Encourages the foreign assistance agency to send a larger share of aid directly to local partners and to let those partners lead how programs are designed, run, and evaluated.

• Raises the de minimis indirect cost rate by 5 percentage points for local partners receiving assistance awards, and lets the agency exempt local partners from certain federal registration requirements for up to a 180-day delay.
• Allows applications and proposals in languages other than English, and lets the agency limit some contracts to local entities, with no single award above $25,000,000 and such awards capped at 10 percent of the agency's appropriations each fiscal year.
• Requires the agency to begin policy changes within 180 days of enactment to build these practices into its internal manuals and rules, to assess local language support options, and to report on contracting officer recruitment and retention.
• Requires annual reports to Congress on funding implemented by local partners and on how the agency is using the new authorities, and a one-time review of how public international organizations support locally led development.

• Foreign Affairs Committee (House)

International Affairs