What you need to know about Co-Creating with USAID

Have you ever felt uncertain about what to expect during a USAID co-creation process? You are not alone. Co-creation brings organizations, local partners, and other stakeholders together to design programs and tackle challenges, but it can feel overwhelming if you’re new to it.

That’s why Humentum, in partnership with CollaborateUp, developed the Co-Creating with USAID: Strategies for Activity Design and Winning Proposals online training.

We spoke with trainer Beth Skorochod, Chief Strategy & Growth Officer at CollaborateUp, to learn more about her experience with co-creation and how this course will help participants engage with USAID effectively. With years of experience leading co-creation efforts for USAID and training nearly 2,000 staff globally, Beth offers valuable insights into how to make co-creation work for you.

Can you share your experience with co-creation and how CollaborateUp got involved with USAID?

CollaborateUp really does what its name suggests—we focus on collaboration. We teach people how to be better collaborators, do multi-stakeholder engagement, and create environments where people can come together for collective action to achieve more than they could on their own.

We got into co-creation because we were already doing it globally, mainly with private sector firms. Then we won a contract with USAID to teach their staff how to co-create and collaborate better. The contract had two parts: the training itself—we trained about 2,000 USAID staff around the world—and a component where we helped missions and operating units co-create directly.

In total, we’ve designed and facilitated about 58 co-creations of all shapes and sizes. I’ve personally designed and facilitated 17 of those and overseen the rest. For the last six years, I’ve been deeply involved in co-creation with USAID, helping INGOs, local partners, and other stakeholders unlock success in co-creation.

What inspired the creation of this course and the partnership with Humentum?

The inspiration for this course was our experience doing co-creation with USAID. For years, we’ve been training USAID staff all over the world on how to be better collaborators and co-creators.

What we saw though was that, while USAID staff might be prepared, the participants often weren’t. Whether it was an INGO with lots of experience, a local partner who had never worked with USAID, or even a government representative, people didn’t know what to expect.

This led to reluctance, skepticism, or even avoidance—people asking, “Why are we doing this?” or “How long is this going to take?” When participants aren’t prepared, it impacts USAID’s success in co-creation.

Instead of just training USAID, we decided to train the stakeholders—potential partners—so they know what to expect and can approach co-creation successfully.

We partnered with Humentum because we knew they had the reach and platform to connect us to the right audience. Their reputation for delivering high-quality training to USAID partners made them the perfect fit.

What are the key benefits of taking this course?

There are so many benefits, participants can expect to:

1. Understand where co-creation fits in the USAID program cycle. Knowing this helps prepare for how USAID approaches co-creation: how it is defined, and what their expectations are. This course allows learners to understand the basic principles behind co-creation so that they are prepared in any situation—no matter where in the program cycle the co-creation is happening or what outcomes USAID wants to achieve.
2. Decide who to send to the co-creation process. Not all co-creations are the same—some may require a business development professional, others a technical expert, or even both. This course helps determine who in the organization is best placed to attend, depending on the type of co-creation.
3. Ask the right questions. For example, sometimes a submission will be a “buildable” concept—something USAID wants to refine and improve with input. Other times, the submission is just a ticket for entry, and upon arrival, USAID might say, “Set that aside; we’re doing something different now.” Without preparation, this can be frustrating. This course helps identify what to expect and how to best navigate those situations.
4. Balance being collaborative while still standing out. Co-creation is competitive, but it’s also about building relationships and trust. This course teaches how to manage both aspects effectively. It’s about navigating the balance between showing unique value and meeting USAID’s expectations for collaboration, ensuring participants stand out while fostering productive partnerships.

Who should take this course? 

This course is really for anyone engaging with USAID. It could be your head of business development, your CEO, or a program manager—anyone who interacts with USAID on a project or award.

It’s designed for people at all levels because the skills and insights it provides are valuable across the board.

What makes this course a must-take?

Co-creation is a design approach that isn’t going away. No matter the administration or policy direction, USAID will continue to use it.

If you want to work with USAID—whether competitively or non-competitively—you need to understand how they operate and how to leverage co-creation to your advantage.

Participants often say co-creation takes a lot of time and resources, and it does. But this course helps you understand what you’re going to get out of it and how to make the most of that opportunity.

Even if you don’t win the award immediately, you’ll build a strong reputation and trusted relationships with USAID, which can lead to future opportunities.

f you’re looking to make the most of USAID co-creation opportunities, this course is for you. Over three days, you’ll gain a clear understanding of what USAID is looking for, how to prepare, and how to stand out while collaborating effectively.

Register now and get ready to make the most of your next USAID opportunity!