The CGD Podcast Racing to Preserve Life-saving USAID Programs with the Project Resource Optimization Team
Jun 5, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Rob Rosenbaum and Caitlin Tulloch, both from the Project Resource Optimization (PRO) team, share their insights into preserving vital USAID programs amid funding cuts. They delve into innovative strategies for prioritizing health and humanitarian initiatives, emphasizing the importance of cost-effectiveness in project selection. Their experiences in international health work bring humor to the conversation, revealing the unpredictability of the field. They also touch on the need for political reforms to enhance U.S. foreign policy impact.
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Research Key to Future Efficiency
- PRO values investing in rigorous research, especially ongoing studies halted due to funding cuts.
- Completing these reduces fixed costs and advances innovation critical to improving cost-efficiency in foreign aid.
PRO Brokered Key Aid Connections
- PRO helped link child malnutrition treatment projects in Mali to donors focused on child health.
- They also matched wealthy individuals with large health programs in Burkina Faso preserving services amid crisis.
Mozambique Immunization Success Story
- PRO helped downscale a Mozambique immunization project to focus on delivering 700,000 vaccines efficiently.
- Donors pooled resources to continue technical assistance vital to sustaining government capacity beyond immediate impact.