10 Steps to Better Mission Engagement

1) SECURE IN-HOUSE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE
USAID HQ Staff must have unique technical expertise to
support a Mission in their offerings.

2) UTILIZE ASSESSMENTS
Offerings should be sourced from a sectoral and contextspecific
assessment that identifies gaps and programmatic
opportunities.

3) ESTABLISH A MULTI -PRONGED ALIGNMENT
Offerings must align with the Mission CDCS, other highlevel
strategies, and Office-level interests.

4) LEVERAGE RELATIONSHIPS USAID

HQ teams should utilize pre-existing entry points
and/or relationships to initiate engagement with a Mission.

5) TAKE A CUSTOMER-SERVICE APPROACH
Missions should be treated like customers. Plan to help with
logistics, administrative tasks, and communicate regularly.

6) CLARIFY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Set expectations early with Mission staff about the desired
level of engagement, activity management, anticipated time
commitment, and responsibilities.

7) SET ASIDE THE TIME

Dedicate LOE. Involvement of USAID HQ staff in activity
management with a Mission legitimizes the effort and
encourages uptake.

8) BUILD CHAMPIONS

Build a network of diverse champions from both within the
Mission and external to USAID that represents various levels
of influence/positions.

9) INVEST IN LOCAL CAPACITY

Identify and invest in relationships with Foreign Service
Nationals that bring stability and longevity to the work in
the midst of regular turnover.

10) TRANSITION OWNERSHIP

Work to increase the Mission's role and responsibility in the
work, encouraging resource commitment in new
opportunities and ownership of technical expertise.