Locally Led Development Spectrum & Checklist
Together, the Locally Led Development Spectrum and Checklist create a foundational framework designed to assess and strengthen local leadership in humanitarian and development efforts.
The Locally Led Development Spectrum outlines how donors and practitioners can engage with local communities and organizations across the full lifecycle of an initiative, from problem identification and agenda-setting to budgeting, design, implementation, and learning. Its purpose is to help shift practice over time toward approaches that place greater decision-making power and leadership with local actors.
The Locally Led Development Checklist, a practical “pause and reflect” tool, supports partners and donors to jointly examine their approaches and identify concrete ways to continuously strengthen local leadership. Opportunities to strengthen local leadership exist at every stage, from early scoping through financial management, implementation, and evaluation. Even small shifts can meaningfully expand local ownership. This facilitation guide details how a facilitator might guide a group through using the checklist to its fullest potential.
These resources are shared as originally published by USAID. They remain relevant for funders and practitioners seeking to shift power and resources closer to the communities they aim to support.