LOCAL CAPACITY STRENGTHENING POLICY

Learning & Feedback Forum Event Page

One year after the launch of the Local Capacity Strengthening Policy, USAID is excited to host the first annual Learning and Feedback Forum.

The Learning and Feedback Forum is a six-day series of virtual events that will bring together local actors, global stakeholders in the development and humanitarian communities, and USAID staff to discuss the Local Capacity Strengthening Policy’s implementation progress and help guide future implementation. Participants will share lessons learned and good practices, access tools and resources, elevate successes, and communicate feedback on Policy implementation.

Forum Objectives

Objective 1: Share USAID's progress on the Local Capacity Strengthening Policy implementation, reviewing available tools, resources, sector implementation guidance, and evidence with all stakeholders.

Objective 2: Establish a platform for USAID, local actors, and partners to have constructive and transparent discussions about the implementation of the Local Capacity Strengthening Policy and its priorities for the coming year.

Objective 3: Support mutual learning around technical advancements in Local Capacity Strengthening through the collection, dissemination, and sharing of evidence and innovative practices.

Register for one or all of the sessions depending on your interest and availability. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact reasonableaccommodations@usaid.gov.

Session Information

Session information will be regularly updated on this page as speakers are confirmed. Simultaneous interpretation will be available based on time zones, availability, and session design in Spanish, French, Arabic, and Kiswahili. All sessions will include American Sign Language (ASL) translation unless otherwise noted.

Participants are advised that each session will be recorded and available publicly and are advised not to disclose Personally Identifiable Information (PII). DDI will handle any participant Personally Identifiable Information (PII) consistent with Federal laws and USAID’s Privacy and Security policies.

Opening Session

Tuesday, October 10, 2023
9-10 a.m. ET
(1-2 p.m. UTC / 4-5 p.m. EAT / 8-9 p.m. ICT)

The opening plenary will feature USAID leadership including Agency Counselor Clinton White and Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Development, Democracy, and Innovation (DDI), Sheryl Stumbras.

Simultaneous translation will be available in Spanish, French, Arabic, Kiswahili, and American Sign Language. If you require additional reasonable accommodation, please contact reasonableaccommodations@usaid.gov.

Collaborative LCS Models for Global Health

Tuesday, October 10, 2023
1-2 p.m. ET
(5-6 p.m. UTC / 8-9 p.m. EAT / 12 a.m.-1 a.m. Wednesday October 11 ICT)

Register for and attend this session to hear from the Bureau for Global Health about their new Local Capacity Strengthening Policy Implementation Guide, to learn about different collaborative models to support local capacity strengthening in USAID activities, and to share your feedback on the use of the Local Capacity Strengthening Policy in Global Health.

Local Listening Session 1

Tuesday October 10, 2023
11 pm-12 am ET
(3-4 am Wednesday October 11 UTC / 6-7 am Wednesday October 11 EAT / 10-11 am Wednesday October 11 ICT)

This is the first of three Local Actor Listening Sessions. Please only register for one of these three sessions, which are scheduled to enable the widest coverage of global time zones. Each session will follow the same structure and ask the same questions to create space and opportunity for local actors to share their experiences and perceptions of the implementation of the Local Capacity Strengthening Policy to date and where they would like to see Policy implementation go next.

There will be several opportunities to provide feedback during the session, but breakout group discussion will focus on these three questions:

What examples of capacity strengthening in line with the LCS Policy can you share? What has worked well?
What are examples of capacity strengthening support not in line with the LCS Policy? What has not worked well?
What do you (local actors) want to see USAID focus on in the next year to be more aligned with the LCS Policy?

We Want to Hear from You! Implementing Local Capacity Strengthening in the Education Sector

Wednesday, October 11, 2023
8-9 a.m. ET
(12-1 p.m. UTC / 3-4 p.m. EAT / 7-8 p.m. ICT)

Register below and stay tuned! Come back to this page for session details for the Education team’s LCS Policy session—with a specific look at how local capacity strengthening contributes to USAID’s work in transformational education.

DRG Technical Sector

Wednesday, October 11, 2023
12-1 p.m. ET
(4-5 p.m. UTC / 7-8 p.m. EAT / 11 p.m.-12 a.m. ICT)

Register below and stay tuned! Come back to this page for session details for the Democracy, Rights and Governance (DRG) Center’s LCS Policy session—with a specific look at how local capacity strengthening contributes to USAID’s work in strengthening democracy worldwide.

The following speakers will share their perspectives on the role of local capacity strengthening in DRG programming:

Danijela Radosevic of NKD Serbia
Moses Isooba of NGO Forum Uganda
Valeria Scorza of Fundación Avina (Panama)

Local Listening Session 2

Thursday, October 12, 2023
7-8 a.m. ET
(11a.m.-12 p.m. UTC / 2-3 p.m. EAT / 6-7 p.m. ICT)

This is the second of three Local Actor Listening Sessions. Please only register for one of these three sessions, which are scheduled to enable the widest coverage of global time zones. Each session will follow the same structure and ask the same questions to create space and opportunity for local actors to share their experiences and perceptions of the implementation of the Local Capacity Strengthening Policy to date and where they would like to see Policy implementation go next.

There will be several opportunities to provide feedback during the session, but breakout group discussion will focus on these three questions:

What examples of capacity strengthening in line with the LCS Policy can you share? What has worked well?
What are examples of capacity strengthening support not in line with the LCS Policy? What has not worked well?
What do you (local actors) want to see USAID focus on in the next year to be more aligned with the LCS Policy?

RFS Technical Sector

Thursday, October 12, 2023
9-10 a.m. ET
(1-2 pm UTC / 4-5 p.m. EAT / 8-9 p.m. ICT)

Register below and stay tuned! Come back to this space for session details and registration information for how the Bureau for Resilience and Food Security (RFS) is implementing the Local Capacity Strengthening Policy.

Local Listening Session 3

Thursday, October 12, 2023
12-1 p.m. ET
(4-5 p.m. UTC / 7-8 p.m. EAT / 11 p.m.-12 a.m. ICT)

This is the third of three Local Actor Listening Sessions. Please only register for one of these three sessions, which are scheduled to enable the widest coverage of global time zones. Each session will follow the same structure and ask the same questions to create space and opportunity for local actors to share their experiences and perceptions of the implementation of the Local Capacity Strengthening (LCS) Policy to date and where they would like to see Policy implementation go next.

There will be several opportunities to provide feedback during the session, but breakout group discussion will focus on these three questions:

What examples of capacity strengthening in line with the LCS Policy can you share? What has worked well?
What are examples of capacity strengthening support not in line with the LCS Policy? What has not worked well?
What do you (local actors) want to see USAID focus on in the next year to be more aligned with the LCS Policy?

Plenary “Effective LCS” Highlighting Principles 1-3

Tuesday, October 17, 2023
7:30-8:30 a.m. ET
(11:30 a.m.-12:30 pm UTC / 2:30-3:30 p.m. EAT / 6:30-7:30 p.m. ICT)

Bring your tools and resources that support systems mapping and strengthening, capacity action planning, performance measurement, and risk management and mitigation! This is an interactive session where you can share and learn. We'll explore the tools, resources, and experiences related to the first three principles of the Local Capacity Strengthening Policy focused on effective local capacity strengthening. These principles guide why and in what circumstances making strategic and intentional decisions to strengthen the capacity of local actors can contribute to broader systems change and sustainable outcomes. These principles also guide our understanding about why measuring performance is important.

Side Event
Strengthening the Ecosystem for Locally-led Development

Tuesday, October 17, 2023
9:00-10:15 a.m. ET
(1-2:15 p.m. UTC / 4-5:15 p.m. EAT / 8-9:15 pm ICT)

NOTE: This session is not hosted or organized by USAID. This is a side-event hosted by The Movement for Community Led Development (MCLD), a global consortium of over 2000 local civil society organizations and INGOs.

The new LCS policy identifies the need to take a systems approach to local capacity strengthening to minimize the unintended and undesirable consequences of USAID funding on local systems. Join the Movement for Community-led Development (MCLD) for a conversation that delves into the “how” of local systems strengthening.

The following champions of locally-led and community-led development will start our conversation touching on a range of issues from full cost recovery to feedback loops and strengthening networks:

Carol Maringa, Africa Capacity Alliance, Kenya
Joanna Mbakulo, MCLD Uganda
Her Excellency Christine Kilalo, Deputy Governor, County Government of Taita Taveta, Kenya
Beranger Tossou, Youth Service Africa, Benin
Hastings Nhlane, Acades Malawi

Note: this is not a panel discussion. We invite all participants to actively be a part of the dialogue.

Simultaneous translation will be available in French, and American Sign Language. If you have questions about this side event please email info@mcld.org.

What's the shift? Principles and Practices for Equitable Partnerships in Local Capacity Strengthening

Wednesday, October 18, 2023
9-10 a.m. ET
(1-2 p.m. UTC / 4-5 p.m. EAT / 8-9 pm ICT)

Explore the shifts in roles and actions needed to implement the last four principles of the Local Capacity Strengthening Policy focused on equitable partnerships. Hear from USAID staff and partners on what these principles look like in practice. The last four principles of the Policy guide how local capacity strengthening programming across different sectors and regions will be supported through partnerships based on mutual respect and reciprocity.

Side Event
Panel discussion “Local Capacity Solutions for Sustainable Development”

Wednesday, October 18, 2023
11 a.m. -12 p.m. ET
(3-4 p.m. UTC / 6-7 p.m. EAT / 10-11 pm IC)

NOTE: This session is not hosted or organized by USAID. This is a side-event hosted by Pact, a global non-governmental organization.

Join Pact for a discussion on the roles and experiences of local capacity strengthening service providers in implementing the USAID Local Capacity Strengthening Policy, using the Capacity Development Marketplace and direct technical assistance. In this session, local organizations will share their experience in local capacity strengthening service provision, share their visions for its future, and provide opportunities to discuss how these experiences can be disseminated and adapted globally.

Simultaneous translation will not be available for this session. Contact Dima Mykhaylenko with any questions about this side event: Dmykhaylenko@pactworld.org

Closing Session

Thursday, October 19, 2023
9-10 a.m. ET
(1-2 pm UTC / 4-5 p.m. EAT / 8-9 p.m. ICT)

The closing plenary will feature remarks from USAID leadership including Senior Localization Advisor Sarah Rose and a panel highlighting themes discussed during the Forum, including key findings from the local partner listening sessions.