BUREAU FOR DEVELOPMENT, DEMOCRACY, AND INNOVATION

LOCAL, FAITH, AND TRANSFORMATIVE PARTNERSHIPS HUB

Locally Led Development Initiatives

JUNE 2022

LOCAL WORKS PHOTO CONTEST WINNER: FLAVIO BORGES, USAID/TIMOR-LESTE "LOCAL WORKS TEAM INTERVIEWING YOUTH ON THE STREET IN THE LIQUICA MUNICIPALITY."

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: PUSHING BARRIERS FOR PHILANTHROPY

PHOTO CREDIT: USAID/BIH. LOCAL PARTNERS AND USAID MISSION STAFF DISCUSS ADVOCACY STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING BIH’S LEGAL PHILANTHROPIC FRAMEWORK.

Community giving can help strengthen social cohesion and foster community-driven economic development, but local organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) have cited that philanthropy’s potential to thrive has been hindered by a lack of an effective legal framework. Despite BiH’s long, rich history of philanthropic efforts, giving in BiH has tended to be one-off, event-driven individual donations. A more strategic approach could foster more sustainable community development – and USAID/BiH Local Works partner Mozaik Foundation is leading a group of local organizations working to remove legal barriers for philanthropy to flourish.

The group recently succeeded in advocating for tangible changes to one such barrier that previously kept citizens and diaspora organizations from making online donations. Possible conflicts between the law and strict anti-fraud, anti-money laundering, and anti-terrorist financing rules raised concerns on whether online donations could be considered legal. Even though banks have technical capabilities to conduct online transfers, they hesitated to risk the fines associated with the loose legal interpretations. Many would-be donors were also unwilling to take the risk, which impeded philanthropic efforts to raise funds. 

Mozaik’s group advocated for legal clarification by one of BiH’s banking agencies—and won. In May, that banking agency issued an official opinion that allows banks to establish a new medium for organizations to raise funds online. As local actors continue to push for an improved legal philanthropic framework, the culture of community philanthropy can further enhance locally led development in BiH.

This activity is supported by Local Works.

KENYA: LOCAL VOICES MAKING COOPERATIVE POLICY MEANINGFUL

PHOTO CREDIT: GLOBAL COMMUNITIES. COOPERATIVE MEMBERS CRITIQUE AND RESPOND TO KENYA’S DRAFT COOPERATIVE BILL TOGETHER.

For cooperatives to succeed in any country, legal frameworks must enable them to thrive as member-driven, autonomous businesses – especially in a country like Kenya, where over 25,000 cooperatives represent 63 percent of the population. Kenya’s law governing cooperative businesses hasn't been updated since 2004, even though Kenya adopted a new constitution in 2010, decentralizing it into 47 independent counties. Though a new Cooperative Bill was drafted and debated from 2019 to 2020, remaining conflicts with the constitution meant significant input from key local, country-level actors was needed before final Parliament approval. USAID’s Cooperative Development Program (CDP) created the opportunity to do so.

Local cooperative leaders and policymakers across Kenya – from cooperative members to county officials to legal experts – came together to participate in this inclusive reform process. Focusing on understanding relationships and power dynamics, CDP has facilitated legal assistance, key meetings with stakeholders, and increased engagement of cooperative leaders across Kenya. Strathmore University Business School and CDP partner Global Communities developed an educational program in which over 260 cooperative stakeholders rigorously analyzed the cooperative context, debated on policy development, conceptualized county-level change management strategies, and more. This set the stage for further engagement. A legal team from Kenya’s State Department of Cooperatives worked with CDP partner NCBA CLUSA to determine the enabling and disabling elements of Kenyan cooperative law. Local cooperatives and other stakeholders actively participated in a public comment period on the draft bill, submitting over 306 formal comments. Broad public participation led by county officials during the drafting stages – uncommon for bills submitted to the Kenyan Parliament – resulted in a more meaningful draft Cooperative Bill. Currently awaiting Parliament approval, it now explicitly promotes cooperative autonomy and increases women and youth inclusion. 

This effort signals the power of convention and showcases the range of opportunities available to support local stakeholders in their pursuit of policies and legislation that more accurately reflect their needs and aspirations. With intentional inclusion of local voices, Kenyans across the country are poised to benefit from a new framework for cooperatives.

This feature was adapted from a recent blog on MarketLinks written by CDP partners Global Communities and NCBA CLUSA. Learn more about how the CDP supports cooperative policy engagement in Kenya.

BURMA: FIRST DIRECT AWARDS TO LOCAL PARTNERS IN KACHIN STATE

PHOTO CREDIT: HOPE. PRESCHOOL TEACHERS IN KACHIN STATE ATTEND TRAINING TO SUPPORT PARENTS AND CHILDREN TO ADOPT DRUG USE PREVENTION STRATEGIES.

Community members in Burma’s northernmost Kachin State say about one member in every household uses drugs. Efforts to address the devastating heroin epidemic largely tackle health aspects while the socioeconomic aspects – exacerbated by issues like conflict and cyclical mining labor – have gone unaddressed. Recognizing the complexity of the situation, USAID/Burma’s Local Works program supports local actors leading cross-cutting solutions to challenges caused by drug addiction. The Mission’s partners – Kachinland Research Centre, Humanity Institute, and HOPE – each partner with more local organizations, forming a network of 20 organizations. They recently convened for the first time to learn from each other, share stories of change, and commit to creating a shared learning platform for ongoing collaboration. As USAID’s first direct awards to local organizations in Kachin State, these activities aim to prevent drug use, rehabilitate people who use drugs, and reduce the stigma they face in Kachin State.

This activity is supported by Local Works.

ARMENIA: COMMUNITIES RESILIENT TO SHOCKS

PHOTO CREDIT: USAID/ARMENIA. WOMEN RECEIVING SUPPORT FROM LOCAL PARTNERS.

In Armenia, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict have left rural communities in need of socioeconomic and psychological support. Communities shared with USAID/Armenia’s Local Works partners, Armavir Development Center and Martuni Women Community Council NGOs, that some of the most pressing issues include rising poverty while income decreases, worsening education, and elevated stress and anxiety. This guided how the partners strategized their support, ensuring that community members themselves identified the most pertinent longer-term challenges. One community member shared: "With the organizations standing to support us, we do not feel alone with our troubles. Most importantly, we were asked what support we needed the most and received what exactly we asked for." For example, 1,204 families recently received food and hygiene supplies while 1,107 students now have materials that make their education more accessible. Psychological help is offered in person and through the hotline. Other vulnerable populations in the communities, like displaced populations from Nagorno-Karabakh, are receiving increased access to psychosocial and information support. The activities go beyond COVID-19 response: they’re building resilience to both overcome current and future shocks by leading with local voice.

This activity is supported by Local Works.

 🏆 LOCALLY LED DEVELOPMENT

CHAMPION OF THE MONTH 🏆

PHOTO CREDIT: USAID/BURMA. MYINT MYINT KYU, PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST, HAS LED CREATIVELY AND PASSIONATELY AS HER MISSION’S LOCAL WORKS COORDINATOR SINCE 2018.

Locally Led Development Champions–Local Works Mission staff nominated by the Local Works DC team–embody the spirit of locally led development through commitment, dedication, innovation, advocacy, and initiative in advancing its work. They operationalize USAID’s localization agenda   every day.

“As an introverted person, I prefer to listen rather than talk,” Myint Myint Kyu humbly told us; her warm personality, genuine interest in learning from local communities’ experiences, and steadfast commitment has enabled USAID/Burma’s Local Works program to continue – and thrive. Over eight trips to Kachin, Myint Myint translated conversations in real time with over 80 local stakeholders while capturing knowledge to design the program. Now, her established trust makes partners feel empowered to navigate working with USAID while leading implementation. 

She says the complex challenges Burma is facing – from COVID-19 to the military coup – have “ further emphasized the importance of locally driven development.” Even as international partners relocated amidst security challenges, their Kachin partners have found “solutions to overcome all the challenges” through their lived knowledge and established relationships. Her work serves as proof to both USAID/Burma and the entire Agency for why partnering locally matters. 

One of her tips to enhance locally led development support?

“Providing capacity building support to local organizations is as important as listening to local voices in designing and implementing activities that meet local people's needs.”

KENYA OWNED, LED, AND MANAGED: DIRECTOR PHILLIPS AND ASSISTANT TO THE ADMINISTRATOR SUMILAS SEE LOCALIZATION FIRSTHAND

PHOTO CREDIT: USAID/KENYA. DIRECTOR PHILLIPS AND ATA SUMILAS MEET WITH GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT SHINING HOPE FOR COMMUNITIES IN KIBERA, KENYA’S LARGEST SLUM.

What does locally led development in Kenya look like? An interfaith coalition planning for peacebuilding after the polls for Kenya’s August national election closes. A park ranger sending her daughter to school through her income from being one of the first female rangers of USAID-supported Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservation Association (MMWCA). Landowners in Mara North Conservancy breeding Boran cows, a more resilient, faster-maturing type of cattle, to sell for higher profit and reduce environmental pressure. 

These are just some examples of the local leaders that met with  Local, Faith, and Transformative Partnerships (LFT) Hub Director Adam Phillips and Assistant to the Administrator (AtA) of the Bureau for Policy, Planning, and Learning Michele Sumilas during their May travels to Kenya. Hearing directly from voices at the center of USAID’s locally led programming, Director Phillips and AtA Sumilas gathered more evidence and perspectives to inform USAID’s initiative to increase localization. Read the press release here.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PARTNER WITH THE LFT HUB

Locally Led Development Initiatives are part of the Local, Faith, and Transformative Partnerships (LFT) Hub. 

The LFT Hub focuses on strengthening USAID’s ability to partner with non-traditional and diverse actors including local, faith-based, and community organizations; schools and hospitals; foundations; diaspora communities; cooperatives; and volunteer organizations. Learn more about how LFT is harnessing the power of partnerships through the following:

• American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA)
• Faith and Neighborhood Partnerships (FBNP)
• Limited Excess Property Program (LEPP)
• Locally Led Development Initiatives (LLDI)
• New Partnerships Initiative (NPI)

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