Usen J. Akpan

Usen J. Akpan serves as an Acquisition & Assistance Specialist at USAID/Nigeria, where they play a pivotal role in executing the agency’s mission to strengthen governance, public health systems, and sustainable development through strategic procurement and assistance mechanisms. Responsible for managing the full lifecycle of non-construction acquisitions, Akpan specializes in technical services that support data-driven program design, performance monitoring and evaluation (MEL), and institutional capacity building. Their work directly enables USAID’s focus on localizing development outcomes by aligning contracting actions with Nigeria’s subnational governance priorities and health systems strengthening goals. Akpan collaborates with a diverse range of professional service providers, including international consulting firms, local Nigerian research institutions, and technical assistance vendors specializing in data science, public health analytics, and governance diagnostics. While no single contractor dominates their portfolio, Akpan consistently engages firms with demonstrated expertise in MEL frameworks, digital data collection platforms, and adaptive management tools. Their procurement approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, rigorous vendor evaluation, and alignment with USAID’s technical standards for evidence-based programming. Akpan’s contracting activity reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of procurements classified as “No Set-Aside.” This reflects a strategic focus on selecting the most qualified technical partners regardless of socioeconomic status, while still ensuring compliance with all applicable federal acquisition regulations. Though not actively targeting 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, Akpan supports small business participation through competitive, transparent processes that encourage qualified Nigerian and U.S.-based small firms to compete on merit. The primary NAICS classification under Akpan’s purview is 541990—All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services—encompassing a broad spectrum of technical advisory services. These include data analytics for health outcomes, evaluation design, institutional assessment, capacity-building training, and digital governance tools. Their procurement portfolio is deeply rooted in evidence-based development, with a technical emphasis on performance measurement, real-time data systems, and adaptive program management in complex operational environments.