management Consulting Group, which was under contract to The World Bank/International Finance Corporation...

About SBAIC

SBAIC currently has 191 members, of which 60 percent are small disadvantaged businesses. Our members work in every development sector, including conflict zones and other high-profile, complex settings. Each has an average of almost 15 years of International business and government experience. We serve as prime contractors on 80 percent of the work we implement, maintaining Government compliant contract and financial management systems. Contracts range from $100,000 to $42 million. Small businesses implement projects as prime contracts equivalent in size and complexity to those held by larger entities with equally strong performance. Staffed by development entrepreneurs and former USAID staff and large business executives, small businesses combine seasoned oversight with the agility and innovation characteristic of smaller organizations. Small businesses access the worldwide consultant expertise available across the industry, using the stringent internal quality and cost controls necessary for excellence, timeliness, and cost-effective services. Small businesses formally and informally mentor emerging small businesses in the U.S. and local organizations overseas.

Visit our website to learn more about all the SBAIC Members: www.sbaic.org

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