Devex: Opinion: Country ownership must be central to transition metrics
David Ray, vice president of policy and advocacy for CARE

“…Metrics can help provide transparency in decision-making. … As [USAID Administrator Mark Green] stated in his congressional testimony, metrics will ‘serve as mileposts to help us understand where our partners are going, and what role we might play in their journey.’ However, USAID has work to do to ensure transition metrics do just that — further enhance how country-led priorities influence USAID strategies. Here are [the Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Assistance (ACVFA) working group’s] recommendations on how to make sure country-led development is front and center in this process: 1. Use metrics to inform, not dictate, our relationship with partner countries. … 2. Define a specific purpose for the metrics. … 3. Recognize country ownership as the key. … 4. Get buy-in from across the U.S. government. … CARE, Modernize Aid, and the other ACVFA members who participated in this initial consultation applaud USAID’s effort to advance a thoughtful conversation focused on sustainable impact and effectiveness…” (4/4).