BUREAU FOR DEVELOPMENT, DEMOCRACY, AND INNOVATION

LOCAL, FAITH, AND TRANSFORMATIVE PARTNERSHIPS HUB

Locally Led Development Initiatives

JULY 2022

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

GUATEMALA: UNSOLICITED LOCAL SOLUTION ADAPTS FOR IMPACT

PHOTO CREDIT: USAID/GUATEMALA. A SCHOOL IN SAN MARTÍN JILOTEPEQUE RECEIVES COVID-19 SAFETY SUPPLIES AND INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS.

When Guatemalan schools first closed to keep students safe amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Guatemala’s Ministry of Education (MOE) launched a distance learning strategy, Aprendo en Casa. Local organization Fundacion Sergio Paiz Andrade (FUNSEPA) noticed that the campaign was reaching many students – but rural, indigenous, and female students still faced barriers in accessing continued distance learning, raising concerns for high dropout rates once schools could reopen. The MOE needed to show communities that schools would be a safe place for students to return once the time was right. Providing hygiene equipment for children and teachers, sharing and following national health protocols, and ensuring teachers could foster inclusive classrooms with virtual and hybrid teaching methods was all urgently needed. At the forefront of education innovation in Guatemala, FUNSEPA knew their expertise and ties with communities would be crucial in supporting the MOE’s effort. Despite never having received USAID funds, FUNSEPA decided to submit their concept to Unsolicited Solutions for Locally Led Development (US4LLD).

When FUNSEPA worked with USAID/Guatemala to operationalize their concept, the MOE had intended to reopen schools across the country in early 2021. With a “stoplight” system for managing pandemic restrictions in different municipalities – on top of many public school facilities already needing repairs before the pandemic – re-openings have been delayed and uneven. FUNSEPA needed to adapt their activities. Through this Safe Return to School campaign, FUNSEPA has been equipping over 17,000 schools with hygiene and prevention kits including more than 1.5 million masks, reaching communities on COVID-19 protection measures through educational posters and videos in multiple local languages, supporting the MOE’s monitoring plan, and integrating technology tools for education to ensure more inclusive classrooms for 2,967 students in rural areas. 

Juntos Mejoramos Tu Escuela (Together we improve your school), a partnership between USAID and UNICEF, will build upon these achievements to strengthen the education system, ensuring continued opportunities for the most marginalized. Read the Locally Led Development Champions of the Month section to learn about the USAID/Guatemala staff who made this possible!

This activity is supported by Unsolicited Solutions for Locally Led Development.

NORTH MACEDONIA: SPARKING STRATEGIC GIVING

PHOTO CREDIT: TOMISLAV GEORGIEV FOR KONEKT. NORTH MACEDONIAN CITIZENS GATHER FOR THE GIVING CIRCLE.

In North Macedonia, philanthropy is being put into action to create a more sustainable democratic culture. Konekt, a USAID Local Works partner, has been working with individual citizens to enable and promote philanthropy for meaningful social change. To provide them with the opportunity to choose civil society organizations (CSOs) to support, donate in a common space, and make collective impact, Konekt hosts the annual Donatorski Kruzhok, or “Giving Circle.” In June, over 70 Macedonian citizens-turned-philanthropists gathered on a covered terrace for the third Donatorski Kruzhok. In spite of rain, they inspired each other to donate more strategically to support the selected CSOs that work to build more inclusive communities. 

Private companies pledged to double part of the funds raised by individual donors, challenging citizens to give more. As a result, attendees raised over 450,992 Macedonian denars, or about $7,440 USD, surpassing their target donation amount. A third of the funds came from businesses. Donations will benefit an artistic collective that brings together youth with and without disabilities; a network of 16 organizations improving the lives of women facing violence; and a non-profit led by and for young people who will organize a summer camp for children with and without disabilities.

Convening individual citizens and corporate partners at Donatorski Kruzhok and other events does more than just raise money: local association Konekt is cultivating a community of donors and corporate partners from the grassroots. The coalitions of new and budding philanthropists spark a culture of more strategic giving towards causes and movements that citizens feel make a difference in their own communities. Konekt intends to intensify their communication with the philanthropists and organize the Donatorski Kruzhok twice annually moving forward.

This activity is supported by Local Works.

NEPAL: COMMUNITY-BASED FOOD SECURITY

PHOTO CREDIT: PEACE CORPS/NEPAL. MINA FACILITATING NUTRITION TRAINING TO HER MOTHER’S GROUP MEMBERS.

Mina, a community-based nutrition facilitator in Nepal, works up to 10 hours every day to strategically share nutrition advice and health messaging throughout her community. She partners with local mothers’ groups, farmers, and Female Community Health Volunteers–a program founded by the Nepalese government–to ensure healthcare reaches even the most remote districts. To strengthen her work, Mina regularly connects with health and nutrition practitioners from six other districts through trainings funded by the Small Project Assistance (SPA) program. 

From food security skills to stress management tips, participants share resources virtually and in-person to deepen knowledge and relationships across districts. Mina shared that she “feel(s) more comfortable designing and facilitating nutrition sessions for mothers’ groups, linking them to the market, mitigating and managing COVID-19 risks, and advocating… with our local government officials” at a time when food security services in her community are more vital than ever.

These trainings are supported by the Small Project Assistance program.

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: COOPERATIVES AND WOMEN’S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

PHOTO CREDIT: LAND O’LAKES VENTURE37. WOMEN COOPERATIVE MEMBERS GATHER TOGETHER IN RWANDA.

Socioeconomic inequality, unsafe housing, gender-based violence (GBV), and inadequate healthcare inhibit women's economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). To help local policymakers, donors, and civil society solve these challenges, the U.S. Overseas Cooperative Development Council (OCDC), a Cooperative Development Program partner, joined a research consortium to identify the barriers and opportunities for women in 10 SSA countries.

Preliminary findings suggest cooperatives can advance women's economic empowerment. Cooperative membership formalizes women’s work. Women earn higher wages and have increased access to training, decision-making, and social networks. Cooperatives prioritize members’ needs. They provide valuable member services and invest excess revenue into social projects that benefit women and their families. Housing cooperatives decrease exposure to GBV and disease. Women can live safely and affordably with democratic control over their living environment. Health cooperatives provide women in SSA who face high fertility and maternal mortality rates with access to quality, cost-effective healthcare.

The final report, expected later this year, will explore the most profitable sectors for women and the policies, environments, and skills needed to exercise economic agency. OCDC will draw on the findings specific to cooperatives to grow the evidence base on women's economic empowerment and cooperatives.

This research is supported by the Cooperative Development Program.

🏆 LOCALLY LED DEVELOPMENT

CHAMPIONS OF THE MONTH 🏆

PHOTO CREDIT: USAID/GUATEMALA. ADAM AND FABIOLA, TWO LOCALLY LED DEVELOPMENT CHAMPIONS.

In USAID/Guatemala’s Office of Acquisition and Assistance (OAA), Adam, Indyra, and Fabiola consistently prove how local participation is crucial for the success of development objectives. They listen and “[create] spaces to mentor” local partners: engaging in local languages, experimenting with new methods of co-creation, and identifying unique ways to better suit local needs while meeting requirements are just some steps they take to ensure true collaboration between USAID and local stakeholders. At USAID/Guatemala, they feel their team has helped “[set] a space where local organizations are able to participate in USAID funding opportunities and [find] ways to provide resources and tools to organizations interested in working with the Agency.”

Their advice?

“Take extra risks, don’t be afraid to do things differently, and try to break paradigms. ”        - Indyra

“Be flexible and consider the needs of the local organizations. Use simple language, think outside the USAID world and take advantage of the expertise of the local partners.”           - Fabiola

“Try to put yourself in the shoes of local organizations when designing and planning… throughout all of the phases of the procurement process… in a manner that is understandable and manageable for the local organizations.” - Adam

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 exemplary initiative in advancing its work. They advance and operationalize USAID’s localization agenda every day.

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)

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND IDEAS FOR FUTURE STORIES:

VISIT US ONLINE

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER