USAID

Implementing Partners

“Low-hanging fruit” / more easily implemented options

• Do more field-based portfolio reviews so mission staff listen to and interact more with stakeholders directly impacted by programming
• Use co-creation design approaches (such as Broad Agency Announcements) to integrate local voices more into activity design
• Collaborate on strategy, project and activity design with host government counterparts

• Integrate listening, relationship-building, and engagement periods into activity start-up and work plans to avoid rushing to implementation without appropriate consultation with and buy-in of local actors (see this resource for some approaches).
• Incorporate questions about locally led development in interviews to make sure staff hired believe in the importance of local ownership
• Use more participatory approaches to M&E like Most Significant Change

• Create and facilitate local advisory committees or boards that leadership engage for input and advice
• Be as intentional about managing relationships as we are about managing agreements
• Establish and implement Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) plans to identify critical local stakeholders and how collaboration will be carried out
• Consider indicators that are more process oriented (not just outcome oriented). For example, how satisfied were participants with the activity? Did they feel heard, engaged in decision-making, etc.?

Recommendations that require systemic change

• Overhaul of the activity design and solicitation process so that it is locally driven (see this resource for some ideas)
• Change in funding processes so that local needs and priorities can dictate funding streams

• Integrate a phase in all activities where the activity is essentially redesigned with significant local input and ownership (see this resource for some approaches)
• Consider novel organizational management and ownership structures that make use of feedback loops to be accountable to local constituents (see IRC’s client-responsive framework here)

• Redesign organizational incentive structures to incentivize staff to focus on sustainable, locally led development vs. solely the achievement of immediate results
• More local context and language training for foreign staff
• Empower local staff to take a stronger role in collaborating with local stakeholders and train foreign staff how to listen and engage in culturally appropriate ways
• Longer agreement timeframes to enable more time for local engagement, capacity building, and handover