Environmental Incentives Inc.

01/21/2025

Spend 5 Minutes with Chetna, Environmental Incentives’ Director of Business Development and Marketing.

Chetna plays a key role in shaping EI’s growth, fostering creativity and strategy to develop integrated solutions across development sectors.

Her Inspiration:
🎯 The Purpose: “Whether it’s working with USAID - US Agency for International Development to advance locally led development or partnering with the San Diego County Water Authority to tackle pressing water issues, I help ensure we pursue exciting opportunities that align with our purpose.”
🌟 The People: “I get to work with some of the brightest, most passionate people in the field”
📈 The Growth: “One of my biggest achievements is being part of EI’s incredible growth—from a small team of 30 people when I joined to now over 130 staff making an impact around the globe.”

In her free time, Chetna embraces her creativity by treasure hunting at estate sales, discovering new culinary experiences in DC, and developing innovative ideas for EI. Her advice? Celebrate every step of the journey—the wins and the lessons from losses.

Thanks for chatting with us, Chetna!
https://hubs.la/Q033mdY50🔗

12/17/2024

2024 is wrapping up and to celebrate the season we’re sharing some of what keeps the Environmental Incentives team inspired—the music that moves us! Every year we count ourselves lucky to have the opportunity to work with bright and bold partners to create the conditions for human and natural communities to thrive. Thank you for joining us and we look forward to continuing that legacy in the year ahead!

https://eiholiday.my.canva.site/2024-ei-holiday-mixtape

12/10/2024

We’re thrilled to share two recent journal articles coauthored by our team and USAID - US Agency for International Development staff, advancing the evidence-to-action pathway in development:

📄 Using technical assistance to bridge evidence-to-action gaps in biodiversity conservation (published in Conservation Science and Practice) explores how tailored support and collaboration can facilitate high-quality evidence use in biodiversity programs.

📄 Mapping drivers of land conversion among smallholders: A global systems perspective (published in Agricultural Systems) documents key factors behind land conversion and provides practical recommendations for decision makers.

These contributions fill a key need in the conservation evidence space, setting the stage to connect learning to action and real-world impact. Kudos to the many coauthors across the articles including Katie Safford, Lexine Hansen, Aradhana Roberts, Natalie Dubois, Sara Carlson, Nicholas Valcourt, Jeffery Walters, Diane Russell, Kristi Tabaj, Rachel Golden Kroner, and Open Water Systems.

EI staff coauthored two recent publications focused on using systematic tools to find clarity in complex systems.

12/09/2024

We're looking forward to connecting with friends and colleagues tomorrow at the 12th Annual Development Conference hosted by Professional Services Council. EI's Amy Gambrill and Mary Liz Mann will be joining in for the rich discussions on evolution and innovation in the development sector. Hope to see you there!

Constant changes and challenges are confronting the international development community. Attend the 11th Annual PSC Development Conference to hear directly from USAID, State Department, and other senior government leaders on the topics that matter most to your company.

11/21/2024

Recently, EI's Megan Chery, Chad Praul, and Alexandra Eisinger attended our new partner I Love A Clean San Diego's Fall Fundraiser and 70th Anniversary Party, featuring a fun (and contentious) recycling sorting competition! We look forward to working closely with I Love a Clean San Diego team to support the County of San Diego's Waterscape Rebate Program and to more fun events in the future!

https://hubs.la/Q02Z6zw50

11/19/2024

The wait is over! We're so excited to be at this year’s conference, where KM practitioners are sharing groundbreaking knowledge-sharing tools and techniques.

If you’re attending, join us at 2:45pm to hear from EI’s own Diana Fernholz who will join our partners from USAID - US Agency for International Development and Bixal for the “Communities of Practice (CoPs) & Gatherings for Peer Learning & Knowledge Sharing” session.

11/13/2024

In complex operating environments, how we share and learn from each other directly shapes program effectiveness. Discover how USAID - US Agency for International Development's Bureau for Planning, Learning and Resource Management pioneered cross-CoP learning to enhance organizational knowledge, foster innovation, and drive change at 2024 next week.

Be sure to join EI’s Diana Fernholz on Tuesday, November 19 at 2:45pm for the “Communities of Practice (CoPs) & Gatherings for Peer Learning & Knowledge Sharing” session, where Lane Pollack and Jane Lowicki-Zucca from USAID - US Agency for International Development and Anne Speca from Bixal will present on the CoPx2 initiative, a dynamic meta-community aimed at enriching and optimizing CoPs across the agency.

We hope to see you there!

11/12/2024

Ready to knock it out of the park in your next training? As part of EI’s support for USAID - US Agency for International Development's Improving Design, Evidence, and Learning project, Eva Schiffer recently supported a series of trainings for advanced facilitators. In the latest EI blog, she covers the bases on the complex team sport of facilitation, including:

⚾ You play how you practice
⚾ The team that plays together—wins together
⚾ Be a coach, not a teacher

Learn more:

Eva Schiffer shares lessons learned about how to support advanced facilitation practitioners on their path to sustained excellence.

11/11/2024

EI is pleased to bring our technical, analytical, and adaptive management support to USAID - US Agency for International Development's Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean Environmental Support Services Contract II (LAC ESSC II)! In partnership with The Cadmus Group, Fundación Futuro Latinoamericano (FFLA), and Foundations of Success, we will provide USAID Missions across Latin America and the Caribbean with flexible assistance to address complex challenges. We look forward to build on our experience implementing the predecessor LAC ESSC contract and to supporting advancements in climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and natural resource management, while increasing engagement with local and regional actors. Learn more:

The USAID LAC ESSC II project renews EI's commitment to providing support to USAID's environmental and energy programming across the region.

11/01/2024

EI’s Maria DiFuccia and Joe Grange loved connecting with fellow evaluators at American Evaluation Association's ! From the diverse presentations and nuanced discussions at the conference, it’s clear that effective evaluation in international development remains not just about measuring outcomes; it's about understanding context, fostering learning, and empowering communities to shape their own futures.

We look forward to continuing the conversation and innovation through our work supporting USAID - US Agency for International Development's Program Cycle Mechanism and Building Evidence for Decision-Making Programs and beyond!

10/31/2024

On the final day of , we’re thrilled to share some big news—Environmental Incentives has officially transitioned to an employee-owned company! Earlier this year, we launched an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) to further our commitment to living our values.

We are proud to join thousands of U.S.-based companies, including 147 fellow Certified B Corporations, that offer ESOPs. EI is, and always has been, a business with a purpose. We look forward to continuing that legacy as we start this next chapter of our story.

We are proud to launch an Employee Stock Ownership Program to further our commitment to our employees and our organizational purpose.

10/29/2024

Celebrating through the is all about asking questions, generating learning, and using learning. AKA, wash, rinse, repeat!

As part of EI’s support of USAID - US Agency for International Development's Program Cycle Mechanism, former PCM Specialist Tina Byenkya co-authored this winning 2023 case with USAID Somalia about using to help improve decision-making. https://hubs.la/Q02WdGf30