We believe in the power of community.
We move that belief from principle to practice.
For over a decade, the Local Works team advanced locally led development inside what was the world's largest bilateral donor: USAID. We steered over $600 million toward community priorities within an institution where the incentives ran against it. Now, we're working toward what comes next.
Who we are
A living proof of concept
We are practitioners who turned locally led development from principle into practice inside powerful global institutions. We've connected grassroots organizations with real resources to strengthen local systems and empower change that communities can sustain on their own terms. We don't just believe in locally led development: we've implemented it at scale.
What we do
We've done this work from the inside. We know where we can leverage change.
We offer network convening, evidence building, policy engagement, and strategic advising to continue advancing the state of practice around locally led development. Whether you're a funder looking to shift your approach, an institution navigating locally led implementation, or an organization building the next generation of foreign assistance, we bring the operational credibility to help you get it right.
The window for change is open. Let's use it.
This is the moment to move resources, shift institutions, and build the infrastructure for a different kind of global cooperation. We're looking for partners who are ready to act.
What we're thinking
Network Voices
Collective Action in Vietnam
Duong Nguyen worried locally led development might not work in Vietnam, where civil society remains a delicate subject. After 18 years with USAID/Vietnam, he came to champion collective action as a way forward.
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Ownership and Innovation in Zimbabwe
Biggie Chikwavarara, former Senior Advisor and Local Works Coordinator for USAID Zimbabwe, challenged traditional top-down development by meeting communities where they were — to listen, agree on priorities, and enable space for true community leadership.
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Youth-Led Peacebuilding in Pakistan
Zeeste Jahanzaib worked with USAID Pakistan on peacebuilding, youth engagement, human rights, and democracy. Local Works helped turn a buzzword into a real process.
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