News & Resources

CDS Announces Appointment of Deirdre White as President and CEO

CDC Development Solutions is pleased to announce the appointment of Deirdre White to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer.  Deirdre, who had been President and COO, becomes one of the youngest and one of the few women to lead a major development organization.   She takes on the CEO responsibilities previously handled by Michael Levett, who will continue as Vice Chair of the Board and serve as Senior Director of the organization.  To read the press release about Deirdre's appointment, please click here. 

CDS Launches New Partnership With Novartis

CDS is launching an international corporate volunteer program with Novartis International AG, a Fortune 500 healthcare products company.  Novartis employees will participate in the new initiative--the Entrepreneurial Leadership Program--for which they will work with NGOs and government agencies in the healthcare field to improve service provision and care of patients living with some of the world's most deadly diseases.  The first teams will travel to Tanzania and the Philippines in September, 2010.  For more information, please contact Kate Ahern at kahern@cdc.org.

CDS to Headline Two Sessions at the Global Local Content Summit in London

Building on our strong Local Content Development practice, CDS has become the go-to organization to deliver best practices to companies in the extractive industries on how to increase the amount of goods and services they procure in emerging markets.  CDS President and CEO, Deirdre White, will headline the session at the September Global Local Content Summit in London entitled "Linking Local Content Policy with Small-Scale Enterprise."  CDS will also host a half-day workshop at the event: "Project Design for Local Content through Small Scale Enterprise Development--Key Factors for Success."  

CDS staff are also speaking at a number of other oil and gas-focused events this year, including Gulf of Guinea Oil and Gas Week in London and Africa Energy Week in South Africa.  For more information on CDS' work in local content development, please contact Bob Webster.

CDS Expands Partnership with Global Health Organization PATH

CDS continues to expand the reach and impact of its MBA programs, signing an agreement with the global health organization PATH to provide business advisors to work on its water projects in Vietnam, Cambodia, and a number of countries in East Africa.  PATH and CDS will collaborate on the Safe Water Project to make appropriate household water treatment and storage products affordable for middle and low-income families.  For more information on CDS' MBA programs, please contact Kareem Mansour.

CDS Awarded ATA 2010 Outstanding Achievement Award

At the African Travel Association's 35th Congress in Banjul, The Gambia, CDS received the 2010 Award for Outstanding Achievement in Development of Responsible Tourism Within the Continent.  The award recognized the great work undertaken by CDS' TEMPO program in Nigeria.  CDS Senior Advisor Alvin Rosenbaum also hosted a special session at the ATA conference: The State of Tourism in Africa.  The session focused on the successful TEMPO program that CDS implements in Cross River State, Nigeria and introduces CDS' suite of technology services for emerging tourism destinations.  For more information on CDS' tourism work, please contact Alvin Rosenbaum.

CDS Launches 20th Anniversary Celebration

In 1990, the first President Bush envisioned a cadre of volunteer men and women who would dedicate their professional knowledge and expertise to advance the cause of democracy and economic reform in the countries of the former Soviet Union. In its short 20 year life, CDC Development Solutions has expanded that mission to 80 countries on five continents, becoming the leading innovator of market-driven solutions powering economic growth in emerging markets.

To celebrate this milestone, CDS will spearhead a series of special events and initiatives that will both honor its past success and, more importantly, lay the groundwork for a future of continued growth for the company and its partners worldwide. Among the projects will be roundtable discussions on citizen volunteerism, local content development, and tourism; leadership participation at industry events; and the launch of Development Solutions, a monthly e-letter featuring news and information about CDS programs and partners and editorial contributions from industry experts in key practice areas. 

CDS MBA Programs Featured in Bloomberg Businessweek

Bloomberg Businessweek featured MBAs Without Borders and the MBA Enterprise Corps in an April 26 article, "Changing the World, One MBA at a Time." For more information on CDS' MBA programs, please visit our MBAs Without Borders page or contact Kareem Mansour at kmansour@cdc.org.

MBA Enterprise Corps in the News

Two MBA Enterprise Corps long-term business advisors were featured in the Top MBA Guide and the International Business Times. Advisor Anneliese Mueller works on CDS' Supplier Training Initative in Angola, and Jane Nsunwara works on CDS' World Bank-funded tourism development program in Nigeria. Both provide critical business expertise to clients in the private and public sectors. For more information about the MBA Enterprise Corps, please click here.

CDS and IBM Release Case Study on International Corporate Volunteerism Best Practices

CDC Development Solutions and IBM have written a case study based on our work implementing IBM’s Corporate Service Corps employee volunteerism initiative since 2008. The case study addresses the value created by ICV programs, key best practices, and challenges to implementation and expansion. To read the case study, click here. For more information, contact Kate Ahern at kahern@cdc.org.

CDS Offers Support to Haiti

Through our Stability and Economic Recovery Practice, CDC Development Solutions offers significant resources to Haiti as it begins to recover and rebuild. CDS offers volunteers and staff to support rebuilding of the country’s industry, government, and institutions through the expertise of business professionals. CDS also offers support building strong new agribusiness linkages in Haiti through our FARMS regional market linkages program. For more information, please contact Kate Ahern by phone at 202-530-7663 or by email at kahern@cdc.org.  

The Wall Street Journal Profiles MBAEC and MBAs Without Borders

On November 26, The Wall Street Journal profiled CDC Development Solutions and the great work that our MBA volunteers do in Asia. The article, "Charity Begins at Work", discusses the increasing interest in volunteerism among mid-career professionals and business school graduates, and quotes current MWB volunteer Tim Elliott, who says from Cambodia, "I explicitly left my job because I have decided that I need more in my professional life than a nice title and a big paycheck." To explore opportunities with CDS, please visit the Get Involved section of our website.

CDC Development Solutions congratulates C.D. Glin on his appointment as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for the Peace Corps

While C.D. will certainly be missed at CDS, we are honored that the Obama Administration has recognized the knowledge and experience that he will bring to volunteerism and international development. The board and staff of CDS look forward to C.D.'s future contributions in this important inter-agency coordination role. During his 30-month leave of absence, we will be following his achievements and counting down the days until we welcome him back.

CDS Speaks at Two Africa-Focused Conferences

Caetano Capitao, CDS Deputy Director in Angola, spoke at the annual Gulf of Guinea Oil and Gas conference in London the week of November 16, 2009. Capitao spoke about the great work of CDS and our local NGO—the Centro de Apoio Empresarial in promoting local content through partnerships with the key multinational oil companies in the country (Sonangol, BP, Chevron, Exxon, and Total). In cooperation with the oil majors in Angola, CDS has facilitated $70 million worth of new contracts for local firms in the country. That same week, CDS Senior Tourism Advisor Alvin Rosenbaum spoke at the US-Nigeria Investment Development Summit in Atlanta. Rosenbaum presented CDS’ World Bank-funded Tourism Employment and Opportunity program (TEMPO) in Cross River State, which has created new opportunities for local firms to participate in the tourism supply chain.

JA FARMS Program Featured in Two Key USAID Reports

USAID has featured the CDS Farmers Access to Regional Markets (FARMS) program in two key reports in October: the 2009 Biodiversity Annual Report and the Latin America and Caribbean Focus on Women Newsletter. The FARMS program supports biodiversity and natural resources management by providing low-cost, hurricane-resistant greenhouse technology that allows rural farmers to consistently grow high-value crops instead of utilizing traditional ‘slash and burn’ land clearing practices in protected areas. FARMS is also a model for providing new opportunities for income generation to rural women through the provision of new technology, training, and market linkages services.

To access the USAID 2009 Biodiversity Annual Report, please click here. To access the USAID LAC Focus on Women Newsletter, please click here.

CDS Expands Partnership with Chemonics in Nigeria and Albania

CDS is expanding its partnership with Chemonics on implementation of projects in Nigeria and Albania. In Nigeria, CDS will send MBA Business Advisors through MBAEC to work on the USAID-funded project, Maximizing Agricultural Revenue and Key Enterprises in Target Sites Activity (MARKETS). CDS consultants will work to implement the Global Food Security Response program, and will take leadership and supporting roles to develop the cassava, cowpea, and rice subsectors.

In Albania, CDS Volunteer Advisors will work on the USAID-funded Competitive Enterprise Development Project, which works to increase sales, competitiveness, and jobs in the tourism, textiles/garments, footwear, recycling, and ICT sectors. CDS will send VAs to work specifically as garment pricing experts and to consult in the hotel sector.

CDS Acquires MBAs Without Borders

CDS has acquired MBAs Without Borders, an international organization that empowers local entrepreneurs in developing countries by matching them with top MBA leaders around the world. MBAs Without Borders will allow us to offer a broader range of volunteer opportunities to applicants and to our clients. CDS is now able to offer cutting-edge expertise of recently graduated MBAs from universities all over the world, and we are able to offer volunteer assignments that range from 2 weeks to 15 months. To inquire about MBAs Without Borders or to discuss volunteer opportunities, please contact us at info@mbaswithoutborders.org.

Citizens Development Corps is now CDC Development Solutions!

As we approach our twentieth anniversary of Delivering a World of Experience, CDC Development Solutions has taken stock of our clients, our programs, and our achievements and has made a number of important strategic decisions to take us into our third decade and beyond.  We have changed our name and our look in order to better represent the growth we are undergoing in terms of size, geographic reach, and client base; the increased depth and breadth of our services and programs; and the new realities in economic development. With the launch of the new company identity, we have maintained Citizens Development Corps, MBA Enterprise Corps, Citizens Democracy Corps, and Tourism Development Corps as operating divisions, continuing to provide high quality services to our clients who know us by those names.  Please feel free to explore our new website, and if you have questions or comments, contact Kate Ahern at kahern@cdc.org. 

CDC Development Solutions Expands IBM Corporate Service Corps to 7 Countries

CDC Development Solutions has expanded our partnership as IBM’s prime implementing partner on its global Corporate Service Corps initiative. The Corporate Service Corps is an 18-month old initiative under IBM’s Global Citizenship Portfolio, which gives IBM staff access to global business and leadership opportunities as well as training and guidance to enter into new positions that support global economic growth. For the Corporate Service Corps, IBM has teamed with CDS to place teams of its employees with NGOs, government agencies, and small and medium size enterprises in emerging markets for one month special projects. 2009 Corporate Service Corps countries included Brazil, Ghana, India, Nigeria, Romania, South Africa, and Tanzania, with further expansion planned in 2010.  For more information on the Corporate Service Corps, contact Kate Ahern at kahern@cdc.org.

Washington Post Highlights the Work of CDC Development Solutions and MBAEC

On February 6th, the Washington Post profiled the work of CDC Development Solutions and the MBA Enterprise Corps (MBAEC) worldwide and highlighted the unique opportunities for recent MBA graduates to volunteer overseas and have critical impact during the financial crisis. The article noted that, "our own economic recovery depends in part on the financial success of emerging nations." To learn more about the MBA Enterprise Corps and its work around the world, please contact Kate Ahern at kahern@cdc.org.

CDC Development Solutions Builds on Partnership with the Grassroots Business Fund

CDC Development Solutions and the MBA Enterprise Corps expanded our partnership with the Grassroots Business Fund (GBF) by fielding our first business advisor to India in July of 2009.  We will continue to field MBAEC Business Advisors in Tanzania, Kenya, and India.  GBF—a spinoff of the International Finance Corporation—works to strengthen and expand grassroots enterprises that provide economic access and sustainable services in the most impoverished regions of Africa, Asia and Latin America. GBF provides “patient capital” financing as well as mentoring, strategic assistance, business advice and networking. Its aim is to grow its clients into scalable, sustainable social enterprises. For more information on CDC Development Solutions’ work with GBF, please contact Kate Ahern at kahern@cdc.org.

CDC Development Solutions Extends Partnership with Equatorial Guinea LNG

CDC Development Solutions has extended our partnership with Equatorial Guinea Liquid Natural Gas (EG LNG) to develop the capacity of local firms and build local content in the LNG industry in Equatorial Guinea. CDC Development Solutions provides technical assistance and training on business plan development, bidding and procurement processes, international marketing and sales techniques, introduction of internationally-accepted accounting standards and methods, and increasing adoption of grades and standards for quality control. For more information on our program in Equatorial Guinea, please contact Amanda MacArthur at amacarthur@cdc.org.

The Wall Street Journal Profiles the IBM Corporate Service Corps

The Wall Street Journal has written an article about the Corporate Service Corps and CDC Development Solutions, entitled “IBM Creates Volunteer Teams to Cultivate Emerging Markets.” For more information on the Corporate Service Corps, please contact Kate Ahern at kahern@cdc.org.

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Communications Office

CDC Development Solutions’ communications team can put you in touch with staff in the United States and around the world to provide technical background and information or insights into development challenges. Or, we can help you find the facts or story you need. Please contact our home office for assistance.

CDC Development Solutions
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Washington, DC 20005
Phone 1-202-872-0933
Fax 1-202-872-0923
communications@cdc.org

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