Ben Amick Email & Phone Number

Santa Ana, San Jose, Costa Rica

MarketEdge was founded to promote market-based innovations, systems thinking strategies, and shared value partnerships to unlock sustainable, locally-led and owned solutions. Leveraging our core competencies in private sector engagement (PSE), market systems development (MSD) and open innovation, we empower local for-profit and nonprofit partners as the lead actors driving impact and increasing the investment returns for USAID and other funders.

Specialized in market-based solutions with a focus in open innovation (OI), localization, and private sector engagement (PSE). Accomplishments include:-Designed high-impact OI projects, including the Southern Mexico Employment and Sustainability Challenge, MujerProspera Challenge, and Ethiopia's Fertilizer for Food Challenge.-Led USAID's PSE and localization evaluations, fostering enhanced strategies and partnerships for locally led solutions worldwide, such as Burundi, Guatemala… Show more Specialized in market-based solutions with a focus in open innovation (OI), localization, and private sector engagement (PSE). Accomplishments include:-Designed high-impact OI projects, including the Southern Mexico Employment and Sustainability Challenge, MujerProspera Challenge, and Ethiopia's Fertilizer for Food Challenge.-Led USAID's PSE and localization evaluations, fostering enhanced strategies and partnerships for locally led solutions worldwide, such as Burundi, Guatemala, Zimbabwe, Iraq, and the Dominican Republic.-Developed a widely adopted needs assessment tool for USAID readiness, now integral to over 2,000 organizations and featured on www.workwithusaid.org.-Served as the interim Chief of Party (COP) of the $34M USAID Catalyst project.-Devised and executed USAID's relationship management and professional development blueprints, focused improving the stakeholder experience with the Agency. -Formulated and executed pivotal technical strategies, driving proposal successes and securing over $135 million in wins in a three-year time frame.-Conducted PSE trainings, led strategic growth retreats, and coached teams to develop portfolios of impactful local organizations. Show less

Burlington, Vermont

At Resonance, I had the privilege of leading transformative initiatives, blending technology and innovation to tackle development challenges in emerging markets. My tenure was marked by significant achievements and strategic developments, including:-Innovation & Growth Leadership: Founded and successfully expanded a $25M practice focused on open innovation, co-creation, enterprise acceleration, innovative financing, and ecosystem strengthening, demonstrating a unique ability to identify… Show more At Resonance, I had the privilege of leading transformative initiatives, blending technology and innovation to tackle development challenges in emerging markets. My tenure was marked by significant achievements and strategic developments, including:-Innovation & Growth Leadership: Founded and successfully expanded a $25M practice focused on open innovation, co-creation, enterprise acceleration, innovative financing, and ecosystem strengthening, demonstrating a unique ability to identify and cultivate growth opportunities.-Strategic Project Direction: Served as the Project Director/Chief of Party for a pivotal $25M USAID project. My role involved developing advanced systems and strategies to enhance the organization's private sector engagement, setting new benchmarks for operational excellence.-Collaborative Initiatives with Global Corporates: Spearheaded a key project with PepsiCo, leading a team to forge strategic local partnerships and funding avenues. This initiative significantly boosted PepsiCo’s sourcing capabilities for potatoes from smallholder farmers in India, showcasing my ability to drive corporate-social synergies.-Global Sustainability Advocacy: Managed the prestigious Zayed Global Sustainability Prize. My responsibilities encompassed overseeing the process of sourcing, filtering, and judging over 2,500 annual applications, a testament to my expertise in recognizing and nurturing sustainable, innovative solutions globally.-Impactful Assessments and Program Development: Conducted a comprehensive assessment for USAID/Vietnam, culminating in the creation of new multi-million dollar programs focused on trade, entrepreneurship, and climate change, further emphasizing my commitment to creating impactful, sustainable development initiatives. Show less

South And Southeast Asia (Bangkok-Based)

Identified, validated, and accelerated organizations in Asia under a $12.3 million USAID Feed the Future program. For example:-Designed and led the Tech4Farmers Challenge, an open innovation contest that included a live Shark Tank-type event. -Developed network of investors, enterprises, and interlocutors in South and Southeast Asia to accelerate several investments (Seed and Series A) to promising startups. -Identified and incubated 15 organizations to scale their… Show more Identified, validated, and accelerated organizations in Asia under a $12.3 million USAID Feed the Future program. For example:-Designed and led the Tech4Farmers Challenge, an open innovation contest that included a live Shark Tank-type event. -Developed network of investors, enterprises, and interlocutors in South and Southeast Asia to accelerate several investments (Seed and Series A) to promising startups. -Identified and incubated 15 organizations to scale their solutions and attract investors in blockchain, solar irrigation, contract farming, precision agriculture, and processing. -Cultivated a range of partnerships to advance project goals, such as with Facebook, Trybe (local incubator), Syngenta, Microsoft, CropLife, and AquaSpark (investor). Show less

Bangkok, Thailand

Delivered undergraduate classes on social innovation and the private sector.

Bangkok, Thailand

Led initiatives to address transboundary challenges in Southeast Asia through multimillion-dollar partnerships and workforce development programs for the USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia (RDMA), lauded by former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State John Kerry. For instance: -Created a new $18 million regional youth and workforce program under the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI). This included running a series of prize competitions that engaged… Show more Led initiatives to address transboundary challenges in Southeast Asia through multimillion-dollar partnerships and workforce development programs for the USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia (RDMA), lauded by former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State John Kerry. For instance: -Created a new $18 million regional youth and workforce program under the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI). This included running a series of prize competitions that engaged youth-focused or youth-owned organizations. -Spearheaded over $70 million in public-private partnerships with Microsoft, Intel, HP, Google, GM, National Instruments, and Cisco to close workforce skills gaps in Southeast Asia in the healthcare, tech, food, and manufacturing sectors. -Launched several successful pilots to test working with new types of partners for USAID, such as local universities, institutes, and tech companies. -Founded the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) Coordination Hub to foster cooperation between bilateral USAID Missions, the Department of State, and host-government line ministries in health, connectivity, energy, and the environment. Show less

Jakarta, Indonesia

Based in the ASEAN Secretariat, advanced ASEAN-U.S. strategic goals in building a socially and economically integrated regional community in Southeast Asia. Notable work includes:-Organized dialogues and led activities to improve cooperation for the 10-member state bloc in higher education, youth engagement, and climate change. -Conducted research, facilitated public-private partnerships, and organized a conference to improve regional connectivity to improve the delivery of health… Show more Based in the ASEAN Secretariat, advanced ASEAN-U.S. strategic goals in building a socially and economically integrated regional community in Southeast Asia. Notable work includes:-Organized dialogues and led activities to improve cooperation for the 10-member state bloc in higher education, youth engagement, and climate change. -Conducted research, facilitated public-private partnerships, and organized a conference to improve regional connectivity to improve the delivery of health and education services. -Created the first-ever ASEAN Youth Volunteers Program. Modeled after the U.S. Peace Corps, this program reached hundreds of ASEAN youth within the first two years of operation. Show less

Washington, D.C.

Delivered international development services, working with clients in the public and private sectors to achieve sustainable development outcomes through cost-effective, innovative, and equitable activities.

New York, New York

Supported UNICEF’s work through fundraising, advocacy, and education in the United States.

Himeji, Japan

Flagstaff, Arizona

Master Of Arts (M.A.), Development Economics And International Development

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), International Relations And Affairs