Arlington, Va. (Jan. 31, 2022) The Professional Services Council (PSC) and its Council of International Development Companies (CIDC) have worked closely with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as the agency reassesses its efforts at greater localized development policies, programs, and goals.  An earlier CIDC paper, Perspectives on Localization, was well-received in the agency for its perspectives and reviews of previous and ongoing efforts to engage more broadly with in-country partners.

On November 4, 2021, USAID Administrator Samantha Power announced, “…a 25 percent target of our assistance going to local partners” as part of her New Vision for Global Development (https://www.usaid.gov/news-information/speeches/nov-4-2021-administrator-samantha-power-new-vision-global-development) speech at Georgetown University.  

In support of the long-term sustainability provided by local funding and in recognition of current program implementation practices, three of CIDC’s leading experts on locally led development released a paper today urging that:  

Every day, USAID implementing partners are contributing to the 25 percent target by directing programming to local organizations and building organizational capacity in line with the seven principles to guide local capacity development outlined in USAID's Draft Local Capacity Development Policy. Many contracts, including contracts with small businesses, provide 30-60 percent of funds to local organizations, not as beneficiaries of activities but rather as directly funded partners in the program. This funding should be included in USAID’s locally-led development goals to recognize the valuable contributions of local grantees and subcontractors to USAID’s impact.

The paper, Grants Under Contracts and Local Subcontracts: Helping Meet USAID’s Locally Led Development Goals, was authored by Roshana Cohen (Chemonics), Sandra Amis (TetraTech), and Mike Walsh (DAI).

CIDC Chair and President of Creative Associates Leland Kruvant applauded the work, noting, “This is the second paper that CIDC has produced on the importance and impact of locally-led development that demonstrates both the collective knowledge base of our members and our appreciation for the seriousness with which USAID senior leaders have engaged with us as we all work together to improve U.S. foreign assistance programs, outcomes and accountability.”

The full report is available here.


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Media Contact: 
Pheniece Jones 
Director, Media Relations 
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