As an Agency, we are seeking ways to fundamentally change how we do business by putting local actors in the lead, strengthening local systems, and being responsive to local communities. To do so, we must address the burdens organizations face when working with USAID. When you slightly adjust a boat’s rudder, it can change course and take you to an entirely new destination. We are embarking on changing our course through burden reduction. It may feel small at the start of the journey, but we look forward to leaving a lasting impact as we approach the horizon.
USAID’s Burden Reduction Program
USAID’s partners, no matter how big or how small, are the reason that the Agency is able to achieve impact with every dollar, providing vaccines, nutritious meals, agricultural technology—the list goes on—to homes, communities, and countries around the world. To ensure that USAID is a strategic partner, I’m excited to announce our Burden Reduction Program (BRP) will reduce burdens faced when working with the Agency. Through this focused effort, we are seeking to address challenges that implementing partners face, including burdens that disproportionately affect local organizations and underrepresented U.S. organizations that want to partner with USAID.
The work has already begun—we are translating WorkwithUSAID.gov into Spanish, French, and Arabic, with the Spanish and French versions launched on March 22. We have already translated more than 150 resources in eight languages. We are also translating procurement documents for USAID Mission staff so they can reach more local organizations.
Another area where we have made strides is using creativity and flexibility in Annual Program Statements (APSs) and fixed amount awards (FAAs) to cut down on applicants’ time burden when submitting complex solicitations, leveling the playing field for local organizations by reducing the back and forth time to review. This puts all applicants on equal footing, by requiring that they respond to the same set of questions, in the same order and with the same amount of space. This was a noted success in Peru, Timor-Leste, and Uganda, and we are hoping to replicate this approach in other Missions.
We are also working to create a seamless partnering experience to enable the private sector to leverage their expertise alongside our implementing partners. In January 2024, we launched the Corporate Partnering Portal on WorkwithUSAID.gov. This is a hub for U.S. companies to connect with the Agency to create a stronger impact together.
We Are Listening
As USAID continues on this journey, it is critical for us to ensure that we are steering in the right direction. We cannot do that without your help—local organizations, U.S. small businesses, the private sector, universities, larger implementing partners, and our nontraditional partners. We ask that you take the opportunity to dive into our burden reduction efforts and submit your ideas about how we can continue to improve the partnership process.
Even a small movement of a boat’s rudder has a large effect on its trajectory. We know that change takes time, but we are already navigating in a new direction in our ability to support and strengthen our partnerships. Onward and upward we go together.
Share your feedback with us! Please make a copy of this spreadsheet template to input your ideas and feedback. You can do that under the file tab in the top left corner. After filling out your spreadsheet, send it back to USAID's Industry Liaison at IndustryLiaison@usaid.gov. We truly appreciate your input to improve the partnership experience.