Counterpart International

Counterpart International is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization focused on international development and locally led community change. It works through partnerships with local organizations rather than operating solely as an external service provider. Its stated objective is to help create inclusive and sustainable communities in which people can thrive, with particular attention to groups that have historically been excluded from civic, economic, and social decision-making. The organization was founded in 1965 as the Foundation of the People of the South Pacific, commonly known as FSP. Its early work concentrated on remote and underserved island communities in the South Pacific. The organization was established by Australian Marist missionary priest Stanley Hosie and actress Betty Bryant Silverstein. During its first years, FSP supported community development and humanitarian activities in places where infrastructure, institutional capacity, and economic opportunities were limited. A significant early turning point came in 1968, when FSP began receiving funding from the United States Agency for International Development. During the 1970s, the organization expanded its grant portfolio and developed a model that emphasized strengthening local institutions. Rather than maintaining permanently foreign-managed field offices, FSP worked toward transferring responsibilities to indigenous, locally staffed, and independent nongovernmental organizations. This approach connected infrastructure rehabilitation with organizational development, sustainable poverty solutions, and local economic growth. In 1992, USAID asked the organization to expand beyond its original regional focus and help explore the role of U.S. nongovernmental organizations in the former Soviet Union. The organization adopted the name Counterpart International at that time to reflect its broader geographic scope and international mission. Since its founding, it has established programs and activities in more than 65 countries across six continents. Counterpart's program areas include governance and civil society, resilient food systems, women's empowerment, and climate resiliency. Gender equity and social inclusion are described as cross-cutting principles. Its work commonly centers on building the capacity of local civil society organizations, improving participation in public life, and helping marginalized communities influence decisions that affect them. The organization has also implemented programs supported by USAID and other institutional partners. Counterpart is overseen by a board of directors responsible for legal and fiduciary governance. It is not a publicly traded company and has no stock ticker. Publicly available reference material identifies the organization as active, but does not provide a complete current account of its executive leadership, annual revenue, or consolidated operating budget. Its identity is therefore best understood as that of an international development and civil-society organization rather than a consumer-facing commercial brand.

Counterpart International began in 1965 as the Foundation of the People of the South Pacific, or FSP. Its creation reflected a focus on communities in the remote and comparatively overlooked islands of the South Pacific. The founders were Stanley Hosie, an Australian Marist missionary priest, and Betty Bryant Silverstein. Their work combined humanitarian concern with practical community development in settings where local populations often faced weak infrastructure, limited institutional resources, and restricted economic opportunities. In 1968, FSP began receiving support from the United States Agency for International Development. This funding helped the organization expand its activities and develop a more durable operating model. During the 1970s, FSP secured additional grants, increased its staff, and worked to transform field offices into locally staffed, independent nongovernmental organizations. The model sought to move beyond short-term aid delivery by giving local institutions the skills and organizational capacity needed to rebuild infrastructure, address poverty through sustainable means, and encourage economic development. The organization reached an important transition in 1992. USAID asked it to help consider how U.S. NGOs could contribute in the former Soviet Union, extending the organization's relevance beyond the South Pacific. In response to this wider mandate, FSP adopted the name Counterpart International. The new name signaled a global partnership model based on working with local counterparts and institutions rather than treating communities as passive recipients of assistance. Over subsequent decades, Counterpart established programs and activities in more than 65 countries on six continents. Its work has remained centered on strengthening local capacity and enabling communities to participate in decisions affecting their lives. Gender equity and social inclusion have served as guiding principles, particularly in programs involving marginalized populations and groups whose voices are often underrepresented in public institutions. The organization's contemporary program portfolio includes governance and civil society, resilient food systems, women's empowerment, and climate resiliency. These areas connect institutional strengthening with community-level outcomes. Counterpart's civil-society work supports organizations that can represent community interests and engage in public decision-making, while its food and climate programs address the ability of communities to withstand environmental and economic pressures. Counterpart has also received recognition and major institutional support. In 1991, U.S. President George H. W. Bush presented co-founder Betty Silverstein with the Presidential End Hunger Award for Individual Achievement. In early 1998, First Lady Hillary Clinton commended Silverstein at Andrews Air Force Base during Counterpart's 500th humanitarian airlift. In 2009, USAID awarded Counterpart a Leader with Associates cooperative agreement for the Global Civil Society Strengthening program. The agreement was held for eight years and provided awards reported at approximately $350 million in total. Today, Counterpart International remains an active U.S.-based nonprofit. It is governed by a board of directors responsible for legal and fiduciary oversight. Public reference material describes its international program areas and historical development, but does not establish a complete current list of executives, annual financial results, or a comprehensive country-by-country operating footprint.

• 2009

  Global Civil Society Strengthening agreement awarded

  [1]Counterpart Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  USAID granted Counterpart a Leader with Associates cooperative agreement to implement a global civil-society strengthening program.

• 1998

  500th humanitarian airlift recognized

  [1]Counterpart Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  Hillary Clinton commended Betty Silverstein during an event at Andrews Air Force Base marking Counterpart's 500th humanitarian airlift.

• 1992

  Organization adopts the Counterpart International name

  [1]Counterpart Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  After USAID requested assistance in examining NGO roles in the former Soviet Union, FSP changed its name to Counterpart International.

• 1991

  Betty Silverstein receives Presidential End Hunger Award

  [1]Counterpart Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  Co-founder Betty Silverstein received the U.S. Presidential End Hunger Award for Individual Achievement.

• 1970

  Local institutional model expands

  [1]Counterpart Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  During the 1970s, FSP expanded its staffing and worked to turn field offices into locally staffed, independent nongovernmental organizations.

• 1968

  USAID funding begins

  [1]Counterpart Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  The organization began receiving support from the United States Agency for International Development, enabling broader program development.

• 1965

  Foundation of the People of the South Pacific established

  [1]Counterpart Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  Stanley Hosie and Betty Bryant Silverstein established the organization to support communities in remote and underserved parts of the South Pacific.

A locally led international development partner that strengthens civil society, governance, inclusion, food-system resilience, and climate resilience through collaboration with community-based and national organizations.

• International development program

  Governance and Civil Society

  Counterpart supports civil-society organizations and community groups so they can participate more effectively in public life, represent marginalized constituencies, and influence decisions affecting their communities. The work emphasizes organizational capacity, local leadership, and inclusive governance rather than a single standardized service delivered across all markets.

• Food-security and development program

  Resilient Food Systems

  This program area addresses the ability of communities and local institutions to maintain food security under economic, environmental, and social pressure. The available reference material identifies resilient food systems as a current area of work but does not specify a single global program design or product format.

• Social inclusion program

  Women's Empowerment

  Counterpart's women's empowerment work forms part of its broader commitment to gender equity and social inclusion. It seeks to improve the ability of women and other underrepresented groups to participate in civic and community decisions, although the available source does not provide a complete list of country programs or delivery methods.

• Climate adaptation and development program

  Climate Resiliency

  Climate resiliency is a current Counterpart program area focused on helping communities and institutions respond to environmental risks and changing conditions. It complements the organization's work on food systems, local governance, and inclusive community development.

• Civil-society capacity-building program · 2009

  Global Civil Society Strengthening

  The Global Civil Society Strengthening program was implemented under a USAID Leader with Associates cooperative agreement awarded in 2009. It focused on building the capabilities of civil-society organizations in multiple countries and represented one of Counterpart's major institution-strengthening initiatives.

• 2009Global Civil Society Strengthening

  International

  Counterpart implemented a global program designed to strengthen the capacity of civil-society organizations and improve their ability to contribute to inclusive governance and community development.

  Outcome. Counterpart held the USAID Leader with Associates agreement for eight years and received awards reported at approximately $350 million through the agreement.

  Source
• 1998500th Humanitarian Airlift

  United States and international recipient communities

  Counterpart marked its 500th humanitarian airlift at Andrews Air Force Base, an event at which Hillary Clinton publicly commended co-founder Betty Silverstein.

  Outcome. The event recognized the organization's continuing humanitarian logistics work.

  Source

• 2009

  Accepted USAID civil-society strengthening agreementStrategy

  Background

  USAID sought an implementing partner for a program aimed at strengthening civil-society organizations internationally.

  Action taken

  Counterpart accepted a Leader with Associates cooperative agreement to implement the Global Civil Society Strengthening program.

  Aftermath

  The agreement remained in place for eight years and generated awards reported at approximately $350 million.

  Awards received through the agreement. $350 million (Eight-year agreement beginning in 2009)

  Source

• 1992

  Adopted a global identity and changed its nameStrategy

  Background

  USAID asked the organization to help assess the role of U.S. nongovernmental organizations in the former Soviet Union, extending its work beyond the South Pacific.

  Action taken

  The Foundation of the People of the South Pacific changed its name to Counterpart International.

  Aftermath

  The new name reflected a broader international mission and a partnership model intended to work with local counterparts in multiple regions.

  Source

• 2009

  Counterpart receives USAID Leader with Associates agreement[1]Counterpart Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  USAID awarded Counterpart a Leader with Associates cooperative agreement for the Global Civil Society Strengthening program. The agreement supported work to improve the capacity of civil-society organizations internationally and remained in place for eight years.

• 1992

  Counterpart expands from South Pacific roots to a global mission[1]Counterpart Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Following a request from USAID to explore the role of U.S. nongovernmental organizations in the former Soviet Union, the organization changed its name from the Foundation of the People of the South Pacific to Counterpart International.

1. 1Counterpart Internationalen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Counterpart International official websitecounterpart.org