In its recently published brochure, "Partnering with the US Government," the Global Partnership Initiative of the US Department of State highlights SSG's Easy Seva project as a model partnership for USAID.

SSG delivers presentation on Corporate Social Responsibility at the "Managing Risk and Investment Opportunities in Oil/Gas in Russia" Conference sponsored by the US Russia Business Council in Houston.

SSG co-hosted a roundtable, "Apps4D: The Use of Mobile Applications in Development" at the USAID Business Growth Initiative in Washington.

Together with USAID, SSG delivered a half-day training on the new Alliance Assessment Framework for USAID staff and contractors.

An SSG team conducted a 3-day review of CSR strategy implementation for a gold mining client in Mexico.

SSG will field a small team to support USAID alliance-building strategy in Latin America.

Steve Schmida took part in a panel for the Business Growth Initiative at USAID.  The presentation identified best practices and lessons learned from USAID public-private alliances across both regions.

SSG is enabling Gammon Gold to implement a Sustainability Strategy across its operations in Mexico using the ICMM Sustainable Development Framework.  The 3-year strategy will enable Gammon to achieve its goal of becoming the most profitable and sustainable miner in Mexico.  

SSG has prepared an Extractives Industry Alliance Guidebook for the USAID Global Development Alliance.  The Guidebook provides USAID staff, extractive industry managers and implementing partners with a practical how-to guide on when and how to
build multi-sectoral partnerships involving mining/oil/gas firms and donor agencies. 

In March, Steve Schmida will give a talk on new business models for delivering online higher education in developing countries at the Technology Salon, co-sponsored by the UN Foundation and Vodafon.

SSG, in support of the USAID Global Development Alliance, conducted alliance assessments for USAID Missions in Uganda and Bangladesh as pilots of the new Alliance Assessment Framework.  Harvard Business School provided 4 MBA Associates as part of the field assessment teams.

SSG presents on CSR at Oil/Gas Latin America Outlook in Houston.  SSG's
Steve Schmida gave a presentation on using Broadband to fulfill Corporate
Social Responsibility requirements to senior executives in oil/gas and
satellite telecommunications industry.

Emilie Kornheiser and Debbi McGlauflin delivered a one-day training for the Office of Outreach and Partnership at the Inter-American Development Bank.

As part of its role as a good corporate citizen, SSG made donations to the Vermont Food Bank, the Vermont Mozart Festival and Vermont Public Radio. SSG seeks to support local organizations and institutions that are dedicated to improving the lives of all Vermonters.

USAID is preparing a new guidebook on public-private alliances with extractive industry companies. SSG is researching USAID-supported alliances with companies in the mining/oil/gas sectors to identify best practices and effective alliance models. The guidebook, which will be published in the fall of 2009, will provide USAID alliance-builders with a roadmap for building effective and transparent alliances with extractive industry companies around the world.

PDAC is the mining industry’s leading forum for exploration and junior mining companies. SSG is exploring a partnership with PDAC to promote sustainable business practices among junior miners and exploration companies.

The Global Partnership Initiative of the State Department hosted a two-day training entitled, “Partnership Fundamentals.” The training, developed by SSG, was attended by representatives from the Department of State, USAID, Department of Defense, CDC, Department of Agriculture and others. The training included panels with corporate partners, including Microsoft, Man Power and M&M Mars

The first white paper introduces the Collaboratorium concept, a new platform for developing and managing alliances. The second paper explores the role of alliances in development assistance in the BRIC countries. Click here to download the papers.

SSG has prepared an internal assessment of its Easy Seva Last Mile Initiative project in Sri Lanka. Implemented from 2006-2008, this public-private alliance, supported by USAID, QUALCOMM, Dialog Telekom and others, introduced wireless broadband Internet access to more than 50 rural communities across Sri Lanka using an innovative micro-franchising business model.

As part of the Global Development Alliances Support Services IQC, SSG delivered training and technical assistance to USAID Missions in Nicosia, Manila and Skopje in the first half of 2009.

SSG, in conjunction with Development Transformations Inc, delivered a seminar on Community Engagement for the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The seminar was part of Dev Trans’ Advanced Interagency skills training – the last step for civil affairs teams prior to deployment to US embassies in West Africa.

The project, implemented by SSG and SRA Inc, will seek to introduce a large-scale micro-franchising business model for delivering community-wide wireless broadband in rural villages in Vietnam. SSG is responsible for developing the micro-franchise business model and forging alliances with leading Vietnamese and international companies.

Gammon Gold has published the company’s first-ever Sustainability Report. Prepared by SSG, the report meets Global Reporting Initiative standards for disclosure regarding environmental, social and economic impacts. The report makes Gammon Gold a sustainability leader in the junior-to mid-tier mining sector. Click here to download the report.

The Global Partnership Initiative is introducing a new Partnership Toolkit for use by State Department employees involved in building and managing Public-Private Alliances. The Toolkit, developed by SSG, contains on-line training, case studies, process maps, guidelines, FAQs, templates for press releases and other tools instrumental in building effective alliances. See the Global Partnership Initiative’s website for more information.