Over two days, attendees and presenters discussed a host of issues, including artificial intelligence, world crises, and the need to coordinate and collaborate among non-government organizations (NGOs) to advocate donors and the U.S. government for continued funding and the right courses of action to ensure development programs are effective and efficient.
The importance of the development community coordinating to advocate with consistent messaging was stressed in fireside chat sessions with former USAID Administrator Gayle Smith and Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Another theme during the forum was the importance of localizing international development, an approach long-supported and implemented by Planet Aid. Presenters underscored the critical importance of empowering local communities to drive their own development initiatives and how transitioning to this approach presents challenges to the development community. This focus aligns seamlessly with the values and mission of Planet Aid, which has supported and fundraised for locally-led development for nearly three decades.
One of the standout sessions at the forum was "The Economics of Localization," presented by Courtenay Cabot Venton, an international development and environmental economist. The session highlighted findings from the "Passing the Buck" study conducted by The Share Trust in 2023, which revealed that local intermediaries could deliver assistance 32% more cost-efficiently than large international organizations. Despite these compelling findings, the transition toward localization remains challenging. The interactive session provided attendees with practical, actionable ideas to help international NGOs (INGOs) shift processes, power, and funding to local partners.
Kyle Duarte from CARE presented the session "Locally Led and Globally Scaled Digital Innovation," which explored how CARE Somalia partnered with the GSMA Foundation and local Mobile Network Operators to develop a Biometric Beneficiary Registration System (BBRS). This system uses beneficiaries' voices as biometric identification, significantly reducing registration times and administrative burdens. The innovative approach saved CARE Somalia 12 person-days of work per disbursement cycle and allowed them to reach 440,000 individuals. This session exemplified how digital innovation, when led locally and scaled globally, can enhance efficiency and impact.
The session "Locally-Led Advocacy: Tools for Mapping Progress," led by Jake Palley and Bintou Camara Bityeki, showcased tools developed by the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) to help local civil society organizations track their progress in advocacy domains. The workshop emphasized the crucial role of locally-led advocacy in ensuring the adoption, funding, and implementation of policy solutions that support development goals. GHAI's collaboration with local partners has enhanced their advocacy capacities, promoting policy changes that drive sustainable development.
Planet Aid's participation in the InterAction Forum underscores its long-standing commitment to locally-led development. For nearly three decades, Planet Aid has championed and raised funds to support grassroots initiatives that empower communities to take charge of their development. The forum's sessions and discussions reinforced the importance of localization, aligning with Planet Aid's mission to foster sustainable development through local leadership and innovation.
The 2024 InterAction Forum was a testament to the growing recognition that locally-led initiatives are key to effective and sustainable development.