The New Partnerships Initiative (NPI) Expanding Health Partnerships—NPI EXPAND Project— is a five-year project which aims to support Missions by increasing the availability and utilization of quality health services across all USAID priority health areas. In line with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) commitment to localization, NPI EXPAND invests in local partners and strengthening their capacity to strategize, plan, and implement health sector programs with USAID funds. Enhanced participation of capable local partners to increase demand for and deliver high-quality, high impact health services will enable governments to meet crucial health goals equitably and sustainably. NPI EXPAND will catalyze opportunities to scale up innovative interventions by strengthening the capacity of local partners with varying levels of capabilities and exposure to USAID.
Why engage local partners?
Diversifying USAID’s partner base is an important component of locally-led development, because it helps mobilize the increasing number of funders of all types engaged in the development efforts of partner countries around the world. Promising prospective local, U.S., and international organizations represent untapped potential for partnership and impact, and funding more of them requires new initiatives and targeted approaches, such as NPI EXPAND. Some potential partners with good ideas and innovative approaches have—or believe they have—limited capacity or opportunity to compete for direct U.S. funding because of compliance and solicitation requirements and/or the dollar amount and scope of awards. NPI EXPAND supports USAID’s shift in focus to increasing and sustaining relationships with such local partners, especially those locally established and in the private sector. Every effective, more sustainable local partner contributing to the health sector with skilled staff, strong internal systems, and productive networks promotes utilization of high-priority services and improved health outcomes.
NPI EXPAND Objectives
- Organizational sustainability of local partners strengthened: Targeted countries will advance their development goals through a strengthened cadre of local partners that are ready to meet the needs of the underserved. The activity will support local partners to increase their managerial, financial, and administrative capacities to enhance their ability to not only receive direct support from USAID but also be more engaged partners within local health systems.
- Utilization of high-quality, high impact health services, information, and supplies expanded: Participating local partners will contribute to enhancing the supply and utilization of high-quality, integrated health services, with a focus on reaching underserved populations. NPI EXPAND supports this evolution by strengthening the technical skills of providers, fostering the expansion of services offered, strengthening quality assurance systems, and introducing cost-effective demand creation techniques that can be integrated in the service delivery setting.
- Promising and innovative health approaches scaled-up through new and underutilized partnerships for increased sustainability: NPI EXPAND will support the assessment of local partner-generated innovations and support them to scale up these and other high-impact interventions.
