Client Programs
Motive designs and implements programs for government, industry, and civil society clients that are 100% aligned to our mission of mitigating conflict and advancing global stability. Motive programs have helped protect critical infrastructure and enable secure trade around the world, reduced fatalities in mass atrocities, cultivated capabilities among dozens of partner nation security forces, and prepared 1000s of Special Operators and diplomats to mitigate instability before it erupts into deadly conflict. Implementing programs allows is to validate and sharpen the tools and methods we teach in the classroom, and find new ways of leveraging cross-sector networks to tackle global problems. Below are some of our programing areas of expertise.
Strategic Trade, Investment Security
& critical SUPPLY CHAINS
Motive has designed and implemented programs all over the world to prevent malign actors from accessing sensitive technology or gaining control of critical infrastructure and supply chains.
We developed a rigorous methodology to protect dual use goods used in WMDs, and applied this to thwart active diversion and sanctions evasion attempts in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Employing capability-based frameworks and scenario-based exercises, we’ve helped 100s of government and industry stakeholders spot strategic trade and investment vulnerabilities and devise targeted policies and practices to mitigate risk.
Motive facilitates cross-sector events all over the world to catalyze policy and practice reforms that safeguard sensitive technologies and sanctioned items.
Program Highlight: Motive’s Asia-Pacific Investment Security Program (2024-27)
Motive is working with key partners to ensure global investment flows enable growth without threatening national security.
A Motive expert role player at a civil-military exercise. Motive’s innovative use of AI amplifies human expertise with synthetic personas and agentic reactions trained by true, domain SMEs.
Cutting-edge Exercises & Simulations
For more than a decade, Motive has been a pioneer in leveraging scenario-based exercises to validate capabilities, test policy ideas, convene stakeholders, and inform evidence-based action.
Exercises and simulations we’ve executed have helped Asian governments sharpen laws and processes to protect national security, validated new civ-mil operations concepts across the U.S. interagency, directly informed interventions in real mass atrocity events, and inspired public-private sector collaboration in NATO allied countries to counter Russian aggression.
We’ve evolved from paper-based tabletop exercises (TTXs) to develop a one-of-kind AI-powered simulation platform called Chronicle, which we’re using to design highly complex exercises for civil and military clients. Pairing emerging tech with human expertise, Motive fuses digital personas and expert role players, AI analytics and SME insights, and more for exercises that get results.
Program Highlight: Motive’s Support to 95th CA BDE (SO) (A)’s Atlas Lion & STALKHM Exercises (2025 - Present)
See how Motive is deploying AI in first-ever ways to enhance Special Operations Civil Affairs training & exercises.
Program Highlight: Motive’s Support to MCTP and the U.S. Army Warfighter Series (2026 - Present)
Motive experts bring real-world diplomacy, intel, & humanitarian expertise to this premiere exercise series. Want to join the team?
security cooperation
Since 2015, Motive has implemented and advised on Title 10 and 22 security cooperation activities that help security sectors around the globe predict, prevent, and mitigate conflict while protecting human security.
We’ve led workshops on refugee and IDP management that inspired “breakthrough” reforms among Middle East partner forces. We’ve helped multiple Central Asian security sectors tackle root drivers of extremism and curb transnational trafficking consistent while protecting human rights. In Latin America, we’ve advanced Women, Peace, and Security through multinational initiatives involving militaries, police, and civil society. We’ve helped design programs that support effective disarmament and reintegration among ex-combatants in Africa and Asia.
Our clients include Combatant Commands, policy-level agencies, regional and thematic centers, and others who rely on Motive to bring deep regional and thematic expertise and a mission-first resolve to the high-stakes work of security cooperation.
Representatives from across the Middle East participate in a Motive-designed workshop on transnational threats. Motive often integrates tabletop exercises and simulations in our security cooperation events.
Among Motive’s cross-sector partners is the Nigerian think tank the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy & Development (SCDDD), led by Ambassador Abdullahi Omaki, pictured above with Motive CEO Morgan Keay.
Stable Markets & social impact
On behalf of the U.S. Trade & Development Agency (USTDA), Motive worked with government, industry, and civil society stakeholders across Sub-Saharan Africa to structure high-impact deals. Our programming catalyzed billions of dollars in new investments, especially in healthcare infrastructure essential for resilience and stability.
Among Motive’s first initiatives after our founding in 2015 was our support to the Nigerian government as they launched a massive school feeding program – part of an ambitious social safety net agenda. We helped the Nigerian government connect with smallholder farmers and local food processors – even in conflict-affected areas -- to develop agile supply chains for the program. We also developed innovative financing models involving public spending and impact investments. Years later, Nigeria’s school feeding program is among the largest in the world, contributing to stability through food security and sustainable agribusiness.
Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning
Taught in our popular Transforming Crisis Systems course and applied to everything we do, our originally-developed “Types & Targets of Change” (T2Delta) tool helps craft airtight indicators that measure results at the output through impact levels.
As part of a pro-bono impact initiative we supported in Indonesia, a Motive team worked with local civil society and government officials to develop metrics and goals for reducing police violence against LGBTQ+ citizens. Participatory M&E boosted stakeholder accountability and empowered activists with data to drive change.
Struggling with new Pentagon requirements to evaluate the effectiveness of their multi-million-dollar security cooperation portfolio, CENTCOM’s counter-narcotics branch hired Motive to develop an assessment framework and train their staff. The result was a new way of working that quantified the degree to which partner-facing programs advanced CENTCOM campaign objectives.
A Motive pro-bono team applies participatory M&E methods in Indonesia alongside citizens experiencing conflict with local police.