he Development Grants Program (DGP) is a three-year, US$50 million initiative authorized by the U.S. Congress in 2008 to foster direct partnerships between USAID Missions and grassroots non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and U.S. private voluntary organizations (PVOs) working in the developing world. Designed to support NGOs who have little or no prior experience working with the U.S. Government, the DGP seeks to enhance partners’ technical and organizational capacities to improve the lives of those in their communities.
DGP is a program of USAID's Office of Innovation & Development Alliances (IDEA). In its first round, DGP funded 60 organizations in 26 countries in six sectors—environment, dairy, microenterprise, women's empowerment, water and democracy and governance.
Technical assistance (TA) is provided to these organizations by the Capable Partners Program (CAP) via customized technical assistance and broad-based trainings designed to ensure that know-how built during the DGP award period is institutionalized and sustainable. The DGPConnect.Net Web site complements the TA by serving as an easy-to-use body of knowledge aimed at improving the practices and enhancing the organizational performance of DGP grantees.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government, guided by policies and priorities established by the U.S. Department of State. USAID is the principal US agency to extend assistance to countries recovering from disaster, trying to escape poverty, and engaging in democratic reforms. With its headquarters in Washington, USAID supports a large number of regional and country field offices or Missions.
