Bilateral Relationships

Our programs must not only maintain a regional focus, but also cultivate a close relationship with initiatives at the country (“bilateral”) level, where activities are ultimately implemented.  While pursuing our own objectives, USAID ATP and E-ATP have developed an effective approach to creating synergies between our regional programs and bilateral missions and programs, based on five elements:

• Involving bilateral programs in the regional programs’ work plans;
• Inviting bilateral programs to participate in and contribute to regional workshops that benefit stakeholders from their countries;
• Sponsoring stakeholders from other countries to participle in and contribute a regional perspective to workshops organized by bilateral programs. For example, USAID E-ATP sponsored producer/trader groups from various countries in the region to participate in a workshop and field demonstration on an innovative rice production technology introduced by USAID IICEM in Mali.
• Systematically sharing with bilateral programs our scopes of work planned in their countries, at times changing our trips’ schedules to align with theirs,  to solicit their support and active collaboration; and
• Briefing bilateral missions on the regional programs’ field visits to their countries.

By following this approach, yet still focusing on our xpected results, USAID ATP and E-ATP have added value to bilateral missions and programs in all our value chains.