TY - JOUR T1 - Midpoint Reflections on USAID HIV Local Partner Transition Efforts JF - Global Health: Science and Practice JO - GLOB HEALTH SCI PRACT DO - 10.9745/GHSP-D-22-00338 AU - Deborah Kaliel AU - Christy Knight AU - Latham Avery AU - Lauren A. White AU - Lindsay Bonanno AU - Jason Porter AU - Kathryn Hoeflich AU - Courtney Irwin AU - Christopher Nikola AU - Amy Paul AU - Mai Hijazi AU - Clint Cavanaugh AU - E. Callie Raulfs-Wang Y1 - 2023/05/08 UR - http://www.ghspjournal.org/content/early/2023/05/05/GHSP-D-22-00338.abstract N2 - Key MessagesStrengthening local systems through direct partnerships with local organizations and partner governments is a critical pathway to locally led development and achieving sustained epidemic control of HIV/AIDS.The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has made substantial progress toward the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief goal of funding 70% of its portfolio directly through local organizations, including partner country governments.Five key factors that facilitated localization of the HIV/AIDS portfolio include: (1) developing strategic and intentional plans grounded in local reality; (2) customizing data systems to monitor progress toward goals and adapting them as needed; (3) investing in strengthening local partner organization and financial management capacity; (4) changing the way USAID does business; and (5) ensuring consistent USAID and local leadership and advocacy.Efforts in the first part of the HIV local partner transition have focused on reducing barriers on the USAID side; over the next 3 years, the HIV programs will need to focus on reducing barriers on the local partner side.Historically, foreign assistance in global health has been characterized by a donor-driven paradigm whereby donor countries control the objectives and implementation of technical assistance programs.1 However, there has been an increasing focus in the global health community on the concept of country ownership, including in the context of HIV/AIDS.1–4 Although definitions of country ownership vary, this concept generally refers to partner countries and local organizations taking on increasing independence in designing, implementing, and financing their health programs.2 Country ownership is thought to support long-term sustainability of health care systems by increasing and maintaining scale of service delivery, improving efficiency of resource coordination, increasing integration with existing health care systems, and motivating domestic funding.2,4 Transition describes the process of moving from donor-led to local-led planning, managing, and delivery … ER -