About LCD
In Phase 2 (2020-2025), we will be moving from what we call Capacity 1.0 that focuses on particular types of technical and soft skills, such as lab management, statistical analysis, teaching, communication skills, etc. to Capacity 2.0. USAID’s forthcoming approach to local capacity development (LCD) argues that every organization has a system which needs to be appreciated. Previous efforts often focused on improving an organization’s ability to manage USAID projects and directives and less on strengthening system capacity. Capacity 2.0, then, is a combination of Capacity 1.0 focused on management, governance, strategic planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning, plus collaboration and creating social value through organizational and institutional strengthening. Going forward, our focus will be on capabilities of various livestock research organizations (collective ability) and competencies (of individuals within the broader research organization system) and apply LCD systems-wide approaches to engage policy and key decision makers to support and sustain changes in the system.
The priorities in Phase 2 will focus on:
- Launching and continuing collaborative/consultative meetings with LCD partners and stakeholders,
- Co-designing and implementing LCD pilot projects to address systemic issues in the livestock research systems, and
- Providing technical support to our LCD partners and collaborating with AOI and CCT leaders.
Our LCD activities involve three interrelated processes, based on the Capacity Development for Agricultural Innovation Systems (CDAIS) toolkit:
- Mapping and Engagement will involve various actors, resources and relationships of the system to agree on and share a common understanding of how innovation systems evolve, change and adapt. We will continue to work with partners from Phase 1 as well as expand to involve new partners and additional stakeholders who are identified as critical for systems change.
- Analysis and Refinement will explore, analyze and reflect on existing research on capacities, needs, problems and bottlenecks in the system (identified in capacity gap analysis for certain organizations in target countries) as well as prioritize collectively the problems that can be strategically addressed. The stakeholder re-engagement will contribute to developing and refining LCD roadmaps to strengthen local research and education components of livestock systems. Jointly, we will refine the broader problem sets, define research system boundaries as well as identify key system domains, system actors and their relationships.
- Design and Monitoring will enable joint work on the root causes of the bottlenecks with the mobilization of existing resources and capacities to co-create, implement, evaluate and revise proposed roadmaps. Through multi-stakeholder engagement, the process will be participatory and allow for joint ownership on the proposed solutions. The soon to be launched LCD competitive award funding will allow the co-design and monitoring of pathways to change through local capacity development activities.
The HICD team is led by Dr. Sandra Russo and Dr. Nargiza Ludgate from the University of Florida’s Office for Global Research Engagement.
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The Integrating Local Capacity Development (LCD) in Research Design and Implementation course is designed for research proposal applicants. The course will inform applicants about recent trends at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Livestock Systems in relation to LCD efforts. Participants will receive a brief overview of capacity development approaches and possible activities, and what to consider when integrating LCD as a cross-cutting theme in their proposals. The course is ideal for those interested in integrating LCD from the project design phase through implementation and closure. The course is modularized and can be watched multiple times independent of the quiz. Completion of the course is required to apply for the Request for Applications (RFA) if LCD has been chosen as a cross-cutting theme. The length of the course with quiz is about 45 min. After taking the quiz, you will receive a certificate of completion.
