USAID funding not only drives development solutions, but also builds sustainability by empowering our partners.
USAID envisages the role of local partners as more comprehensive than merely implementing solutions and programs. USAID seeks to involve partners in the design of solutions in such a way that they become co-creators of programs. USAID is also interested in funding programs that increase the institutional capacities of the local organizations implementing them.
Co-creation
USAID incorporates co-creation processes as an integral part of direct funding for local organizations. The Agency understands co-creation as bringing people together to collectively design solutions to specific development challenges in time-bound and participatory sessions. Co-creation leverages collective knowledge and experiences to craft impactful solutions in congruence with USAID’s goals, and allows the development of partnerships centered on common objectives, mutual trust and shared interests.
Solicitations directed at local organizations might include a co-creation phase before the submission of a final application. In this case, USAID works alongside competitively selected applicants, in a collaborative manner, to refine their technical and cost applications and to bring them closer to USAID’s objectives and policies. While participation in co-creation processes does not guarantee the award of USAID funding, it equips applicants to prepare very competitive final applications.
Typically, participants in co-creation sessions with USAID actively collaborate to define the target problem, to design the development hypothesis or theory of change, to formulate the results and possible interventions, and to identify key aspects such as assumptions, risks, and expected monitoring and evaluation approaches. USAID offers accompaniment and orientation in those aspects most relevant for the solicitation and those requested by applicants.
When an award is made, the selected local organization might also expect to participate in co-creation in different stages, such as award administration, implementation, modification, work planning, and closeout, using a variety of approaches and mechanisms.
Local capacity strengthening
While USAID regularly seeks established partners to implement complex solutions, the Agency also seeks to strengthen the capacity of local organizations so that they may progressively acquire more skills to perform advanced and larger interventions with USAID funding, and might be able to ensure the local continuity of solutions once USAID funding has ended. USAID also wants to tap from the valuable resources already possessed by local organizations, including their expertise and their unique knowledge of the contexts where they work, to drive relevant development interventions.
As described in USAID’s Local Capacity Strengthening Policy, the approach of the Agency to empower local organizations aims to:
1 Start with the local system. USAID recognizes the value of the existing capacities of local organizations and seeks to leverage their main advantages, rather than to build capacities from scratch.
2 Strengthen diverse capacities through diverse approaches. To select the best approach to strengthen capacities, USAID looks at the specific skills, resources and needs of each organization, and then emphasizes innovative and creative solutions.
3 Measure performance collaboratively. USAID provides tailored monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) accompaniment to allow awardees to properly measure institutional improvement.
If selected for USAID funding (subject to availability of funds and alignment with USAID priorities), local organizations may be requested to develop and implement a capacity strengthening plan as part of their results framework and workplan. Other local organizations not receiving direct funding might benefit from capacity strengthening interventions offered by many USAID programs.
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Centroamerica Local
Learn about the principles that underpin USAID’s efforts to promote locally-led development
Co-creating with USAID
Learn about USAID’s commitment to increase the capacity of local partners
Funding opportunities
Learn about open opportunities for local organizations in Honduras
How to apply to USAID funding
Learn how you can prepare competitive applications
Resources
Review useful how-to guides and videos that will help you prepare your applications