In 2013, Jenkins Macedo started a blog while on field research at the International Water Management Institute in Vientiane, Laos. The goal of the blog was to share updates from the field to his professors and colleagues at Clark University and funders at the Purdue University Center for Global Food Security. Within 1 year of his field research, the blog attracted visitors from all around the world.
Upon graduation in 2014, Macedo still kept the blog active by republishing articles related to his research interests. He kept doing this for almost 3 years and in early 2017, he decided to convert the idea of a blog to a nonprofit organization that focuses on providing technical support and services to assist stakeholders to achieve the sustainable development goals by 2030 and beyond. With this in mind, he set up meetings with some of his colleagues including alumni and classmates of Clark University and other friends and shared his vision for the organization.
His goal for the organization is one that will not be reliant on external funding as the sole means to attain its vision and carried to out its mission. He hopes to see an organization that is self-sustaining, innovative in developing new ideas to solve real-world issues, and supports the efforts to bridge the knowledge-gaps between developed and developing countries. About 60% of development funds issued by developed countries for development projects in developing countries come back to western countries in the form of hiring highly skilled experts or consultants from western countries. Those consultants or experts get paid more money compared to those of similar qualifications and expertise within the country. As a result, money that should have stayed within the developing country end up back in the west.
He hopes that INDESEEM, Inc. will emphasize keeping developing money just where they intended to be used by investing in educational opportunities, career development, and training for national staff.
He also envisions an organization that fosters and enhances creativity and innovative thinking and actions to solve real-world problems.