RTI Partnering with USAID to Increase Economic Development, Trade, and Resilience in East Africa

Research Triangle Park, N.C.—RTI International (RTI), a non-profit research and global development institute, has been named a prime contractor on the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Regional Integration and Stronger Economies (RISE) indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract (IDIQ). Supporting the goals of the recently announced Prosper Africa initiative, RISE will help develop stronger economies in East Africa through improved market systems, increased cross-border trade, more competitive industries, and a more market-oriented policy environment.

“The new USAID RISE effort will help improve regional integration and coordination to catalyze economic development, foster more self-reliant countries, and improve resilience across East Africa,” said Amy Davies, Vice President for Food Security & Agriculture at RTI. “With our team’s decades of experience helping economies become more market-oriented and resilient, we’re ready to help USAID and Prosper Africa achieve their goals.”

While East Africa has some of the fastest-growing economies on the continent, the region still experiences significant barriers to economic transformation and poverty reduction. The contract’s interventions are focused on addressing these challenges through:

1. Cross border trade and market systems
2. Access and scaling up of technologies
3. Regional resilience
4. Regional policy environment 
5. Finance and investment

RTI’s partners in the IDIQ include Absolute Options-LixCap; Agri Experience, Ltd.; I-DEV International; J.E. Austin Associates, Inc.; Kilimo Trust; and Tufts University’s Feinstein International Center. Together, this consortium has years of regional and global experience in trade, finance, investment, research, and market systems facilitation. 

RTI’s expertise and strategic approaches in market systems strengthening have built better connections between thousands of market actors, unlocked millions of dollars in private sector investment in agriculture and other industries, informed policy, and supported accountability at all levels of government.

To learn more about RTI's global food security and agriculture work, follow this link.