LINC

💭 As generative AI becomes a constant in how we approach daily tasks, as development professionals, we can't lose sight of the risks that AI may pose to our responsibilities toward our practice and the communities whom we are working to help.

How do we navigate biases in AI tools? Are we safeguarding data privacy in fragile contexts? And how do we ensure AI truly supports localization rather than reinforcing existing inequities?

In our latest blog, our Technical Director, Matt Klick, PhD. shares his thoughts on GenAI and International Development and makes a case for caution when using AI in our line of work.

📖 Read the full blog below and share your thoughts with us.
https://buff.ly/3PBcjC2

Getting Real About Artificial Intelligence: GenAI, Evaluation in International Development, and the Case for Caution If localization means leadership, agency, and at least consultation in...

We are excited to announce that LINC has been awarded the GSA OASIS+ contract.

As a holder of a GSA OASIS+ Small Business contract, LINC stands ready to provide services to USAID and other U.S. Government Agencies under the broad “Management and Advisory” domain, which covers advisory services and project implementation.

LINC's partner under this contract is Athena Infonomics

Learn more:

LINC Awarded the GSA OASIS+ Contract The objective of OASIS+ is to provide Government agencies with integrated solutions for a range of service-based requirements on a global basis.

Read LINC's latest newsletter and stay up to date on our work 👉

Newsletter July - December 2024 LINC, Corporación ECOSS, and the Gerry Roxas Foundation Selected as Finalists in USAID’s 2024 CLA Case Competition – In September, USAID Learning Lab announced that LINC, Corporación ECOSS (ECOSS), and the Gerry Roxas Foundation (GRF) were finalists of its 2024 CLA Case Competition. The LINC, ...

Happy Thanksgiving!

How Should We Manage the Unintended Consequences of Local Capacity Strengthening?

The seventh and final entry of LINC’s focuses on USAID - US Agency for International Development’s Local Capacity Strengthening Policy Principle No. 6: Be mindful of and mitigate the unintended consequences of our support for local capacity strengthening. This principle reminds us to identify and acknowledge that and local systems are often shaped by systemic power imbalances that can create and result in unintended harm.

We reflect on how we, partners, must take the time to develop an understanding of how local dynamics affect programming, how programming can reinforce existing imbalances or exacerbate competition or conflict, and how we should adapt accordingly.

🔗 Read more: https://buff.ly/3OvZkRv

linclocal.org

La semana pasada, durante la “Semana de la Evaluación” en , USAID México y presentaron los resultados de la Evaluación de Medio Término del marco bilateral "Sembrando Oportunidades”. La evaluación, realizada por la Actividad , implementada por LINC, con identificó fortalezas y oportunidades tanto en los resultados programáticos de la implementación en y como en la colaboración entre las dos agencias y sus proyectos.

Representantes de ambas agencias compartieron cómo los hallazgos y las recomendaciones de la evaluación ya están impulsando ajustes significativos en su colaboración y en la implementación, fortaleciendo su impacto y asegurando un enfoque basado en la evidencia. Además, ambas agencias reafirmaron su dedicación a seguir aprendiendo y adaptándose para maximizar los resultados de , demostrando que la evaluación no es un fin, sino un inicio del ciclo de mejora continua.

🔗 Click en el siguiente link para acceder al reporte en español.

pdf.usaid.gov

In October, the Vikāra Institute hosted the Market Systems Symposium 2024 in , South Africa.

LINC not only served as a partner to the event, but the LINC team also participated in, learned from, and contributed to the insightful discussions around market systems and in international development work, shared specific examples from our projects, and supported the participation of local organizations from the and .

🔗 Read a brief recap of the event in the link below:

LINC at the Market Systems Symposium 2024 LINC served as an official partner of the Market Systems Symposium 2024...

Last year, LINC and its partner, The Cloudburst Group, conducted the Final Performance Evaluation of the USAID/Jamaica Local Partner Development (LPD) Activity, which built the capacity of local civil society organizations (CSOs), government entities, and the private sector to prevent crime and violence in the country.

The team used a mixed-methods approach, including Key Informant Interviews with activity stakeholders and focus groups to gather qualitative evidence, as well as surveys, monitoring and evaluation data, and program reporting documents to collect quantitative data.

To showcase how evidence from this evaluation is transformed into action, check out this Evidence to Action Brief produced by USAID. You can access the full evaluation report on LINC’s website.



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E2A Case Study - Jamaica.pdf

This week, members of our team are attending the Market Systems Symposium 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. They will be sharing their experiences and insights into some of the themes that contribute to Market Systems Development. You are welcome to join their sessions:

💡 Day 2 (Wednesday, Oct. 23) - Global & Regional Learning Programs Peer-to-Peer Dialogue

💡 Day 3 (Thursday, Oct. 24)
- Impact Leverage through MSD Collaboration: Global Case Studies
- Thematic Summit: Innovations in Systemic Research, Monitoring & Decision-Making

The is hosted by Vikāra Institute in South Africa.

Learn more and see the full agenda here: https://buff.ly/3YvrS3q