Learn How to Work With USAID
Enroll in Keylime Academy’s courses and learn how to win and implement projects with USAID.
Write Winning Proposals
Discover Keylime’s proven proposal method through our three-part writing series.
Fundamentals of Proposal Writing
Kickstart your writing with our introductory course. Learn how to outline, analyze an RFP, and write better proposals. Who it’s for: Sign up if you’ve worked on 1-2 proposals and want to level-up your writing skills.
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Technical Writing
Learn to write winning technical proposals. Our experts break down the technical approach section, using Keylime’s signature proposal writing method. Get hands-on practice writing against real RFPs and learn the soft skills you need to succeed.
Who it’s for: If you’ve written at least 1 proposal, this course is for you.
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Advanced Technical Writing
Dive into tough topics like how to write IDIQs, case studies, and PWS-proposals. You'll get critique from pros and peers to polish your skills and boost your win rate. Who it’s for: Enroll if you have written 3 or more proposals.
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Browse Our Business Development Courses
Mastering Business Development
Learn the fundamentals of proposal development from capture to submission. Perfect for business development teams, proposal managers, and proposal leads, our course will help you make your proposals more competitive.
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Recruitment for USAID Proposals
This course teaches participants how to attract, select, vet, and negotiate with top talent in the USAID industry to strengthen your proposal submissions.
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Level Up Your Capture
Transform the way your team captures USAID proposals. We’ll equip you with the knowledge and skills to maximize the capture period. Learn how to devise a capture plan, gather intel, identify key partners, and design a technical approach before your RFP is out.
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How to Write Great CVs
Learn the secrets to writing winning CVs for USAID proposals in this two-day, interactive workshop.
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Cost Proposal Practicum for USAID Proposals
Get ready to dive into the spreadsheets! In this course, Keylime’s cost and pricing expert will guide you through the entire cost volume, line-by-line. You’ll walk away with a completed cost proposal and strategies to make your budgets more competitive.
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Instructor Bios
Jordann El Dorry
Prior to joining Keylime, Jordann was a successful business development director at Chemonics International, USAID's largest implementing partner by volume. During her 11 years at the company she consistently exceeded corporate win rate and sales targets, bringing in more than $600 million in USAID work. She is excited to share some of the tools and strategies she employs to make proposal development a little less painful and a lot more fun!
Sarah Steller
Sarah has more than 12 years of experience in business development and project management for both international and U.S.-based programs. She has managed business development teams at some of USAID's top implementing partners and is an expert in proposal writing, proposal management, and recruitment.
Susanne Barsoum
After a career as a business development director at Chemonics International, Susanne founded Keylime to make business development more fruitful for everyone through courses like this one. She has worked on hundreds of proposals with a strong win rate. Susanne finds proposal writing the most challenging and intellectually stimulating proposal role. Her experience and networks are primarily in the Middle East, but she has also worked and lived in Nigeria and Haiti, and done assignments globally.
Kristen Hamaoui
Kristen leads Keylime Academy's Cost & Pricing curriculum. She is a seasoned project implementation, business development, and program management specialist with more than 15 years of experience managing and implementing USAID-funded programs. In her prior role with Chemonics, Kristen provided formal cost proposal preparation trainings, mentored staff members, and provided pricing strategy and analysis to proposal teams and senior leadership.
Joanne Moore
After 13 years successfully working in and leading business development and project management efforts at USAID implementing partners Chemonics International and Population Services International, Joanne started JoMoConsult LLC and has been providing similar consulting services primarily to USAID IPs for nearly a decade. Joanne loves creating and delivering training and sharing her experience, expertise, and epic mistakes all in an effort to support others on their professional journeys
Deborah Aker
Deborah is a professional editor and over the course of her 25+ year career has edited more than 500 USAID proposals. She draws on her experience as a proposal editor, good and bad examples from proposals, and the insights of communication professionals to help participants unlearn the complex, wordy, and often over-the-top writing . Sessions include brainstorming to improve sample text, critiques of proposal graphics, and discussions of pain points as participants seek ways to keep their writing compelling and readable.
Learning Solutions
Keylime works with the USAID community to make international development more fruitful. Organizations new to USAID and longstanding implementing partners choose Keylime for learning, capacity building, and training.
Instructor-Guided Multi-Session Courses
Train with the top experts in USAID business development and project management. Watch or read course content on your own schedule and engage with the instructor once a week for live sessions, Q&A, and discussion.
Custom Training
Bring Keylime Academy in- house to benefit from private classes for your team. Good for groups of 8 or more.
Digital Downloads
Instantly download resources like templates, tip sheets, and guides. We also offer our quarterly market rate report for download.
2024 Course Schedule
Technical Writing for USAID Proposals
Winter Cohort: February 26-March 27, 2024
Spring Cohort: April 2-May 2, 2024
Summer Cohort: July 15—August 14, 2024
Fall Cohort: Sep 3—Oct 4, 2024
Fundamentals of Proposal Writing
Spring Cohort: March 12-April 2, 2024
Summer Cohort: July 10-July 31, 2024
Cost Proposal Practicum for USAID Proposals
Spring Cohort: April 9-May 21, 2024
Summer Cohort: June 11-July 23, 2024
Recruitment for USAID Proposals
Coming soon!
Level Up Your Capture
Winter Cohort: February 22-March 14, 2024
Summer Cohort: June 24—July 16, 2024
Fall Cohort: September 9—30, 2024
Mastering Business Development
Fall Cohort: September 2-25, 2024
Advanced Technical Writing for USAID Proposals
Summer Cohort: July 18—Aug 29, 2024
Fall Cohort: Q3 2024
How to Write Great CVs
Fall Cohort: Q3 2024
FAQ
Course participants can expect to spend 90 minutes in class for each Zoom session, and another 1-2 hours per week on homework.
We know that life happens and sometimes participants need to miss a session. We record every session and post them to the course platform within 24 hours so participants can catch up!
Yes! Cohorts are open to the public and attract a broad swath of international development professionals, so you’ll be in good company!
Yes, we do it all the time! Let us know what you are thinking in the chat or by email: hello@joinkeylime.com.
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