Country ownership empowers and supports effective states and citizens to take responsibility for their own development, using local systems and resources to build capacity and create change in communities that they are committed to sustaining.

The challenge for the U.S. is to give partner countries the tools and support to meaningfully participate in the development process while remaining accountable to the U.S. government and American taxpayers.

• What are the paper’s five key recommendations?

• Develop a clear definition and operational guidelines for inclusive ownership.
• Create a transparent, consistent plan to ensure civil society engagement in consultations.
• Expand the State Department’s diplomatic support for an enabling environment for civil society organizations.
• Initiate a policy dialogue with U.S. NGOs on country ownership.
• Ensure transparency of all U.S. foreign assistance by publishing aid data to the Foreign Assistance Dashboard.