Webinar: A guide to consulting with USAID

Senior international development leader Yvette Gonzalez joined Devex to talk about her experience working as an independent consultant with clients such as the United States Agency for International Development. Gonzalez, who served as a regional coordinator with the agency before establishing her own consulting business, Gonzalez Global Solutions, has now worked on numerous USAID-funded projects, including in Haiti, Burkina Faso, and Niger. In this webinar, Gonzalez shared tips for establishing and maintaining a brand as a consultant — including face-to-face interaction, publishing accomplishments to social media, and building an online presence. She also discussed how consultants can calculate their worth — and recognize when to say no to projects. One of the biggest challenges for independent consultants can be finding opportunities with USAID. Gonzalez is “constantly listening” to see what’s going on within the agency and is dedicated to introducing herself and seeking information. She advised regularly checking USAID's country pages, which typically have information on up-and-coming seminars or trainings, and the in-country partners they work with. Gonzalez also finds this information by “asking around” and visiting the offices of implementing partners — it’s one of the first things she does when arriving in a country for the first time. “I land, I go to the market, I look at prices, I get a gage of what’s happening,” she says. “Then I find my way to different contractors offices, I find where project sites are, I start to engage and introduce myself, and ask what’s happening.” It can be surprising how many conversations start this way, she added, but you do have to be proactive.