Unlock Aid

Coalition driving a campaign to unlock public resources to solve the world's hardest problems

[Unlock Aid @unlockaid]

🌐 NEW: Unlock Aid unveils 'Aid Reimagined: The New American Foreign Partnership Standard'

The future of U.S. foreign aid is at a crossroads.

We're calling on @StateDept @SenMarcoRubio to support smart, results-driven U.S. global engagement:

💼 Promote jobs & economic growth
🏥 Protect public health
💡 Invest in innovation & scale what works
🌍 Drive mutually-beneficial partnerships
🔄 Pay for measurable results
🛠️ Create clear paths to self-reliance

Read our open letter and release: https://t.co/Pv3myZqJAv

CC: #AidWeWant #AidReimagined

[Unlock Aid @unlockaid]

Link to post here: https://t.co/b8VuoZOrhM

[Unlock Aid @unlockaid]

🎁 Unlock Aid Wrapped 2024: Our Top Reads

Key pieces that shifted the narrative on U.S. foreign policy & development, including:

👉 Process Over Progress: Our review of the Biden-Harris Admin's record
👉 10 Ideas for the Incoming Trump Admin
👉 Glassdoor for Primes: Rating the biggest players in foreign aid
👉 Follow the Money: Who gets what in U.S. foreign aid & to achieve what results?

[Unlock Aid @unlockaid]

Read here for more: https://t.co/dF1k1xvjQ4

[Unlock Aid @unlockaid]

🔁 Big changes are coming to U.S. foreign aid. Here's our roadmap for reform.

With a new administration on the horizon, many in the global development community are concerned about potential cuts to the top-line foreign aid budget.

But the moment also presents us with a window of opportunity to enact transformational and long-overdue changes to improve the quality, sustainability, and the impact of U.S. global development spending.

Today, we're sharing 10 concrete ideas for the incoming Trump Administration to:

✅ Shift from aid to sustainable economic growth
✅ Break up big aid industry monopolies
✅ Focus on results, not process
✅ Replicate Operation Warp Speed's success
✅ Scale what works
✅ Bring innovations from around the world to the U.S.
✅ Cut visa wait times from years to hours

Whether you work in government, philanthropy, the private sector, or at a nonprofit, these changes will affect how the U.S. invests $60B+ annually to solve global challenges.

Link to full analysis in comments 👇

[Elissa Miolene @elissamio]

The best — and worst — primes. Subs rank the industry's biggest players, according to an analysis from @unlockaid
https://t.co/gNhZ5d9ZwE via @Devex

[Tjada D'Oyen McKenna @Tjada]

"Glassdoor for Primes," @unlockaid's new report, has valuable & actionable insights for INGOs committed to equitable local partnerships. I’m proud of @mercycorps’ strong ranking for transparency – and we and our sector still have significant work to do.

[CatholicRelief @CatholicRelief]

We're thrilled that CRS has been recognized as a top organization in @unlockaid's new report. This recognition speaks to our commitment to authentic partnership, grounded in respect, trust, transparency and the Catholic Social Teaching principle of subsidiarity.

[Unlock Aid @unlockaid]

https://t.co/Fbul4Ma8tV

[Unlock Aid @unlockaid]

📣 This week, we’re releasing Glassdoor for Primes, a first-of-its kind industry report providing insights into the business practices of 26 of the largest U.S. government contractors in global development, humanitarian response, and U.S. foreign assistance.

❓Why this report?

U.S. foreign assistance spending is highly concentrated. In a typical year, just 10 aid industry contractors take home more than 50% of every contract dollar spent by America's premier aid agency @USAID. Just 25 organizations capture more than 60% of all agency spending, including grants and contracts. Typically, the only way for more innovative firms or local organizations to work with an agency like @USAID is as a subrecipient to one of their largest contracting partners.

This report captures survey data regarding how the biggest prime contractors in global development and humanitarian response work with local groups and social innovators, based on survey data from the subrecipients themselves.

🔎 What we learned

Business practices vary widely across large U.S. government prime contractors. While a few organizations received high marks, particularly a few international NGOs, most aid industry contractors did not.

On average, prime contractors disbursed to subrecipients just 59% of of what they promised, and nearly 80% of respondents reported funding delays, some lasting more than a year. Subrecipients also expressed concerns about how large prime contractors used their intellectual property.

🏫 No matter your role in the ecosystem, the report includes recommendations for you.

We’d love to hear what you think. A link to download the report is in the comments. What stood out to you?

[Unlock Aid @unlockaid]

Link to the announcement, along with our take on why this could be a very big deal: https://t.co/9wfjnX04CY

[Unlock Aid @unlockaid]

📣 Exciting news for the future of U.S. global development 🌎

Last week, U.S. Senators @ChrisCoons & @PeteRicketts announced their plans to introduce bipartisan legislation to “transform” the future of global development, prioritizing investments in sustainable economic growth, innovation, and local partnerships.

This legislation could be a very big deal, representing a sea change in the way the United States invests globally, and modernizing how the U.S. approaches issues like energy access, pandemic preparedness, and digital inclusion.

Take a look at their announcement in the comment below, along with our analysis. Stay tuned for updates. And let us know what you think. 👇

[Oby Ezekwesili @obyezeks]

Was on a panel during #UNGA that the folks @unlockaid co-hosted with The ONE Campaign @ONECampaign which is now headed by our own brilliant @ndidiNwuneli , to discuss “the future of U.S. global development and innovating for tomorrow”.

My key message has stayed consistent- “global development cooperation must embrace current realities and engage with Africa as a Business Case, not a Humanitarian one”.

I wish we had the right political leadership and context across the continent to maximize the opportunities presented by current global realities.

How so well effective governance in Africa would scale and accelerate the creativity and innovations of our younger generation even in technology and talent industries alone!

It would be easier to transform into a hugely productive and competitive regional economic growth pole if our governance matched our opportunities. ✍🏾✍🏾✍🏾

[Unlock Aid @unlockaid]

We were thrilled to kick off #UNGA with an event co-hosted with @ONECampaign for an exciting discussion on the future of U.S. global development and the critical role of innovation to solve global challenges, create lasting job opportunities, and promote sustainable economic growth.

Key Takeaways:
Social innovators, entrepreneurs, and front-line organizations worldwide are ready to drive progress toward achieving the #SDGs by 2030.

What they need now is investment—in infrastructure, talent, and governance—so they can scale their impact.

Global donors must embrace a new mindset that leads with trust and is ready to adapt to working with a new generation of innovators.

Thank you to our outstanding panelists for their valuable insights:
- @ndidiNwuneli President & CEO, @ONECampaign
- @wawiranjiru CEO, @Food4Education (named one of @TIME Magazine's 100 most influential companies of 2024)
- @BDataScientist CVP & Chief Data Scientist, @Microsoft AI for Good Lab
- @obyezeks President, Human Capital Africa and former Nigerian Minister of Education and Mineral Resources
- @Prof_Yadav_SCM @INSEAD professor and global health & innovation expert

In addition to surfacing big new ideas, this event's purpose was to bring together a diverse coalition who can work together to make change possible.

Thank you to the dozens of social entrepreneurs, civil society & issue activists, diaspora community & business leaders, philanthropists, and policy makers who joined us for this discussion.

Stay tuned—we will share more soon on how we’re transforming these insights into real-world change.

[Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli @ndidiNwuneli]

Great second day at #UNGA moderating the panel on the Future of Global U.S. Development co-hosted by @ONECampaign and @unlockaid. Thank you to the wonderful panelists @obyezeks, @BDataScientist, @wawiranjiru, and @Prof_Yadav_SCM. Let’s continue fighting for Africa.

[Unlock Aid @unlockaid]

Link to latest our Substack here 👇

https://t.co/AAjXWEEgMR

[Unlock Aid @unlockaid]

🚨 U.S. Presidential Debate Week: What’s at Stake for U.S. Global Development and Social Innovators? 🚨

As the U.S. presidential election approaches, we’re entering a crucial period where decisions made today will shape our global development policies for years to come. With Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Trump facing off in their first debate this week, here’s what we at Unlock Aid will be watching closely this election:

🌎 How might a Harris agenda differ from Biden's on global development? Will there be more emphasis on innovation and investment in regions like Africa and Central America?

📮 Will global development issues matter more this election? From diaspora communities to businesses relying on global supply chains, the stakes are high for international engagement.

💡 Innovation and emerging technologies: Will we hear more about how AI, quantum computing, and other fields can be harnessed for global good?

🚦 Cracking down on industry consolidation: Will there be a focus on promoting competition to drive down costs and encourage innovation?

🏗 Beyond Great Power Competition: Can U.S. candidates offer a foreign policy vision that goes beyond playing up global rivalries?

With just eight weeks until Election Day, the conversation we shape now will help determine the priorities for the next administration. We’re looking forward to engaging with all of you on these critical issues.

📢 What do you think should be prioritized in U.S. global development policies?

Link to our most recent Substack in the comments.

[Unlock Aid @unlockaid]

📣 Big news for social innovators! 🌏  The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee just passed a bill with exciting updates and funding for the future of global development. Highlights include:

🚀 New funding to scale proven solutions to help address the 'missing middle' of global development spending

💡 A 25% budget boost for USAID's Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) office

✂ Simplified procurement processes making it easier to apply for funding and manage grants

💵 Cost-effectiveness benchmarks to help design future development programs

🌐 Increased support for local organizations and innovation-enabling infrastructure, like $65M for a Digital Transformation with Africa Fund

This work is only made possible through the support and energy of our community. Thank you for everything you do!

https://t.co/usVp8ngRYf

[Unlock Aid @unlockaid]

Last week, we published the Global Innovation and Prosperity Act, our biggest proposal yet to revolutionize how the U.S. invests $60 billion every year for global challenges.

Take a look, let us know what you think, and tell us how to make it better.

https://t.co/bNQqbE5GQK

[Unlock Aid @unlockaid]

Unlock Aid is heartbroken by the devastating IDF attacks on the @WCKitchen team in Gaza. We stand in solidarity with Chef Andres, the @WCKitchen family, and the broader aid community that works to deliver life-saving services in the face of extraordinary danger. There is no excuse for attacks on aid workers.

[World Central Kitchen @WCKitchen]

“These are the heroes of WCK. These 7 beautiful souls were killed by the IDF in a strike as they were returning from a full day's mission. Their smiles, laughter, and voices are forever embedded in our memories.” - Erin Gore, CEO. Read more: https://t.co/4f38RQ1l4I