KDMD
Knowledge-Driven Microenterprise Development

Through the Knowledge-Driven Microenterprise Development (KDMD) Project QED provides knowledge and learning services and technical assistance to a range of USAID offices, bureaus, and missions including: the Microenterprise Development Office; the Economic Growth Office; the Bureau of Food Security; the Bureau of Policy, Planning and Learning; the Social Transitions Team in the Europe and Eurasia Bureau; and the Jamaica Mission. The scope of the KDMD project has grown through a series of buy-ins, greatly expanding the use of knowledge management throughout USAID.

We design and implement state-of-the-art knowledge management, learning and sharing tools, and approaches that promote collaboration among development practitioners to speed innovation and adoption.

Our project seeks to bridge the gap between research and practice by enhancing learning, increasing efficiency, spurring innovation, sparking the adoption of good practice, and ensuring that knowledge is disseminated to the right people at the right time. It is much more than building websites, storing information, and using technology.

Our core services and tools include formal and informal learning events; blended adult learning solutions; on-line and in-person learning network facilitation; web strategy, development, and implementation; communications, messaging, design, and outreach solutions; grants management; and assessing and learning tools and approaches. We have designed, developed and are now utilizing the Knowledge Driven International Development (KDID) Portal and the associated sites including Microlinks, Agrilinks, Social Transitions, Jamaica Community of Practice, Women's Leadership in Small & Medium Enterprises, and the Economic Growth Learning Center. KDID is a family of websites where members access the latest thinking in development good practice, discuss ideas, share experience, and connect to other professionals.

Our seminar series, offered both online and in-person, allows for the sharing of timely research and new developments in the various technical areas covered by the project. These events and our other online discussion platforms create a space for ongoing dialogue by practitioners around the world. Our blended learning approaches move beyond the traditional classroom setting and include participatory and self-paced modules, interactive and stand alone courses, videos, webinars, and other distance learning tools and techniques.

Project News

Project UpdateJanuary 07, 2013

The “Women’s Leadership in Small & Medium Enterprises,” (WLSME) is an initiative of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), established to support innovative projects that promote growth of female-led enterprises and reduce barriers to market entry. Earlier this month, the initiative’s cornerstone online community www.wlsme.org was launched to provide gender and enterprise development practitioners a space to share experiences and learn about...