GEMS Associates LLC (GEMS) is a new joint venture established by Navanti Group (Navanti) and International Business & Technical Consultants, Inc. (IBTCI) under a “Mentor-Protégé” Agreement that was approved in June 2024 by the U.S. Small Business Administration. GEMS operates as a Small Business and is thus eligible to bid on solicitations set-aside for Small Businesses.



The GEMS joint venture offers the combined capabilities and experience of both Navanti and IBTCI. When submitting proposals as GEMS, the past performance references and full corporate capabilities and experience of both firms can be included and considered for the technical proposal evaluation. This is permitted under U.S. Government Federal Acquisition Regulation (“FAR”) 48 CFR 15.305(a)(2)(iii).

GEMS’ combined networks, management experience and headquarters’ resources provide added strength to support USAID on its small-business set-aside contracts. GEMS operates as one entity as far as USAID and partners are concerned. Client interface and communications are streamlined through GEMS. GEMS has one clear lead with clear decision-making authority.

Leveraging the partner firms’ 30+ years of experience and in-house resources/systems gives GEMS significant capacity beyond what could be expected of a typical small business. GEMS partners have experience working in countries including Yemen, Somalia, Syria, Iraq, Libya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and others.

• Expertise in operating in non-permissive and conflict-affected and post-conflict environments
• IDIQ management experience across more than 20 USG IDIQs
• Operated in 120+ countries and collaborated with 65+ USAID Missions over the past five years
• Demonstrated experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL)

GEMS partners have worked in over one hundred countries and implemented over three hundred projects. Through GEMS partners’ more than 35 years of experience supporting U.S. government development projects, including in transition and non- permissive environments, we have developed expertise in administering and implementing USAID programs and providing support to program-funded USAID personnel in the most challenging of circumstances.

GEMS specializes and works in some of the most difficult and austere settings around the globe, working with local providers and experts gathering valuable M&E data to inform critical policy and social change. Our local partners allow us to provide daily monitoring with visual, GPS-coordinates, to access hard to reach communities, and provide in-person capacity building as projects scale. GEMS partners have conducted a variety of performance and impact evaluations, needs assessments, monitoring and verification activities in the most fragile and conflict affected states in the world. In fact, GEMS partner IBTCI is the industry leader in third party monitoring (TPM) in protracted- and post- conflict states. GEMS utilizes data collection, fieldwork, analysis and reporting to support clients, their staff, and implementing partners with current information that shapes and informs stabilization programming.

As part of its comprehensive crisis and conflict program-oriented methodology, GEMS partners assist communities by conducting evidence-based evaluations about project performance and client project performance plans, dataquality assessments, training sessions to improve self-reliance in local populaces and increase the efficacy of government and private implementation partners. GEMS partners’ extensive independent monitoring and evaluation services experience includes quickly mobilizing project staff and consultants for site visits, establishing in-house databases to host field monitoring data, and developing communication channels infragile states to build community conflict prevention and mitigation networks, improve local security, and further response capacity. Further, we understand and apply best practices in partner and participant protection ensuring that as we collect data and information that we do so safely, with human subject protections at the forefront of our efforts.

The USAID Nigeria Third Party Monitoring Program (2024-2029), led by GEMS partner Navanti, provides TPM services to ensure adequate management oversight of BHA’s implementing partners in Nigeria.

The Lake Chad Third Party Monitoring Project (2022-2025), led by GEMS partner Navanti, provides TPM services tooversee activities in the Lake Chad Basin.

The USAID Yemen Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Project (2019-2024) funded by USAID’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), where GEMS partner IBTCI conducted comprehensive TPM across all provinces of Yemen, analyzing trends in humanitarian programming, providing critical inputs for program learning and accountability, and evaluating collective efforts for “Accountability to Affected Populations.”

The USAID Somalia Monitoring & Learning Project (2017-2022), where GEMS partner IBTCI effectively managed TPM operations, conducted monitoring and verification site visits, and led learning events to showcase best practices and address persistent challenges.

The USAID Iraq Monitoring & Evaluation Project (2017-2022), led by GEMS partner IBTCI, which involved TPM operations across all 19 governorates of Iraq, providing independent, verifiable data to enhance understanding of program outputs, outcomes, and challenges.

The USAID Syria Humanitarian Monitoring Project (2014-2017), where GEMS partner IBTCI established a TPM system to verify and confirm programs in Syria, conducting site visits across all provinces and covering thematic areas including food security, WASH, health, shelter, and economic recovery.

Both GEMS partners Navanti and IBTCI have cultivated a strong reputation for providing and managing responsivetechnical services and client support through large, complex, multi-year, multi-sector mission-wide or regional Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) platform contracts. These contracts have routinely included the design and/or review of Mission-level Performance Management Plans (PMPs) and supported USAID Missions in strategic thinking; conducted sector assessments that inform future programming; collected through assessments; designed and led mid-term and final performance evaluations; and designed learning agendas that included learning activities incorporating Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) principles with clients, as part of a rigorous and adaptive program cycle. In all, GEMS partners have primed some 27 national and regional multi-year platforms in support of Missions, covering research, activity-verification, DQAs, formative studies, indicator tracking, training and mentoring of USAID mission staff, and working with implementing partners (IPs) in organizing and facilitating training and learning events.

Selected Examples of Recent GEMS Partner Experience: