Mission Organizational Development Support (MODS)

Context

Long-term sustainability of USAID/Kenya and East Africa’s (KEA) development assistance requires local ownership and strengthened capacity of local organizations and governments; strong local leadership; empowered communities with the ability to advocate for their needs; and systems in place that produce sustainable development outcomes at the national, county, sub-county, and community levels. USAID’s Journey to Self-Reliance (J2SR) and the 2020 U.S. Presidential Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) strategy calls for countries to increase their development activities effectively, inclusively, and with accountability to move towards sustainability. USAID/KEA also recently issued an Annual Program Statement (APS) entitled “Kaunti Kuimarisha Uendelevu” intended to fund a limited number of awards to local entities to strengthen county-level accountability and sustainability by bringing together key county-level players into new multi-sectoral institutional arrangements to promote new ways of thinking and doing business. Broadly classified as local development organizations (LDOs), who will support Kenya’s self-reliance through improved transparency, accountability, and performance. The ultimate aim is for LDOs to become capable of managing USAID funds and becoming for sustainable organizations.

Approach

USAID MODS will provide support to USAID/KEA by providing organizational development and capacity building technical assistance to strengthen the role and capacity of local development organizations; existing local Kenyan entities; and local governments to foster locally led development and implementation of sustainable development programs, in their journey to self-reliance. USAID MODS will do this by providing support to the APS process, institutional strengthening support to APS recipients, and technical assistance to existing local Kenyan entities that partner with PEPFAR and the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC).

Achievements

• The MODS team is identifying and assessing organizational and capacity development needs of current and prospective partners using a collaborative approach.
• We will provide tailored organizational technical assistance to an average of 25 LDOs and government institutions to be assisted per year.
• We are working with local development organizations to increase their capacity to manage USG funds independently.