Engineering Inc - July/August 2019 - 15

GARY LANDSMAN

Administrator Mark
Green (center) discusses
the location of ongoing
USAID projects with
ACEC President/CEO
Linda Bauer Darr (left)
and former ACEC Chair
Manish Kothari.

collaboration with U.S. engineering firms in our programs.
We are particularly committed to working with U.S. small
businesses as evidenced by our steadily increasing utilization
of small business, as well as by USAID's emphasis on broadening our partner base. We are confident that our approach will
help us serve even better both our beneficiaries and the U.S.
taxpayers who make it all possible. We strongly encourage U.S.
small engineering firms, and others interested in collaborating
with us, to track the USAID Business Forecast for upcoming partnership opportunities, including set-asides for small
businesses.
ACEC: With the passage of the BUILD Act paving the
way for a new U.S. International Development Finance
Corp., bringing the Overseas Private Investment Corp.
together with USAID's Development Credit Authority
Program, how do you see USAID's mission changing or
improving with these enhanced tools coming online?
Green: Through the new Development Finance Corp. (DFC),
USAID will have access to more financing tools and a deeper
bench of finance expertise than was available under the
Development Credit Authority (DCA) program. With a broader
toolkit and new authorities, we will be able to engage private
sector enterprises more easily and efficiently and be a more
flexible and nimble partner in co-designing projects that serve
both development and commercial objectives.
To make sure our missions take advantage of these tools and
expertise, we need to create very strong institutional linkages

between USAID and the DFC. Our DCA team has been
working very hard with our colleagues from the Overseas Private
Investment Corp. to develop these linkages and have them in
place before the DFC comes into being on Oct. 1, 2019.
ACEC: Infrastructure is foundational to the success of
USAID's humanitarian, social and economic missions
in the developing world-clean drinking water, road
networks to connect communities, sustainable
energy, as well as other essentials such as schools
and hospitals. Where do you see the greatest needs in
terms of how the built environment intersects with the
agency's key missions? And how can USAID enhance
and leverage its infrastructure spending through
increased engagement with U.S. engineering and
construction firms?
Green: Throughout USAID's history, our partnerships with
U.S. engineering firms have allowed us to plan, design and build
infrastructure critical to recovering from disasters and promoting
long-term development, while simultaneously building the
capacity of host country governments and the local engineering
and construction firms to maintain infrastructure services and
expand upon USAID's direct investments. USAID continues
to see a large need for investment in the health, education and
water sectors, where advances in sustainable local infrastructure
remain essential to promoting self-reliance.
As USAID works with partner governments, the donor
community and private investors to address the global
JULY / AUGUST 2019

ENGINEERING INC.

Engineering Inc - July/August 2019

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