Private Voluntary Cooperation-American Schools & Hospitals Abroad

Agency for International Development (USAID) is dedicated to strengthening nongovernmental organizations, cooperatives, schools, and hospitals worldwide. PVC-ASHA provides valuable lessons, tools, and methodologies aimed at enabling these institutions to grow and achieve their goals. PVC-ASHA's support has been invaluable to various organizations, including Pact and Save the Children. Pact's President and CEO, Sarah Newhall, stated that PVC-ASHA's partnership supported the design of their best capacity-building tools and methodologies, resulting in hundreds of local organizations becoming more transparent and accountable. Save the Children's President and CEO, Charles MaCormack, views PVC-ASHA as a singular resource within USAID to help PVOs/NGOs develop capacity, reach new standards of excellence, and mobilize private resources. PVC-ASHA's goal is to promote the growth of a stronger, more independent, and self-reliant NGO sector capable of providing effective and sustainable services to those in need. To achieve this, PVC-ASHA works with NGOs to equip them with state-of-the-art techniques in areas such as strategic planning, financial management, monitoring and evaluation, and advocacy. PVC-ASHA also strengthens NGOs and NGO networks to enhance their problem-solving ability, aggregate their interests, and magnify their impact. Through its comprehensive, multi-sector approach, PVC-ASHA programs ensure that NGOs become powerful catalysts for change and lay the groundwork for greater stability and self-sufficiency for years to come. PVC-ASHA's programs have a significant impact on local communities, as seen in the examples of the Pan American School of Agriculture in Honduras, the American University of Beirut, and Vellore Christian Medical College and Hospital in India. The Nongovernmental Organization Sector Strengthening Program (NGOSSP) is a key initiative of PVC-ASHA, launched in 2003. NGOSSP improves the organizational, financial, and advocacy capabilities of local NGOs to deliver services to communities in need. The program also strengthens the broader NGO sector through support to NGO networks and other organizations that link local NGOs to an array of partners. NGOSSP cooperative agreements are awarded to PVOs based on their ability to develop these skills with their local NGO partners. NGOSSP has supported cross-sectoral activities in 11 countries, many of which are recovering from conflict. For example, in East Timor, Planning Assistance is helping NGOs rebuild their nation's civil society by strengthening community-based organizations and fostering linkages among NGOs and between them and government. Africare works in Burundi on improving the managerial, financial, and advocacy skills of local NGOs, while the Pan American Development Foundation assists local organizations in improving the social and political environment for cross-border cooperation between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. In addition to strengthening the NGO sector in developing countries, NGOSSP promotes the wide dissemination of innovations, best practices, lessons learned, and standards related to NGO strengthening. The program also encourages the adoption of key policy and program recommendations and increases the ability of NGOs to mitigate or recover from civil conflict.