Ep 7: What's next for USAID under the Biden Administration: A conversation with former Senior USAID Staff

Recorded: May 17, 2022

Join our conversation with Randy Tift, former USAID Chief A&A Policy Officer, and Chuck Pope, former USAID Senior Regional Advisor for the Middle East and A&A Strategy Lead on the COVID-19 Task Force, on what's next for USAID.

We will hear their thoughts on recent USAID trends and what to expect in the coming months and years from the Agency. Topics will include Ukraine, COVID funding, New Partnerships Initiative, localization, and much more.

Panelist Bios:

Randy Tift

Prior to rejoining USAID in October 2017, J. Randall (Randy) Tift served on the US Congressional staff and in field-based operations in global development, and as a policy manager in international affairs focused on relief and development, human rights, and national security.

Randy was the Chief Acquisition and Assistance Policy Officer for USAID (through January 2021) and served as the co-Senior Leader Champion for Effective Partnering and Procurement Reform (EPPR) for USAID's Transformation. EPPR is an on-going effort, launched in February 2018, to reform program design, partnering approaches and delivery mechanisms for USAID. Through EPPR and the New Partnerships Initiative, USAID has enabled effective locally-led development, adaptive and collaborative programs, and diversification of the USAID partner base.

From 2006-2017, Randy was Senior Adviser and Senior Director for Policy at World Vision in Washington, DC. In this role, Randy managed WV policy engagement in crisis response, operational risk, program effectiveness in fragile states, civil society strengthening, human rights, counter-terrorism, and other issues affecting WV brand, mission, and message. He coordinated US donor support for field programs promoting local advocacy and policy change as a critical driver of development outcomes in over 40 countries.

From 1995-2005, Randy managed international development programs in the Balkans. As Chief of Party in Serbia, Randy managed the $50 million USAID Community Revitalization through Democratic Action (CRDA) program, supporting post-conflict civic participation, income generation, and reconstruction assistance to Serbia. He earlier served as USAID Senior Adviser for Democracy and Governance in Romania, managing a portfolio of a dozen US and local implementing partners building new coalitions for reform, promoting programs to remove barriers to free enterprise and economic growth, and strengthening Romanian democratic institutions. Prior to this, Randy served as coordinator of a US Congressional assistance program in the Romanian Parliament.


Chuck Pope

Charles S. "Chuck" Pope is excited to be Precision Talent Solutions' inaugural Chief International Development Officer (CIDO).

He recently retired from USAID as a commissioned foreign service officer after a more than 20 year distinguished career with postings to Russia, Afghanistan, Tanzania and India leading overseas acquisition and assistance efforts. Prior to retiring, he held a number of senior leadership positions at the Agency: Senior Regional Advisor for the Middle East, Chief of Operations in the Global Health Bureau and Deputy Assistant Administrator in the same bureau leading policy, programs, planning, innovation and systems.
He started his career overseas in Russia as a Peace Corps volunteer attached to Moscow City Administration (Zelenograd Prefecture) working on NGO development. Afterwards, he went to work for IREX in Central Asia on the State Department's Internet Access and Training Program. IREX would later promote Chuck to Regional Director of the Caucasus overseeing all programs in the region.

Peace Corps subsequently hired him as Administrative Officer to restart the program in Uzbekistan, which had been closed following 9/11. The program would grow to become one of the largest Peace Corps posts, with Chuck also serving a stint as Country Director.

After his tour, the Peace Corps put Chuck in charge of training new Administrative Officers for overseas assignments. During this time, he also served the Agency as the Financial and Administrative Officer of the Hurricane Katrina Relief efforts, the historic deployment of the Peace Corps domestically.

Prior to public service, Chuck grew up on his family's farm in Kansas and was an accomplished athlete, winning collegiate national championships as both a player and a coach, and garnering all-American accolades at the junior college level before going on to start at Baylor University as center on the football team. He currently resides on a horse farm outside of DC that also functions as a therapeutic riding center for Wounded Warriors and individuals with special needs.

ABOUT THE HOST:

The podcast is hosted by Mike Shanley, Founder and CEO of Konektid International and AidKonekt Data, the leading USAID partner support firms that help clients to grow their USAID funding portfolios. Mike has nearly two decades of experience in working with USAID projects and funding opportunities. His USAID funding expertise has been recognized by the largest aid and development associations, partners, and conferences, including by USAID, Devex, British Expertise International, AidEx, and by the Society for International Development-US where he also serves as Board Member.

Websites:

Konektid International: www.konektid.com

AidKonekt Data: https://www.aidkonekt.com/usaid-biz-dev

Connect with Mike Shanley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/konektid-usaid-specialists/