Private Voluntary Cooperation Division (PVC)
Office of Development Partners (ODP)
The Office of Private Voluntary Cooperation was transferred to the Agency’s new Office of Development Partners on May 1, 2008.
Whether distributing school supplies in the Philippines, spreading weatherization and shelter resources to Afghan families, or conserving tropical biodiversity while supporting the livelihood of people in the Mexico, U.S. private voluntary organizations (PVOs) and their local partners (NGOs) play a critically important role in international development efforts.
Through a range of cross-cutting grants and programs aimed at organizational strengthening, USAID works to ensure that these PVOs and NGOs are strong, effective, and capable of delivering the services that are critical in life or death situations. By building the institutional capacity of these organizations, USAID helps to increase their ability to deliver development services, mobilize people at the grassroots level, and form partnerships and networks.
Partnerships are an integral part of PVO/NGO activities and USAID promotes
their establishment and use at multiple levels, including:
- Between USAID and the PVO/NGO communities, by establishing a central point-of-contact
for PVOs and NGOs involved in USAID and other international development activities.
Similarly, the U.S. Advisory Committee
on Voluntary Foreign Aid (ACVFA) which serves as a key link between the
U.S. Government and PVOs, provides a forum for addressing partnership programs
and issues.
- Between and among U.S. PVOs, Cooperative Development
Organizations (CDOs), and their local partners, by helping ensure that
best practices and lessons-learned are adopted by local organizations so that
program gains are sustained after USAID funding is complete.
- Between local NGO partners and their local private sector, by helping PVOs
and local NGOs forge partnerships with the private sector to ensure program
sustainability. With the help of networks and training, grantees have leveraged
$26 million in funds for international development efforts.
USAID's Ocean Freight Reimbursement Program was authorized by the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and allows USAID to subsidize ocean
freight transportation costs of humanitarian supplies and equipment for
registered U.S. PVOs . The competitive program allows for the
reimbursement of some $2.7 million per year to U.S. PVOs committed to
humanitarian assistance projects. USAID also helps private U.S. citizens and organizations ship
humanitarian goods, such as medical equipment and school supplies, on a
non-competitive basis, on military transport when space is available. Through its Denton Program, jointly administered by USAID and
Departments of State and Defense, an average of 3 million pounds of
commodities are shipped annually for humanitarian programs in
developing, transition, and disaster-stricken countries.
The objective of enhancing local NGO capacity to deliver development
services in select USAID-assisted countries will be achieved through USAID's
Capable Partners and Development Grants Program
initiatives. These two new initiatives focus on improving local NGOs’ strategic,
managerial, financial, and advocacy skills; advocating for policy reform; and
forging links with local public and private sector institutions. By passing
on the knowledge and best practices accumulated over many years, U.S. PVOs working
at the community level can help ensure that program goals are sustained after
USAID support is complete.
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