Local Capacity Strengthening Policy

USAID recognizes the central importance of partnerships that result in strengthened local communities — a longstanding practice across every sector, country, and context in which the Agency works. 

Through the Local Capacity Strengthening (LCS) Policy, USAID is committing to a unified, cohesive, and systemic approach in which USAID collaborates with local partners to:

• Define their own vision for success;
• Strengthen their ability to be effective and relevant actors within their local communities and contexts; 
• Elevate local ownership in sustaining development results.

The LCS Policy builds on decades of USAID experience in capacity strengthening. This policy is an opportunity for the Agency to reexamine its capacity strengthening practices in light of the principles of locally led development, as well as systems thinking and practice, to be a more effective and equitable partner. This policy was developed over three years through a highly participatory process where feedback was intentionally solicited, analyzed, and incorporated, as summarized in this comment report.