Involved in Global Development
The challenge for most firms and individuals wanting to participate in development activities is within comprehending the intricacies of the process to secure involvement. Activities through agencies for example the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, are generally let through a public, competitive tendering process. Contributing to this concern is the fact that in almost all cases, the procedure is different for each and every agency.
Myth - that the development marketplace is different.
Well of course it is, much like all industries - different clients, different products, different channels to advertise, different cultures, different environments, different risks etc.
What makes it the same is the must make sure client needs are met, if not exceeded, and that services and products are as desired/needed, not imposed.
So how can you become involved? Is it luck? It is skill? Is it people, products?
All and more I am sure.
A key step often required may be the need to demonstrate experience, understanding, value, sustainability of strategies etc to those assessing a tender.
Reality Check - Successful tenders must be compliant to the requirements of the request, must be price competitive, and want to find the balance between the technical requirements of the response and the selling nature of the process.
One of the most important facets of development initiatives is their ability to produce sustainable outcomes into the communities within which the activities take place. Consequently, learning from past activities assists to shape the appearance of future initiatives. For firms or individuals seeking participation, understanding how such learning could modify development approaches is a critical step in determining the type and level of involvement to target.
Fact - gaining knowledge from past activities is constantly on the shape future interventions.
The Development Market Today
The following points are some key observations about the directions [approaches] being taken in the availability of development assistance. These directions have the potential to impact on any strategy organisations and individuals might adopt to enter, maintain, or improve their involvement:
• Funds are being diverted from government aid agencies to other government departments for sector-specific programs
• There is a continuing trend to devolve more selection to the offshore post of the donor country, out of the ‘central’ headquarters
• An rise in donor co-ordination and collaboration where, for example, the USA [through USAID] and Australia [through AusAID] might align program approaches to prevent duplication and other connected impediments, into a sector- wide approach
• A trend seeing more assistance being aligned to foreign policy where, for example, security and regional stability could influence aid disbursement
• Bilateral donors are opening their markets, making it possible for individuals and organisations to compete for once closed opportunities
• There is an increasing trend for a proceed to larger activities, for example sector-wide approaches, instead of specific project interventions
• Scale and global reach is likely to be an essential criteria in winning and managing major programs
• Relationships and networks in country with donor representatives, recipient governments, local organisations and development professionals are becoming increasingly important.
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