Measuring U.S. Investment in Kenya

Description

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The United States government directly invests almost $1 billion annually in Kenya. Millions if not billions more dollars flow to Kenya through U.S. private investment, corporate social responsibility projects, academic programs, and U.S. non-governmental organizations operating in Kenya. Despite the many U.S. entities with activities in Kenya and the benefits they bring, the United States significantly lags countries such as China in positive perception among Kenyans according to recent polling. The multitude of activities and programs ongoing through U.S.-based organizations and companies leads to a dilution of the understanding that the United States is behind the different efforts Embassy Kenya is seeking an organization that has the ability to gather data and issue an analytical report that can tell a compelling story on the cumulative effects of U.S. engagement across many different sectors in Kenya. The economic and social benefits Kenya has experienced as a result of American engagement in the country may not be clear to the Kenyan public. The information in the report will help communicate to the Kenyan public why the United States is a reliable partner for Kenyan government, business, education, health, and more. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi announces an open competition for organizations to submit proposals that would measure the quantitative impact on Kenya of investments – financial, human capital, research, training, philanthropic, health, and others – that the U.S. government, private sector, academic institutions, tourism, NGOs, and others are having in Kenya. Methodology must include not only immediately quantifiable benefits such as jobs created, tourism dollars spent, or patients treated, but also second and third order effects to include value-chain improvements, economic growth, and improved professional capacity. This project will develop affirmative data, including difficult to compile metrics and case studies, to allow the United States and Embassy Nairobi to better represent the positive aspects of the U.S.-Kenya relationship. Embassy Nairobi is already working with American businesses and universities to promote the positive qualitative aspects of U.S. investment (corporate social responsibility, human resources development, anti-corruption, tech transfer, etc.). The recipient should conduct independent research in this area and this information should be included in the report. This project acknowledges that positive messaging on the lasting benefits of engagement with the United States is crucial to effectively countering misunderstanding and disinformation about U.S. motives and building long term, multi-generational support for the U.S.-Kenya partnership. The implementer may use surveys, focus groups, data calls, previously published research, government reports, or other methods to gather the information. Key to the proposal will be the applicant’s ability to provide a comprehensive view of the multiple benefits accruing to Kenya across all sectors from its relationship with United States. The Embassy will provide contact information and other data as available, but should not be viewed as the primary source for the project. Priority Region: All of Kenya Program Objectives: The project implementers will use interviews, research, reports, and other methodology to capture the scope and value of activities conducted by U.S. government, private sector, academic, non-governmental, and other institutions in Kenya. The objectives will include: Identify the full range of direct or indirect investment supported by United States agencies,institutions, organizations, or companies in Kenya. Collect data that will support the development of fact-based narratives and analysis to promote the absolute and relative benefits to Kenya of partnering with the United States across multiple sectors. Determine the extent that the Kenyan public associates the United States with specific projects. Issue a report on findings with a public relations plan to include a roll-out event and author media interviews. Report should also be housed on the project implementers’ website. Specific types of funding or benefits may include: Direct Assistance: Identify the full range of direct grant assistance provided by United States agencies, institutions, charitable organizations, and companies (corporate social responsibility) in Kenya; Indirect Assistance: Identify and quantify the nominal value of the U.S. share of assistance received from the United Nations, World Bank, IMF, etc.; Loans: Identify and quantify the nominal value of both direct USG loans to Kenya (OPIC, EXIM, etc.), as well as the value of the U.S. share of International Development Bank loans (e.g., World Bank, IMF, AFDB); Trade: Identify and quantify the impact of US trade in both good and services, including both the nominal value of trade and the value of related job creation; Investment: Identify the full range of direct and indirect investment supported by United States agencies, institutions, organizations, and companies in Kenya; Tourism: Identify and quantify the impact of US tourism in Kenya (both nominal value and job creation); Remittances: Quantify the nominal value of remittances, as well as how those marginal, additional dollars impact Kenyan families; Training: Identify and quantify the impact of USG training and technical assistance, as well as private corporate workforce development, on both individuals and institutions (i.e., the impact of improved public services and institutions); Education: Describe and quantify the educational, economic, and cultural impact of university partnerships and Kenyans studying in U.S. universities, etc.; Health: Identify and quantify the economic value and economic opportunities of USG health assistance, both on patient care and improvements in health care systems (e.g., reduced demands on Kenyan health care system, increased worker productivity, reduced absenteeism, increased longevity, etc.); Quality of Life: Describe and quantify (if possible) the positive impact of USG assistance, U.S. companies, technologies, and standards on an improved quality of life in Kenya (e.g., improved health care, Uber transport facilitation, franchise restaurants, improved occupational health and safety regulations); Defense: Describe and quantify the economic impact of U.S. defense assistance (i.e., the impact of training, support, and partnership to minimizing destabilizing attacks undermining tourism and the broader economy);

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