Skip Waskin

Chief Executive Officer, International Solutions LLC

[Skip Waskin @SkipWaskin]

My op-ed in today's @dailytimespak on #USAID's less than fully successful experience trying to spend Kerry-Lugar-Berman resources in #Pakistan.

https://t.co/95M2tcDtys

[Skip Waskin @SkipWaskin]

Great opportunity to work with @DevTechSys .

[DevTech @DevTechSys]

DevTech is hiring for two open positions on our MEL team in Arlington, VA (hybrid):

📌 Senior Data Analyst — for someone who can sit at the intersection of data engineering, economics, and applied AI. You will manage and enhance our Salesforce-based systems, build dashboards and analytical tools, and generate insights that shape how we and our partners make decisions. Python, SQL, and experience with U.S. Government programs are key.

📌 Program Assistant — for someone who thrives on keeping complex, fast-moving projects running smoothly. You will support program coordination, operations, and business development across DevTech's portfolio. Strong organizational skills and attention to detail are a must.

Both roles are based in Arlington, VA on a hybrid schedule and require U.S. citizenship. Active security clearance is a plus.

If you are driven by evidence-based work and want to contribute to programs that reach over 100 countries, we would love to hear from you. Find both listings at the link: https://t.co/xBfksnUImi

[Skip Waskin @SkipWaskin]

@MichaelKugelman Agreed. I met him once at Wilson. He could not have been more courteous.

[Skip Waskin @SkipWaskin]

@DevTechSys Way to go, @DevTechSys! Keep on rockin’ in 2026.

[Skip Waskin @SkipWaskin]

@DevTechSys Fantastic work, guys! Glad to see @DevTechSys continuing to excel.

[Skip Waskin @SkipWaskin]

My oral history is now online on the website of the Academy for Diplomatic Studies & Training. Check it out at https://t.co/Eorkm06hpn.  Big thanks to the Academy for including me among so many distinguished U.S. diplomats and to @CarolPeaslCEDPA
for being a great interviewer.

[Skip Waskin @SkipWaskin]

#RudyTheDevDog from @DevTechSys learns about #LocallyLedDevelopment!

[DevTech @DevTechSys]

Rudy the Development Dog here! This week I learned about something called “locally led development." 🐶🌍

Locally led development is all about empowering local actors – from individuals and communities to organizations and governments – to set their own agendas, develop solutions, and bring the capacity and resources to make those solutions a reality. It’s incredible to see how local leadership can foster sustainable results in development and humanitarian assistance. 🏘️💡
With locally led development, decision-making power is shifted into the hands of those who know their communities best. By collaborating more intensely with local partners, we can create lasting, impactful change. This approach not only supports local ownership but also ensures that our efforts are truly aligned with the needs and priorities of the communities we serve. 🌟🤝
My colleagues at DevTech have worked hard to create several learning products with @USAID 's @USAIDDRG Bureau. These include one pagers, blogs, webinars, and more! You can see them here: https://t.co/mnyTEcuFEL
Here’s to local voices leading the way in development!  

To learn more about USAID programming related to locally led development, check out their website:  
https://t.co/P8qym6TH99

#RudyTheDevDog #LocallyLedDevelopment #USAID

[Skip Waskin @SkipWaskin]

Truly thrilled and honored to debut as a podcast host on behalf of @DevTechSys with a guest as prestigious as the great #JeffFahey and his longtime friend and collaborator Stephen Martineau of Friends Forever International. It was a lively discussion and I hope you'll enjoy it.

[DevTech @DevTechSys]

🎙️ New episode alert! 🎙️

Tune into DevTalks, DevTech's podcast, where we discuss international development issues with experts in the field!

In this episode, Senior Executive Director Leon Waskin chats with actor and humanitarian advocate Jeff Fahey and Jeff's longtime friend and colleague Forever International's (@ff_intl) Executive Director Stephen Martineau. The conversation covers their inspiring work in international development, the nongovernmental sector, and humanitarian assistance 🌍.

🎧 Listen now! https://t.co/R04J9yqpXL

#DevTalks #InternationalDevelopment #HumanitarianAid #USAID #GlobalImpact

[Skip Waskin @SkipWaskin]

@RepMillsPress This was extremely well said, Mr. Congressman, and I hope every American agrees with every word of it.

[Skip Waskin @SkipWaskin]

A thought-provoking new look at how to deal with the #debtcrisis in the developing world and confront the challenge posed by the People’s Republic of China.

[DevTech @DevTechSys]

🌐 Can U.S.-backed concessional loans help tackle #debtdistress in developing nations?

A new report from the @CSIS, titled "Reintroducing Concessional Loans into the Development Toolbox," by DevTech CEO Rafael Romeu, Senior VP for CSIS Project on Prosperity and Development @danrunde, and CSIS Research Assistant Austin Hardman, suggests that while foreign assistance are vital for immediate humanitarian needs, concessional loans could fund revenue-generating projects that drive long-term economic growth and institutional development.

This strategy offers a viable alternative to Chinese loans, reducing dependency on the People's Republic of China (#PRC) and better aligning U.S. foreign aid with its geopolitical objectives.

Read the full report: https://t.co/XNqpKZijSg

#foreignaid #debtrelief #developmentpolicy

[DevTech @DevTechSys]

DevTech's Senior Executive Director for Operations, @SkipWaskin, recently sat down with @pfeifle on the set of @Medi1TV 's “With Morocco from Washington.” They discussed the @USAID Morocco-funded Morocco Inclusive Teacher Training Activity (MITTA), implemented by DevTech, which aims to improve the accessibility and quality of deaf education throughout #Morocco. They also touched on some of our other education-focused projects in Africa and beyond.
Skip shared his thoughts on the importance of development:

"Why is development important? That is, if you will, the soft side of American power, and that's the mechanism through which we as a country can project and demonstrate our values. What do we stand for as a country?

We stand for freedom.
We stand for liberty.
We stand for the rule of law.
We stand for fairness.
We stand for justice.

We can demonstrate that we stand for opportunity for the disadvantaged, for people - not just deaf children of Morocco- but people throughout the world who are hurting and need assistance. That's what the United States is about."

[Skip Waskin @SkipWaskin]

@RepMillsPress He should have picked you!

[Skip Waskin @SkipWaskin]

@CoryMillsFL Somehow we all have to try to stop this awful cycle of hatred and recrimination.

[Skip Waskin @SkipWaskin]

The latest episode of @DevTechSys’s
podcast series, DevTalks, is out! This one features our founder Dr. Jorge Sanguinetty and our CEO Dr. @RafaelRomeu in a stimulating conversation about #Cuba. Check it out!

[DevTech @DevTechSys]

In honor of DevTech's upcoming 40th Anniversary celebration, DevTech founder Dr. Jorge Sanguinetty, Ph.D. and DevTech CEO Rafael Romeu sat down to record a special episode of DevTalks.

Dr. Sanguinetty, an economist with development expertise in Latin America, worked on Cuba's Central Planning Board in the sugar industry and later helped pioneer several economic organizations, including DevTech, which he founded in 1964.

In this episode, Jorge discusses the current economic situation in Cuba, makes predictions for its evolution, provides recommendations to the international development community, and discusses some of his past experiences in Cuba.

To listen, visit: https://t.co/Dee6HasKrh

[Skip Waskin @SkipWaskin]

Very happy to have this chance to highlight the role of @USAID and @DevTechSys’s partners in helping strengthen #deafeducation in #Morocco. We are particularly grateful for the support of Her Royal Highness the Princess Lalla Asmaa.

[DevTech @DevTechSys]

The #Morocco Inclusive Teacher Training Activity (MITTA), implemented by DevTech since 2021, is enhancing the accessibility and quality of deaf education across #Morocco. Collaboration with the Ministry of National Education, Pre-school, and Sports; the University Mohammed V; local NGOs like the Princess Lalla Asmae Foundation; and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) community is integral to MITTA's success.

To learn more about this collaborative effort, watch this video of DevTech's Senior Executive Director for Operations, Leon Waskin being interviewed by Mark Pfeifle on Medi1TV's “With Morocco from Washington."

[Skip Waskin @SkipWaskin]

Join us!

[DevTech @DevTechSys]

Join us tomorrow for an exciting event: "The Role of AI in the Field of Economic Development" hosted by @CSIS.

Hear from DevTech CEO Rafael Romeu and other industry leaders as they share insights on how #AI is poised to revolutionize economic development. The expert panel will discuss how economic development agencies can harness AI's potential while implementing safeguards. Don't miss out on this important conversation. Register now at the link below.
https://t.co/UYPA7U0qmh

[Skip Waskin @SkipWaskin]

@DevTechSys is proud to partner with the Ministry of Education, Mohammed V University, & the Fondation Lalla Asmaa on the @USAID -funded #Morocco Inclusive Education and Teacher Training Activity. We are very grateful for the support of HRH the Princess Lalla Asmaa herself.

[DevTech @DevTechSys]

The #Morocco Inclusive Teacher Training Activity (MITTA), implemented by DevTech since 2021, is enhancing the accessibility and quality of deaf education across #Morocco. Collaboration with the Ministry of National Education, Pre-school, and Sports; the University Mohammed V; local NGOs like the Princess Lalla Asmae Foundation; and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) community is integral to MITTA's success.

To learn more about this collaborative effort, watch this video of DevTech's Senior Executive Director for Operations, Leon Waskin being interviewed by Mark Pfeifle on Medi1TV's “With Morocco from Washington."

[Skip Waskin @SkipWaskin]

@DevTechSys is proud to partner with the Ministry of National Education, Mohammed V University, & the Lalla Asmaa Foundation on the @USAID #Morocco Inclusive Teacher Training Activity. Particularly grateful for the support of Her Royal Highness the Princess Lalla Asmaa herself.

[DevTech @DevTechSys]

The #Morocco Inclusive Teacher Training Activity (MITTA), implemented by DevTech since 2021, is enhancing the accessibility and quality of deaf education across #Morocco. Collaboration with the Ministry of National Education, Pre-school, and Sports; the University Mohammed V; local NGOs like the Princess Lalla Asmae Foundation; and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) community is integral to MITTA's success.

To learn more about this collaborative effort, watch this video of DevTech's Senior Executive Director for Operations, Leon Waskin being interviewed by Mark Pfeifle on Medi1TV's “With Morocco from Washington."

[Skip Waskin @SkipWaskin]

Honored to have had this opportunity to highlight the great work of the @DevTechSys team on the @USAID-funded #Morocco Inclusive Education Teacher Training Activity. Thanks to @pfeifle and @Medi1TV for inviting me.

[DevTech @DevTechSys]

DevTech has been implementing the @USAID -funded #Morocco Inclusive Teacher Training Activity (MITTA) since 2021. The project has been working with the Ministry of National Education, Pre-school, and Sports; the University Mohammed V; local NGOs, such as the Lalla Asmae Foundation, and members of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community to improve the accessibility and quality of deaf education throughout #Morocco.

DevTech's Senior Executive Director for Operations Skip Waskin recently had a chance to sit with Mark Pfeifle on the set of @Medi1TV's “With Morocco from Washington” to discuss the ins and outs of the MITTA project. Watch the video below to learn more.

[Skip Waskin @SkipWaskin]

A fascinating and provocative discussion of a vital emerging issue with @DevTechSystems CEO Rafael Romeu. More to come soon in a policy brief from @CSIS.

[DevTech @DevTechSys]

Last week, DevTech CEO Rafael Romeu participated in a @CSIS_PPD roundtable discussion focused on the issue of responding to the #debt crisis in emerging markets. The proposal that the U.S. Government should provide loans rather than grants or in complement to grants to support developing and emerging markets in their development efforts was a central (though not universally agreed upon) theme of the discussion.

If the U.S. Government issued concessional debt for at least some aid programs rather than all foreign assistance being grant-funded, it would likely be an important creditor to low-income countries. As a creditor—a position the U.S. government does not currently hold, unlike the Chinese government, due to its role as primarily a grant provider rather than a loan provider—the U.S. government could wield significant influence within creditor committees, steering decisions toward sustainable outcomes.

Importantly, as asserted by Rafael, in the event of economic or financial distress, a country facing difficulties repaying its debts can leverage “bail-in” procedures in its creditor restructuring negotiations, including by leveraging tools such as collective action clauses with U.S. Government support and hopefully improving the efficiency and efficacy of the Common Framework, as well as the representation of long-term development needs in debt restructuring discussions.

Interested in learning more about this issue? Stay tuned for a @CSIS policy brief on this topic that will be informed by the recent discussion.

#DebtCrisis #EmergingMarkets #ForeignAssistance #PRCDebt @imfnews @usaid @statedept @ustreasury @dfcgov @worldbank