DevTech

DevTech is honored to have received the 2024 Partnership for Public Service Data Excellence Award. Through data-driven insights, we help ensure that resources are directed where they are needed most, supporting informed decision-making, collaboration, and long-term impact. In partnership with the U.S. Department of State, our team developed ForeignAssistance.gov, the U.S. government’s flagship platform for foreign assistance data. By transforming complex financial information into accessible, usable insights, we are advancing global transparency and accountability. Our commitment to data clarity extends beyond the federal level. We are also proud to support state governments in using data to drive smarter policy and budget decisions. From Maryland and Virginia to Tennessee and Oregon, DevTech’s analytics and dashboard solutions help states strengthen financial transparency, measure impact, and serve their communities more effectively. We are proud to help make government data more open, meaningful, and actionable at every level of governance.

A closer reading of the #USMCA highlights an asymmetry between #environmental and #labor enforcement mechanisms. Under Chapter 24 (Environment), Article 24.17 commits parties to treat wildlife trafficking as a “serious crime,” reinforcing obligations aligned with CITES and strengthening enforceability. By contrast, under Chapter 23 (Labor), enforcement of labor obligations—including those related to #forcedlabor—generally depends on demonstrating that a violation occurs “in a manner affecting trade or investment” (Article 23.3). This threshold can limit the practical reach of protections in cases such as the exploitation of Cuban medical and other professionals in Mexico, which has been characterized by the OAS/IACHR as a form of modern forced labor. This contrast raises a broader question: why does treaty design provide clearer enforceability for species protection than for certain forms of labor exploitation? Recognition to @FHRCuba for their sustained work documenting these issues and pushing for accountability. References: USMCA Chapter 24 (Environment): ustr.gov/sites/default/… USMCA Chapter 23 (Labor): ustr.gov/sites/default/… OAS/IACHR: oas.org/en/iachr/ FHRCuba: fhrcuba.org #LaborRights #TradePolicy #USMCA #HumanRights

AP News highlights how Cuba’s economic crisis is affecting older adults, with rising prices, limited access to basic goods, and a steadily weakening currency shaping daily life. These pressures reflect broader, system-wide challenges that extend far beyond any single story. apnews.com/article/cuba-s… At DevTech, our work focuses on making those dynamics more visible and easier to understand. In partnership with the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE), we’ve helped make decades of economic research more accessible through DevTech SAGE—allowing users to explore how these challenges have developed over time. We also track what’s happening outside official systems. Because much of Cuba’s economy operates informally, especially currency exchange, the Cuban Exchange Rate Dashboard uses publicly available data—from social media and community networks—to show how the peso is actually valued in everyday transactions. Together, these tools help connect individual experiences like those highlighted in the article to the larger economic forces behind them—offering a more complete, real-time picture of how Cuba’s crisis is affecting people across the island. To explore this work further, visit DevTech SAGE lnkd.in/eGrgt2Gm and the Cuban Exchange Rate Dashboard. devtechsys.com/projects/the-a…

DevTech’s Economics practice brings together deep technical expertise and innovative tools to help governments make smarter, more resilient fiscal decisions. Our work spans debt sustainability analysis, macroeconomic forecasting, fiscal risk modeling, and blended finance, supporting efforts like financial risk modeling for the State of Virginia, dynamic debt sustainability analysis in Venezuela, and sovereign advisory services for Puerto Rico. We also design forward-looking strategies, including Nepal’s national productivity growth master plan, and apply AI-powered solutions to monitor economic fluctuations in complex environments like Cuba. By translating complex data into clear, actionable insights, DevTech empowers leaders to strengthen transparency, manage risk, and drive sustainable growth. Partner with us to turn data into decisions, and decisions into lasting impact. Visit here for more info: devtechsys.com

Colorectal cancer rates in younger people are increasing—and too often caught late, despite being highly treatable when detected early. This week's @theallinpod's #ScienceCorner (lnkd.in/eZWKG9rC ) highlighted a @Nature Medicine study (lnkd.in/ewreQGRe) exploring links between pesticide exposure and rising early-onset colorectal #cancer. The study’s use of RNA/DNA data to trace exposures is a strong example of data-driven research enabled by long-term public investment. While the findings are associative—not causal—and require further validation, they help point researchers toward important next questions. This is why @DevTechSys advocates for: - More early screening - Continued investment in high-quality, #data-driven research—prioritized by rigor, real-world impact, and #measurable results Smart, targeted funding isn’t waste—it supports discoveries like this one. Credit to @friedberg for elevating this issue: lnkd.in/eZWKG9rC. #ColorectalCancer #Research #PublicHealth #Data

At DevTech, we apply expertise in economics, data analytics, and technology to help clients address complex global challenges. Our work spans economic policy and public financial management, data and digital solutions, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning. From developing interactive dashboards that make U.S. foreign aid data more transparent and usable to building systems that support evidence-based decision-making, we focus on turning research into practical, accessible tools. Across our projects, we combine technical rigor with real-world application—delivering solutions that are clear, credible, and designed for impact. Learn more about our work: devtechsys.com

As policymakers consider the future of workforce programs, data continues to shape how decisions are made. Recent legislation introduced in Congress aims to modernize and restore the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program, reflecting renewed attention on supporting workers affected by global trade and economic change.  The DevTech team builds interactive dashboards that make this complex data easier to understand and apply to workforce development and economic policy. Our Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program Funding Dashboard looks at how TAA funding is distributed and used across the country. It highlights state-level patterns and longer-term trends, offering a clearer picture of how the program supports displaced workers and contributes to economic stability. Designed for policymakers, researchers, and workforce practitioners, the dashboard provides practical, data-driven context for decision-making. Explore the data: lnkd.in/geM9_dST

From phones to electric vehicles to advanced defense systems, the technologies shaping our future depend on a small group of #CriticalMinerals. As global demand accelerates, and as recent U.S. trade agreements and partnerships increasingly prioritize securing access to these resources, the ability to clearly understand #SupplyChains, identify risks, and make informed decisions is more important than ever. The Critical Minerals Dashboard, powered by DevTech, equips policymakers and stakeholders with the #DataDriven insights needed to navigate this complex landscape, helping ensure secure supply, strengthen resilience, and support #StrategicInvestment. Visit our dashboard here: 🔗 lnkd.in/ggMsqUGX

Recent global discussions around government spending have highlighted the growing need for greater tracking and data-driven decision-making to ensure resources are used effectively. As investments change across sectors and regions, the ability to clearly track where funds go and what impact they achieve is more important than ever. ForeignAssistance.gov, an award-winning platform powered by DevTech, provides an interactive, #DataDriven platform that brings clarity to U.S. foreign assistance, helping policymakers, stakeholders, and the public better understand and maximize the impact of these investments. Explore our dashboard here: 🔗 ForeignAssistance.gov

DevTech’s Insights article, “From Blackouts to Battered Markets: Energy Deficits and Exchange Rate Dynamics in Cuba,” was authored by María Barreiro Palafox and Rakel Dassinger for the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE) 2025 Conference. Amid an ongoing economic and energy crisis in Cuba, this research provides timely evidence on the structural links between power shortages and financial volatility. The findings highlight the tight link between energy insecurity and financial instability in Cuba, underscoring how power shortages act as a binding constraint on both real and monetary economic activity. Read the full article: 🔗 lnkd.in/gy69aZXS

Cuba’s introduction of new high-denomination banknotes underscores the severity of its ongoing crisis. In new reporting from @semafor , @NatBracken highlights how these measures reflect deeper currency pressures, drawing on DevTech’s Cuba Exchange Rate Dashboard (devtechsys.com/projects/the-a…) to illustrate the widening gap between official and informal exchange rates. Read more: semafor.com/article/04/08/…

DevTech recently announced the beta launch of DevTech SAGE, an AI-powered research and discovery platform. DevTech SAGE is not just a chatbot, but a purpose-built knowledge engine designed to search, analyze, and extract verified insights from complex, curated repositories. DevTech SAGE currently hosts the ASCE Cuba Repository, an archive from the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE) containing more than 1,000 research documents on Cuba dating back to 1990. This resource is particularly relevant at a pivotal moment, as policymakers consider future actions toward Cuba and seek deeper insight into the country's economic and institutional evolution. Users can explore the archive through traditional keyword search and filters such as author or publication year. The platform also features Ask DevTech SAGE, an AI research assistant that scans the repository, identifies relevant sources, and highlights the exact pages used to generate answers so users can easily verify and cite evidence. As a beta platform, DevTech SAGE will continue to evolve with new features and expanded repositories. By combining AI-powered analysis with transparent, source-based research, SAGE transforms decades of scholarship into an interactive knowledge engine for researchers, policymakers, and analysts. Visit SAGE: lnkd.in/eGrgt2Gm

Hire Cuban doctors but pay them a fair wage. Great first step by @OEA_oficial, thanks in LARGE PART to the tireless work of @DevTechSys's partner on human trafficking issues - @FHRCuba working alongside @SecRubio @WHAAsstSecty @StateDept @MikeHammerUSA and @TIPOfficeState. Thanks for the usual great reporting from @NTN24

Explore DevTech's Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning work at lnkd.in/eGkCQcts

Do you remember when you joined X? I do! #MyXAnniversary

#ICYMI: Last month, DevTech proudly participated in the International Consortium on Governmental Financial Management (ICGFM) conference as a Patron-level sponsor. The event brought together global leaders from government, international organizations, and the private sector to discuss innovative approaches to public financial management, transparency, and accountability. ICGFM’s annual conference serves as a forum for sharing best practices in budgeting, fiscal policy, digital transformation, and financial governance. Pictured: DevTech’s Director of Economics, Jose Pineda, alongside Mansoor Akbar Learn more about ICGFM at: icgfm.org

Visit DevTech SAGE at: lnkd.in/eGrgt2Gm

Visit DevTech SAGE at: ddr.devtechlab.com/asce-cuba/publ…