The Journey to Self-Reliance requires a critical first step: finding new ways to empower communities as they plan, finance, and implement solutions to solve their own development challenges. To meet this need, USAID pilots and learns from programs like Local Works, which engages local partners and co-creates programs that address pressing, community-identifi ed challenges to advance locally led development. Identifying and sharing lessons learned from Local Works informs and improves locally owned, sustainable development efforts across the Agency.