International Relief and Development Inc.

International Relief and Development Inc. (IRD) (renamed Blumont)
Founded1998
Focusinternational development
Location
Area served
International
ProductUS Government grantee and contractor
Key people
Arthur B. Keys Jr (Founder), Roger Ervin (President)[1]
Employees
501-1,000[2][3]
Websitewww.blumont.org

International Relief and Development, Inc. (IRD), renamed Blumont, is an organization that purports to provide relief, stabilization, and development programs worldwide.[4] In 2015, IRD was the subject of a Washington Post investigation that highlighted the organization's performance and management of taxpayer money. Among other irregularities, the organization had charged the US Government $1.1 million for staff parties and retreats at exclusive resorts. In January 2016, IRD announced that it was changing its name to Blumont and relocating to Madison, Wisconsin.[4][5][6]

According to Blumont, its mission is to deliver "innovative, evidence based, locally driven solutions that advance the aspirations of people, communities and donor partners worldwide".[7] In 2011, more than 80% of IRD's $500 million annual budget came from USAID.[8] In recent years, Blumont has completed work in the Middle East, South America, Asia, and Africa for governmental entities in the U.S. and Britain, such as USAID and DFID and for organizations such as the World Bank and the United Nations.[9]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference ervin was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Working at Blumont". Glassdoor.
  3. ^ "LinkedIn - Blumont". LinkedIn. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Blumont: The new face of IRD". Devex. 22 January 2016.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference wp.suspense was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference wp.parties was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "About Blumont - Blumont". Blumont. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  8. ^ Reviews prompt suspension of Iraqi jobs program, USA Today, July 26, 2009.
  9. ^ "Alumni Advocate: Roger Ervin - Update Magazine | Spring 2018". Retrieved 18 June 2018.