Localization
Localization is a power-shifting process that transfers decision-making power to local actors who are closest to challenges that an intervention is seeking to address.
What we do
Social Impact provides a range of services throughout the program cycle to support our clients’ efforts to advance development effectiveness. Social Impact implements all its services using a collaborative, learning, and adaptive approach centered around equity and inclusion. This ensures work is participatory, tailored to users and their needs, and adjustable based on learning.
Types of Localization Services We Provide:
Strategic Planning & Design
Strategic Planning & Design
- Participatory research to inform designs.
- Connection building between stakeholders for partnership arrangements.
- Advisory services on new designs and solicitations that foster localization throughout implementation.
Implementation
Implementation
- Capacity strengthening for local partners to facilitate better award management.
- Fostering communities of practice for reflection and cooperation.
- Management of knowledge exchanges and mentorship
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
- Local MEL partner identification, partnership development and capacity strengthening.
- Tailored technical assistance in MEL and adaptive management including creating of MEL plans, evaluation scopes of work, identification of learning needs and approaches.
- Support funders in monitoring, evaluating, assessing, and learning from localization efforts.
Change Management
Change Management
- Localization change management strategies with targets.
- Working group facilitation and progress monitoring.
- Support for internal communications and localization knowledge management.
Examples of Our Work
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Co-designing solutions to shared challenges in Mexico
Social Impact developed a methodology to promote greater localization of USAID’s work in Mexico. The Resilient Civil Society Activity engages with local civil society organizations to strengthen their resiliency, create opportunities for dialogue and collaboration, and promote their integration within local systems. Read about this methodology here.
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Delegating Power to the Liberian Ministry of Health
Social Impact, through USAID Liberia DELTA, worked closely with the Liberian Ministry of Health (MoH) on the design and implementation of the 2023 National Health System Capacity Assessment (NHSCA). The assessment aimed to measure progress on health system readiness and response capacity from the 2019 baseline, and establish a new baseline for monitoring future health system capacity improvement interventions. We worked collaboratively with MoH to maximize available resources and keep the decision-making power with MoH. Keeping MoH in a position of power resulted in useful deliverables that meet their needs – the MoH is already using the NHSCA reports to create county-specific action plans for increasing the capacity and quality of their health system.
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Leading a Localization Learning Review
Social Impact collaborated with USAID/Vietnam to assess seven case studies of its direct funding to local organizations. SI facilitated a highly participatory process to enable Mission staff, local partners, and international partners to internalize the lessons from the review and determine how the Mission could adapt and improve its localization approach.
Resources
Learn more
Localization in Focus: Why Facilitation Matters to International Development
This blog is part four of a six-part series on localization. Localization is a power-shifting process, where power is shifted to local actors to address development challenges. Over this series, Social Impact unpacks its own [...]
Localization in Focus: Two Concrete Ways Support Contracts can help USAID Missions on Localization
This blog is part three of a six-part series on localization. Localization is a power-shifting process, where power is shifted to local actors to address development challenges. Over this series, Social Impact unpacks its own [...]
