The USAID-funded Knowledge Sharing & Analysis (KSA) project supported African policymakers to advance trade-led economic growth through improved knowledge management. Through KSA, SEGURA Consulting synthesized, analyzed, and disseminated program and best practice information and improved data collection and knowledge sharing practices, systems, and tools. Originally designed as part of the U.S. Government’s five-year, $200 million African Global Competitive Initiative (AGCI), KSA later supported USAID’s African Competitiveness and Trade Expansion (ACTE) initiative, focused primarily on USAID’s Trade Hubs and regional trade integration.

Monitoring the performance of USAID/Africa

SEGURA evaluated USAID/Africa's knowledge sharing strategy, practices, and tools, including AGCI’s performance measurement system, in order to identify opportunities for improvement and make recommendations for change for the benefit of practitioners and other stakeholders. As part of this process, SEGURA held a series of consultations with regional stakeholders to take stock of their information needs. SEGURA then monitored the implementation and performance of AGCI by developing its Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) and preparing annual reports on the program. SEGURA assisted the USAID/Africa Bureau to update and maintain the AGCI website within the USAID web domain. SEGURA also responded to several on-demand requests to host trainings for USAID stakeholders in Ethiopia and Mozambique on private sector engagement, due diligence, and feasibility analysis. Designing, implementing, and refining the strategy was a long-term and interactive process for which the project provided on-going support and guidance.

Promoting collaboration and synergy between African development stakeholders

To encourage Collaboration, Learning, and Adaptation (CLA) among USAID, other donor projects, and the private sector, SEGURA hosted knowledge management workshops and trainings, maintained a database of contact information for trade stakeholders, and prepared an annual compendium of success stories and case studies. SEGURA also analyzed and synthesized USAID and other donor program activities and best practices in trade development, overcoming infrastructure constraints, enabling environment policy reform, and enterprise development. Under this component, SEGURA:

Developed an authoritative analysis of legal and regulatory constraints to private investment in the energy sector in Africa;
Conducted a series of studies to produce the USAID “Best Practices in African Enterprise Development” guide;
Analyzed the enabling environment for infrastructure development in Djibouti; and
Completed a strategic assessment of trade initiatives in Uganda.

SEGURA disseminated best practice information through knowledge sharing and analysis briefs (KSABs), summaries of applied best practices, conferences, trainings, and presentations.

SEGURA also supported USAID in the development, presentation and execution of the annual Africa Growth Opportunities Act (AGOA) Forum. The annual forum brings together Sub-Saharan African government officials with representatives of the international donor community, the African and U.S. private sector, and African civil society. KSA assisted USAID with the 2008, 2010, and 2012 AGOA Forums, held in Washington, D.C., the 2009 AGOA Forum held in Nairobi, Kenya, the 2011 AGOA Forum, held in Zambia, and the 2013 AGOA Forum, held in Ethiopia.

Client:
USAID/Africa

Years:
2007-2013

Location:
Sub-Saharan Africa

Technical Areas:
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning;
Competitiveness;
Trade & Investment