Speeches Shim
Strengthening USAID’s ability to partner with non-traditional and diverse actors.
Partnerships are at the core of USAID’s work. That’s why USAID is finding ways to strengthen, expand, and diversify its partner base. USAID is strengthening its ability to partner with nontraditional and diverse actors, including local, faith-based, and community organizations; schools and hospitals; minority-serving institutions; foundations; diaspora communities; cooperatives; and volunteer organizations. Through the following programs, initiatives, and opportunities, USAID is harnessing the power of partnerships to advance sustainable, inclusive development and public diplomacy.
USAID is strengthening and expanding partnership opportunities in a number of ways:
- Building Bridges: USAID conducts outreach to non-traditional and diverse partners, provides guidance and connections to work with USAID, and also seeks to identify and lower barriers to entry.
- Strengthening Capacity: USAID looks to provide staff within USAID with the tools and resources to engage with non-traditional and diverse partners, while also supporting capacity building efforts with non-traditional and diverse partners.
- Advancing Policy: USAID gathers and analyzes data on the role and impact of engaging with non-traditional and diverse partners, and speaks to the unique contributions of these partners within USAID and in the broader international community.
Faith-based Partnerships
Faith-based organizations serve some of the most vulnerable populations in the world. They are often the first in and the last to leave, and uniquely qualified to identify and meet local needs. USAID is looking to enhance collaboration with faith-based and community organizations.
Locally Led Partnerships
When local partners own the agenda-setting and decision-making, development outcomes are often more successful and sustainable. USAID is strengthening its ability to collaborate directly with new and underutilized local stakeholders, and to partner in ways that enable local stakeholders to drive the development process.
New Partnerships Initiative
NPI seeks to lower the barriers faced by nontraditional partners—including local actors, U.S. small businesses, faith-based organizations, cooperatives, diaspora groups, and civil society organizations—so that the Agency can embrace the diverse potential of the partnering community in pursuit of our shared development goals. NPI’s vision is to promote funding opportunities and capacity development that elevate local leadership to define the priorities that matter to their communities, design and implement solutions with the full range of development partners, mobilize resources across local systems, and foster accountability for the results.
Partnerships with Minority Serving Institutions
Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) including Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), play an essential role in supporting and connecting with indigenous and underrepresented communities in the U.S. USAID looks to harness the unique perspective and capabilities of MSI for international development and humanitarian assistance.
Partnerships with American Schools and Hospitals Abroad
Access to quality education and health services are essential to a successful, thriving society. Through partnerships between U.S. organizations and overseas institutions, USAID has aided in the development of more than 300 innovative and state-of-the-art schools, libraries, and medical centers. Through this work, USAID is cultivating civil society, supporting American ideas and practices, and advancing public diplomacy in countries around the world. USAID also provides federal surplus property to hospitals, clinics, group homes, infant feeding centers, colleges, vocational facilities, and schools in countries around the world. Learn more about these partnerships and opportunities:
Connect with Us
WorkwithUSAID.org: This website is a free resource hub that empowers partners with the knowledge and networks to navigate how to work with USAID.
WorkWith USAID factsheet (PDF 529KB)
LFT Hub Fact Sheet (PDF 263KB)
Leadership
Adam Nicholas Phillips
Director, Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships & Local, Faith and Transformative Partnerships at USAID
Adam Nicholas Phillips is the director of the Local, Faith and Transformative Partnerships Hub within the Development, Democracy and Innovation Bureau, overseeing the one-stop shop to non-traditional partnerships. This includes Locally Led Development Initiatives, the New Partnerships Initiative, Minority Serving Institutions, and American Schools and Hospitals Abroad. He is also the Biden-Harris Administration appointee to lead USAID’s Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (FBNP). FBNP at USAID is part of the White House’s Interagency Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnership efforts, and serves as a critical partner with civil society around international development, humanitarian work, and diplomacy. FBNP at USAID is working to strengthen democracy and stand with others on the path toward self-reliance and resilience, in addition to addressing the global COVID-19, climate, and human rights crises.
For two decades Adam has served as a pastor, movement organizer, and strategist, working at the intersection of faith and public life. Leading inclusive and multi-faith mobilization efforts for The ONE Campaign, Bread For The World, World Vision, Union for Affirming Christians, Mike Bloomberg 2020, and Faith 2020 he has a proven track record on national faith organizing to bring about broad-based transformation. A TEDx speaker, his work has also been featured in The Atlantic, CNN, Washington Post, NPR, Huffington Post, Relevant Magazine and the Christian Broadcasting Network’s 700 Club. He relocated with his family to Washington, DC from Portland where he founded and led Christ Church: Portland, the first of its kind inclusive faith community in Oregon.
Last updated: May 23, 2022
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