Shared Services Platform
Despite public commitments, only 6% of bilateral funding to NGOs goes to domestically registered NGOs. The Shared Services Platform aims to create in-country business hubs, starting in East Africa, to provide shared services to locally-led NGOs – including financial management, compliance, grant reporting and other support. The goal is for these local NGOs to build their track record and their capabilities to directly receive significant global funding, and ultimately, to scale their proximate work and impact.
GDI’s role
GDI conducted a research effort and set of articles outlining the supply, demand and intermediation barriers to localization in global development. From that work, GDI designed and launched the Shared Services Platform. GDI has led the effort, recruited and staffed the team, built the initial services processes, secured the initial NGO client partners, and raised the funding to pilot the effort.