Integrating Local Knowledge in Development Practice
This report shares how development donors and implementing organizations leverage local knowledge to inform programming. In a recent speech at Georgetown University, USAID Administrator Samantha Power said, “As Americans with a fraught history living up to our own values, we’ve got to approach this work with intention and humility. But the entire development community needs to interrogate the traditional power dynamics of donor-driven development and look for ways to amplify the local voices of those who too often have been left out of the conversation.” To that end, USAID facilitated conversations with multilateral and bilateral donors and local organizations to understand how organizations define, utilize, and incorporate local knowledge into their programmatic and operational activities.
The report highlights three aspects of this topic: Leveraging Best Practices, Addressing Challenges, and Achieving Best Outcomes.
In association with this report, USAID hosted a virtual webinar with Stand with a Girl (SWAG) Initiative, Salanga Canada, and TetraTech International. Watch the webinar below.