Article type
Abstract
In this session, we examine the relationship between locally led development (LLD), and program outcomes.
Background
There is a growing push to shifting funding and decision-making power to local actors. In November 2021, USAID Administrator Power proposed allocating 25% of funding to local partners, rising to 50% by 2030. LLD emphasizes placing local actors in leadership roles throughout all stages of the program cycle.(1) The underlying belief is that LLD inherently improves programs.(2, 3) However, the empirical support for these assumptions remains unexamined. This evidence review refrains from endorsing a specific theory of change, approaching the matter as an empirical inquiry.
Objectives
We examine the relationships between LLD and program outcomes. Specifically, categorizing outcomes across four domains of effectiveness, efficiency, immediate impact, and sustainable impact.
Methods
First, we identify and synthesize definitions of LLD into a working definition for the sake of this research. We convene a stakeholder group of members from LMICs to inform this definition. Then, we systematically identify research studies and gray literature examining the degree to which programs follow LLD principles and any of the outcome variables, as follows:
•Systematic search and screening, particularly from donor websites and databases, including primary studies, systematic reviews, and gray literature.
•Exclude research exclusive to high-income countries.
•Code variables across the domains of locally-led, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability.
We conduct a narrative analysis, drawing insights from the evidence. We re-convene the stakeholder group to review results and localize interpretations.
Results
We present the results of our screening using a Prisma diagram. We present different studies according to different indicators of LLD. We quantify the quantity and robustness of evidence demonstrating a connection between LLD and program outcomes. We report the interpretations of the results from the stakeholder group.
Conclusions
This review shows the push for LLD has limited evidence. To ensure long-term commitment to LLD amidst resource-scarcity and changing political priorities, there is a clear need for further research into how LLD contributes to program outcomes. This research does not refute a connection, rather it reveals the heterogeneous approaches to LLD and wealth of insights available.
Background
There is a growing push to shifting funding and decision-making power to local actors. In November 2021, USAID Administrator Power proposed allocating 25% of funding to local partners, rising to 50% by 2030. LLD emphasizes placing local actors in leadership roles throughout all stages of the program cycle.(1) The underlying belief is that LLD inherently improves programs.(2, 3) However, the empirical support for these assumptions remains unexamined. This evidence review refrains from endorsing a specific theory of change, approaching the matter as an empirical inquiry.
Objectives
We examine the relationships between LLD and program outcomes. Specifically, categorizing outcomes across four domains of effectiveness, efficiency, immediate impact, and sustainable impact.
Methods
First, we identify and synthesize definitions of LLD into a working definition for the sake of this research. We convene a stakeholder group of members from LMICs to inform this definition. Then, we systematically identify research studies and gray literature examining the degree to which programs follow LLD principles and any of the outcome variables, as follows:
•Systematic search and screening, particularly from donor websites and databases, including primary studies, systematic reviews, and gray literature.
•Exclude research exclusive to high-income countries.
•Code variables across the domains of locally-led, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability.
We conduct a narrative analysis, drawing insights from the evidence. We re-convene the stakeholder group to review results and localize interpretations.
Results
We present the results of our screening using a Prisma diagram. We present different studies according to different indicators of LLD. We quantify the quantity and robustness of evidence demonstrating a connection between LLD and program outcomes. We report the interpretations of the results from the stakeholder group.
Conclusions
This review shows the push for LLD has limited evidence. To ensure long-term commitment to LLD amidst resource-scarcity and changing political priorities, there is a clear need for further research into how LLD contributes to program outcomes. This research does not refute a connection, rather it reveals the heterogeneous approaches to LLD and wealth of insights available.