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Locally Led Development Initiatives
2024 Issue 8 Newsletter |
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REFLECTING ON A SUCCESSFUL 2024 |
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 In 2024, LLDI partnered with a wide range of Missions and local partners, providing financial and technical assistance to advance locally led development around the world.
As we close out 2024, LLDI is proud to highlight the strides we’ve made in empowering local partners to lead development efforts in their communities through Local Works and other LLDI programs. From hosting Local Works’ first regional Africa Regional Learning Summit to participating in listening tours and site visits, from facilitating co-creation workshops to conducting and collaborating on evaluations, we’ve witnessed the deepening impact of locally led approaches across the globe. Thank you to our Missions and partners for all you do to advance locally led development (LLD) every day! We are excited to build on these partnerships and continue empowering local actors to lead their own development in 2025. Check out where we’ve been throughout 2024.
 In 2024, the LLDI Washington team engaged with 31 countries through in-person mission support, award management and oversight, peer learning events, and conference representation to advance locally led development.
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5 TAKEAWAYS ON
ENGAGING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
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 The Utz Che network in Guatemala gathers indigenous community members for a dialogue on conservation issues that impact their lands, livelihoods, and development.
Indigenous Peoples hold a wealth of ancestral knowledge and holistic approaches to addressing local challenges. Nevertheless, they have historically been under-consulted and engaged in development projects that impact their communities and lands. Through Local Works, USAID/Guatemala has been a leader in strengthening engagement with Indigenous groups. In partnership with the Mesoamerican Alliance of People and Forests (AMPB) and the Rainforest Foundation US, they aim to strengthen organizational capacity and support sustainable natural resource management in Guatemala. Read five key lessons from this collaboration to inform future engagement with Indigenous Peoples across the globe.
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EXPANDING ARMENIAN MARKETS
THROUGH COLLABORATIVE EXCHANGE
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 During a Local Works community development exchange in California, Armenian entrepreneurs presented their products for broader distribution in American storefronts, such as Buy Armenian.
Since its consolidation in 2015, the Noyemberyan community has felt disconnected and needed a shared vision for its development. To address these challenges, the Local Works-funded Smart Noyemberyan project led by the Community Center for Development (CCD) tapped into locally led development approaches to address core local governance and economic development priorities. Consultations revealed unique opportunities to engage the Armenian diaspora in Glendale, California, leading to an exchange trip in early 2024.
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
SUB-OPPORTUNITIES ON WORKWITHUSAID.GOV (OPEN TO THE PUBLIC)
WorkwithUSAID.gov helps prospective and existing partners learn how to better compete for USAID funding. Current and potential partners are encouraged to explore USAID’s open solicitations and check out sub-opportunities to work with contractors and recipients currently receiving USAID funding. A wealth of resources are available in multiple languages.
RECENT EVENTS
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 Women observe photo prints at “Women in Motion: Portraits of the Present, Communities of the Future.”
EXHIBITION IN ASUNCION, PARAGUAY SPOTLIGHTS WOMEN
On November 27 and 28, the Cultural Center of the Port of Asunción in Paraguay displayed the multimedia exhibition “Women in Motion: Portraits of the Present, Communities of the Future.” It featured women who participated in programs developed by Fundación Capital, a Local Works-supported implementing partner of the “Women Entrepreneur“ Project. The exhibition highlighted real stories of women and their processes of personal change, inviting the public to understand women as key agents in the generation of systemic changes.
 Local and international stakeholders gather for an award co-creation organized by USAID/Turkmenistan.
USAID/TURKMENISTAN CO-CREATES AWARD WITH LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS
Amidst a national drive to transform the livestock sector, USAID/Turkmenistan turned to co-creation to develop a new Local Works award. The recent co-creation workshop brought together local applicants, local livestock experts, and USAID colleagues from Central Asia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Washington offices to reflect on a local listening tour, educate local stakeholders on USAID processes, and brainstorm new and innovative approaches to local challenges in the livestock industry.
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 USAID/Pakistan and Local Works partners kick off the Justuju project.
USAID/PAKISTAN LAUNCHES NEW LOCAL WORKS ACTIVITIES
USAID/Pakistan recently launched two new activities under its Local Works program to enhance social cohesion and peaceful coexistence at the neighborhood and community level. The activities aim to work with local stakeholders to address hate speech, violent extremist narratives, and barriers between diverse communities that increase intolerance, violence, and conflict across faiths and communities in volatile areas of Pakistan. Learn more in these local publications: The News, Daily Times, and Pakistan Observer.
 LOCAL WORKS SPEAKS ON A LOCALIZATION PANEL IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
On November 20, Local Works participated in a panel discussion hosted by the Dominican Republic's Department of Civil Society and the World Bank on how international organizations, donors, and civil society organizations can collaborate to advance locally led development, acknowledge systemic and structural challenges, and identify best practices. Two hundred attendees from local and international organizations representing ten countries participated. Check out the agenda and related resources here.
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TOOLS, RESOURCES, & CASE STUDIES
STORIES OF RESILENCE: GLOBAL COMMISSION ON ADAPTATION REPORT
The Global Commission on Adaptation (GCA) is building on lessons learned from development practitioners to advance locally led development around the world. To this end, GCA recently released its annual Stories of Resilience report, which aims to initiate conversations around enabling factors and barriers for transferring ownership and decision-making power to local actors. For the first time, USAID was invited to contribute to a donor-led chapter, and a story about Local Works partner MashinaniWORKS was featured. Read the report.
NEW RESOURCE FOR USAID TRANSITION AWARDS
Local Works-funded research award Stopping as Success (SAS+) recently released a new resource for organizations navigating USAID transition awards: “Transitioning Responsibly through USAID Transition Award Processes.” Drawing on seven years of learning alongside partners in transition, this tool provides both evidence-informed good practice as well as an overview of USAID policy for implementing transition award processes.
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The Locally Led Development Initiatives are part of the Local, Faith, and Transformative Partnerships (LFT) Hub, situated within USAID’s Bureau for Inclusive Growth, Partnerships, and Innovation (IPI). 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.
Stay up to date with all the latest information from USAID’s LFT Hub by subscribing to these additional newsletters!
- American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA)
- Cooperative Development Program (CDP)
- Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (FBNP)
- Limited Excess Property Program (LEPP)
- New Partnerships Initiative (NPI)
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