CLA Applied to NPI: The Case of FinBi, Egypt

This very big success story shows what can happen when USAID takes a patient CLA approach to building up and supporting a local partner over several years. Through an on-going focus on collaboration and learning and explaining USAID's processes for the local partner, FinBi, they gradually learned and adapted their business processes and became a highly effective partner. 

In early 2020, USAID/Egypt's Office of Economic Growth was looking to establish a "bridge" activity could support recently established business incubators. The AOR successfully sheparded a proposal from FinBi, previously only a subcontractor, called the Sustainable Service Activity (SSA) for approval and award. FinBi hit some initial bumps as the lead firm, but quickly learned some lessons and showed marked improvement in its performance over time. Later, when a key Government agency wanted to work with a trusted local partner to support institutional reform efforts, the agency went to FinBi. The firm developed a very strong proposal with a good theory of change linked to the Mission's CDCS and included an MEL approach with excellent indicators. When the Mission Director and OAA Director heard that FinBi had a new idea to support MSMEs, they both responded enthusiastically that USAID should absolutely consider it since they were a great local partner! FinBi submitted a proposal in collaboration with the agency that was like night and day--amazingly strong on the first attempt and garnered immediate support. The organizational transformation over the last three years to one that is highly effective has been truly impressive!