The global development landscape is in the midst of a significant transformation. There’s growing recognition that sustainable, effective development must be locally led. Organizations like USAID are at the forefront of this shift, setting ambitious targets to channel more funding and decision-making power to local actors. USAID aims to provide 25% of program funds directly to local partners by the end of FY 2025 and ensure 50% of programs place local communities in the lead by 2030.
The evolving Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution offers significant promise in helping CSOs increase their effectiveness and access to funding. It also offers CSOs support to share project ideas, goals and outcomes in impactful ways and in less time. In this blog we share four ways AI can catalyze locally led development, with a special focus on how it simplifies the often-complex process of grant writing.
- Breaking down language barriers
One of the most immediate applications of AI in localization is in language translation. Advanced AI-powered translation tools are making it easier for international organizations to communicate effectively with CSOs. This goes beyond simple word-for-word translation – these tools can capture nuances and context, ensuring that critical information about funding opportunities, project requirements, and impact assessments is accurately conveyed across language barriers. Studies show that AI-powered translation tools can now achieve near-human levels of accuracy in many language pairs, with some achieving 90% or greater accuracy in complex, context-dependent translations.
- Data-driven insights for local contexts
AI’s ability to analyze vast amounts of data is proving invaluable in understanding local contexts. Machine learning algorithms can process economic indicators, social trends, and environmental data (to name a few) to provide nuanced insights into specific regions. This helps both international organizations and CSOs partners make more informed decisions about project design and implementation, ensuring that interventions are tailored to local needs and conditions. For instance, a 2022 study published at Nature.com found that satellite imagery and local economic data analysis could predict areas at risk of food insecurity more accurately than traditional measures, allowing for more targeted and effective interventions.
- Enhancing knowledge sharing
AI is revolutionizing knowledge sharing for CSOs. Adaptive learning platforms use AI to assess an organization’s current knowledge and create personalized training programs. These systems can adjust in real-time based on a user’s progress, ensuring that local partners receive the most relevant and effective support. This is crucial in preparing local organizations to manage complex development projects intentionally. According to a 2023 study led by Onyebuchi Nneamaka Chisom titled Review of AI in Education: Transforming learning environments in Africa, published in International Journal of Applied Research in Social Sciences, “The ability of AI to provide real-time feedback, support teacher development, and offer personalized learning experiences contributes to a more responsive and student-centric education model.”
- Predictive modeling for project outcomes
By analyzing data from past projects and local conditions, AI can help predict potential outcomes of different project approaches. This predictive capability assists both international donors and local partners in designing more effective interventions and anticipating potential challenges. It’s a powerful tool for risk management and can lead to more successful and sustainable projects. An August 12, 2024 blog post from Intellias focused on the use of AI in modeling agricultural outcomes notes, “By combining techniques like 3D mapping, data from sensors and drones, farmers can predict soil yields for specific crops. Data is collected on multiple drone flights, enabling increasingly precise analysis using algorithms.”
The future of AI in locally led development
As AI technology advances, so does its potential to support locally led development. We’re likely to see increasingly sophisticated applications, from AI-powered project management tools that adapt to working styles to advanced impact assessment models that can measure the long-term effects of locally led initiatives.
However, it’s crucial to remember that AI is a tool to support, not replace, human expertise and knowledge. The goal is to use AI to amplify local voices and capabilities, not to impose top-down solutions.
Bridging the proposal gap: an obstacle in locally led development
While AI is making strides in various aspects of global development, one of the most significant barriers to locally led remains the complex proposal writing process required to secure funding. This obstacle often puts CSOs at a severe disadvantage compared to well-resourced INGOs.
Consider this: according to USAID’s 2023 Localization Progress Report, while the agency aims to provide 25% of program funds to local partners by 2025, in FY 2023, only 9.6% of funding went directly to local partners. This gap underscores CSOs’ challenges in securing funding, with the proposal process being a primary hurdle.
This is where AI tools like Grant Assistant are making a significant impact. Grant Assistant is an end-to-end proposal workflow toolkit specifically designed for global development organizations, INGOs, and nonprofits. It leverages AI to dramatically reduce the time from opportunity discovery to a compliant, compelling draft proposal. At a recent webinar hosted by Humentum and Grant Assistant, Maggie Ehrenfried from LifeNet International shared that Grant Assistant allows them to shrink the process of developing a compliant, compelling proposal draft by as much as 60%.
By providing step-by-step guidance through the proposal process, offering compliance checks, and even assisting with program design, Grant Assistant helps level the playing field. It enables CSOs to compete more effectively for funding, addressing one of the most significant barriers to locally led development.
As we move forward, the thoughtful integration of AI into international development practices, particularly in addressing challenges like the proposal moat, holds great promise for advancing locally led agenda goals. By breaking down barriers, enhancing communication, and providing powerful analytical tools, AI is helping to create a more equitable, effective, and global approach to addressing the world’s most pressing challenges. And this is just the beginning.
Ready to harness the power of AI for your organization’s success? All Humentum members receive an exclusive 15% discount on the Grant Assistant Platform. Take full advantage of your membership by using this AI-powered toolkit to streamline proposal writing and elevate your organization’s impact. Not a Humentum member yet?