Featured Projects
USAID Learning, Evaluation, and Analysis (LEAP III) Project
Cui Prodest LLC was a subcontractor to the USAID Learning, Evaluation and Analysis Project (LEAP III) and it holds one of the two key personnel positions. LEAP III Research Director Brenda Lee Pearson supervises the design and implementation of nearly 90 analyses and evaluations to ensure these activities operate at an optimal level.
Performance Evaluations. Research Director Brenda Lee Pearson was Team Leader and Subject Matter Expert for 8 Performance Evaluations: Georgia Economic Security Program; Georgia Agriculture; Ukraine Competitive Economy Program; Youth Economic Support Georgia; Support for Economic Growth in Asia (US-SEGA); Power Africa DQA, East Africa Regional Gender Assessment, and Global Women’s Economic Empowerment. Assessed 45 global activities designed to accelerate Women’s Economic Empowerment across every region in the world through women prospering in the workforce, succeeding as entrepreneurs and enabled in the economy.
Research and Program Planning. Technical leadership, research, and field support for 32 missions in 40 countries in the areas of economic growth and trade, infrastructure and engineering, education, environment, global climate change, land tenure, urbanization, water, gender equality and economic empowerment in Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Jordan, Kenya, Timor Leste, Vietnam and Zambia.
Training (16% of activities). Support learning for USAID Missions through facilitation of visioning exercises, trainings and workshops and external communications, profiles and success stories. Design and share analytical and evaluation tools to enhance staff capacity and piloted operational solutions to working effectively during COVID-19.
Cost Benefit Analysis, Inclusive Growth Diagnostic. Overall quality assurance and subject matter expertise in gender, youth, marginalized and rural populations. Analysis of how any inequalities may impede achieving results and identify the largest and most important barriers to inclusive, broad-based economic growth and development. Mainstream gender lens in CBA work products. Examine the enabling environment, access to finance, workforce development, tariff and trade policy, agriculture, land tenure issues, private sector engagement, market systems development and land tenure issues in Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Mali, Sudan, Tanzania and Sahel Region.
USAID/India: Collaborating, Learning and Adapting
Working with the Panagora Group, we provided technical assistance to USAID/India in the preparation of its Country Development and Cooperation Strategy and advancement of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy. Drafted project appraisal documents (PADs) for USAID/India that integrated the synthesis of a meta-analysis of barriers and opportunities to accelerate gains for women and underserved groups in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Led these five country teams and looked at sectoral challenges in health, education, natural resource management and digital access. Provided timely technical support to USAID and U.S. State Department in strategic planning, project design, implementation, and monitoring, evaluation and learning.
Millennium Challenge Corporation - East Africa and Malawi
Awarded 4-year technical services contract to perform political economy analysis and social research on gender, and pro-poor development strategies; designed project activities that address gender and social inequalities and reduce poverty; provide quantitative and qualitative research design and implementation and data analysis; and identify and quantify the differential impacts across gender and social lines and barriers for women, youth, and other disadvantaged groups to access opportunities and benefits from economic growth. Conducted deep dives into property rights and agriculture to examine land tenure security and rights for women and the collection and analysis of gender and social data on agricultural value chains, examining market conditions, laws and policies, and potential to contribute to increased income opportunities and resilience for women and youth. Co-led the 2020 market mapping and competitive landscape analysis of 40 agricultural firms and cooperatives in Malawi to identify best investments and profitability of commercial markets.
Gates Foundation – Combatting Malnutrition & Enhancing Market Linkages Sierra Leone
Cui Prodest’s Brenda Pearson, in collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), drafted a winning grant proposal to the Gates Foundation for a pilot project in Sierra Leone. The Local Procurement: A Double Benefit of Combating Maternal and Child Malnutrition and Enhancing Market Linkages for Smallholder Farmers to understand the role markets and value chains play in improving nutrition and dietary diversification. Grant funding allowed in-depth analysis of meeting the nutrition needs of the world’s most vulnerable stakeholders—children and pregnant women—through evidenced-based analysis and innovative programming. Products of the research included: establishment of new linkages between local agriculture development and food-based nutrition interventions, new toolkits, and publication of Acting at Scale Series, dedicated to homestead food production. Developed a framework for nutrition and agricultural experts to translate field lessons into a knowledge base for sharing and facilitating the development of similar public and private agribusiness partnerships at scale.
​
​
World Bank – Cultural Heritage & Tourism Advisor to City of Mostar, Bosnia Herzegovina
Designed and directed the communications strategy for the City of Mostar, Bosnia Herzegovina in support of the reconstruction of its 16th century historic bridge and city center that were destroyed by war. Built trust through dialogues and community activities among formerly warring ethnic groups to lay the groundwork for reconciliation and preservation of common cultural heritage. Facilitated multi-language key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and town hall meetings to assess public sentiments. Conducted comprehensive political economy analysis to identify potential risks and how to mitigate them.
Developed public relations strategy and budget for international conferences, assembled local technical team to create museum displays and produced press kits on CD ROMs with photos. Drafted policy guidelines for external relations and media contacts and pitched articles and stories to local and international journalists and filmmakers. Conceptualized and established international visitors' center and necessary public education materials by hiring local and international experts to curate content. Creative and content advisor to eight international film crews, including National Geographic and 60 Minutes. Reviewed the state of past tourism in Mostar before the war; analyzed donor designated programs and how to use the restoration of the Starimost (Old Bridge) as a vehicle for generating tourism. Made local, federal and national policy recommendations for future cultural heritage and tourism development in Herzegovina.
Balfour Beatty International Infrastructure Group – Southeast Europe Transportation Investment
Developed and oversaw communications strategy and public outreach campaign to deliver social value to cross-border transportation infrastructure investments in Southeast Europe. Conducted political economy analysis to assess on-the-ground realities of community impact in proposed construction zones. Worked closely with corporate liaisons to develop a detailed regional strategy that examined political support, local community engagement, supply chain dynamics, and reputational risks. Conducted social impact assessments to anticipate misinformation or misaligned interests that could cause construction delays and cost overruns. Produced high-level systems mapping of strategic partnerships: businesses, government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and other key stakeholders. Designed multimedia cause campaign and incremental activities to achieve a social license for investments. Outreach activities introduced youth to the industries and supported them in finding employment. Explained and showed how local economy value is generated through supply chains and employment opportunities.