With nearly 40 years of experience, Tetra Tech is an industry leader in helping promote and support decentralized governance and democratic solutions around the world.
As citizens across the globe demand more transparency, effectiveness, and accountability from their governments, Tetra Tech works with local partners to foster meaningful democratic and institutional reforms, protect human rights, promote justice, and improve lives.
Tetra Tech’s partners include the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), U.S. Department of State, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and other international development organizations. We have designed and implemented more than 110 multiyear projects in nearly 50 countries. We also have conducted hundreds of short-term assessments and analyses for clients around the world.
Tetra Tech has analyzed, designed, implemented, and managed strategic programs that promote inclusive governance, improve legal frameworks and policy frameworks, and build institutional capacity at the national and subnational levels to improve efficient public administration. Our innovative solutions support decentralized governance, build local government capacity, assist with municipal services, strengthen institutions and transparency, and increase the participation of women and vulnerable populations. We also lead efforts to strengthen effective legislative processes, reduce corruption risks, promote human rights, prevent crime and violence, and strengthen civil society.
Our approach integrates gender, youth, and other vulnerable populations to achieve broad-based and inclusive results in our programs. Our team complements this approach with cutting-edge tools and methodologies to achieve the development goals of our clients and partners.
We have successfully applied institutional capacity building tools in legislative institutions, central government ministries, municipal and regional governments, and community-based and non-governmental organizations and networks.
Our Expertise in Democracy, Rights, and Governance
Tetra Tech assists national, regional, and local government counterparts to establish and strengthen the foundation for democratic, decentralized local governance by creating the prerequisite legal framework and policies. Our projects enhance the capacity of government officials, build financial and management systems and procedures, improve public service delivery, and strengthen mechanisms for broad citizen engagement.
Tetra Tech offers a full range of analytical research services used in strategic planning of democracy, human rights, and governance (DRG) programming, including assessments, surveys, evaluations, and political economy analyses. We develop qualitative and quantitative methods to improve understanding of DRG systems, identify critical policy issues, and provide an analytical basis for the design of actionable solutions.
Tetra Tech provides technical assistance, training, and technology-based solutions to enhance the performance of institutions, including in conflict-affected countries. We apply tools and methodologies that improve the effectiveness of public institutions that are undergoing administrative reform or otherwise growing into their mandates. Our programs promote well-being, resiliency, and stability in conflict-prone and post-conflict countries. Core areas of focus include democratic and accountable governance, delivery of essential services, equitable economic growth, inclusive development, human rights protection, and citizen security. We tailor assistance to strengthen individual skills, organizational capacity, and overall systems. Learn more about our stabilization and institutional strengthening services under the USAID Community Development and Licit Opportunities Activity in Colombia.
To combat corruption and improve government effectiveness, Tetra Tech strengthens public sector institutions and systems, while enhancing the ability of the private sector and civil society to demand transparency and accountability. We strengthen and build mechanisms to hold government institutions accountable and increase responsiveness to citizens in decision-making. We enhance oversight capacity to ensure effective public policies and assure that resources are allocated and used where they are needed most. Learn more about our transparency and accountability work under the USAID El Salvador Government Integrity Project.
Tetra Tech supports legislative development by focusing on internal administration and management, parliamentary procedures refinement, legislation drafting and enactment, executive branch oversight, budget analysis, constituency relations, and mechanisms for public participation in the lawmaking process. Learn more about how we work to strengthen legislative bodies as well as citizen engagement in the legislative process through the USAID-funded Georgia Good Governance Initiative.
Tetra Tech helps design, implement, and manage integrated community development strategies aimed at preventing crime and violence and providing youth with alternative livelihood opportunities. Through strategic partnerships with national and local governments, police, and non-governmental organizations, we support efforts to address and prevent the drivers of violence and crime. Learn more about our crime and violence prevention work under the USAID Guatemala Urban Municipal Governance Project.
Our work equips women and girls with the skills and knowledge necessary to develop improved economic and social opportunities and to become changemakers in their communities. Tetra Tech builds programs that support networks and enabling environments that prioritize women’s legal and economic empowerment, public participation, decision-making, and representation in institutions and local economies. We support reforms to legal frameworks that are biased against women, provide educational opportunities on economic rights, and help break down legal and cultural barriers traditionally faced by women. Learn more about our women’s empowerment work under the USAID Afghanistan Women’s Leadership Development Project.
Public sector finances, procurement, and domestic revenue generation are essential components to effective governance. Tetra Tech is a recognized leader in supporting the improvement of financial planning and self-sufficiency, service delivery, transparency, accountability (including audit), financial institutional strengthening, and capacity development. Drawing from Tetra Tech’s broad governance expertise in other practice areas, like land rights and water, sanitation, and hygiene, we help governments maximize their potential for domestic resource mobilization, especially in the context of local governance and decentralization. We work with governments to apply our tools for assessing financial governance systems and developing transparent and effective revenue streams that support financial self-reliance. Learn more about our public financial management work under the USAID Planning and Local Governance Project in Albania.
Tetra Tech’s work with civil society and citizen engagement groups is an integral part of our project implementation. We foster the creation of deliberative spaces where citizens and public officials interact and negotiate to find solutions to problems. In addition, we provide extensive organizational capacity-building programs to civil society organizations to increase their effectiveness and sustainability as representatives and advocates for marginalized and vulnerable populations. Our unique tools and methodologies help civil society to adopt and deliver more efficient services to its constituencies. Learn more about our civil society strengthening work under the USAID Liberia Land Governance Support Activity.