Linc

What Linc does

LINC, LLC is a Washington, D.C.-based international development consulting firm founded in 2013 that delivers systems thinking, organizational network analysis, and capacity strengthening services to bilateral and multilateral development donors and to international NGOs. Its portfolio of proprietary methodologies includes Organizational Network Analysis (ONA), Participatory Systems Mapping, the Pre-Investment Capacity Building (PICKS) tool, Structural Factor Analysis, and Market Systems Mapping, all of which are applied across sectors spanning WASH, youth workforce development, market systems, governance, and resilience. LINC's distinctive positioning is that it quantifies and visualizes stakeholder relationships using social network analysis to inform program design, adaptive management, and locally-led development — with documented engagements including 506 organizations and 1,248 partnerships mapped in Nicaragua, 767 organizations and 4,790 relationships in DRC, and 88 national WASH organizations in Cambodia.

LINC generates revenue through competitive procurement for government development contracts and grants, primarily from USAID (multiple country missions), USDA Food for Progress, and DFID/FCDO, plus subcontract awards from larger prime implementers such as Mercy Corps, Global Communities, Palladium International, Counterpart International, and IESC. The company holds both prime awards (e.g., Mexico Multi-Stakeholder Strengthening Activity, USAID Ethiopia Resilience Learning Activity, Local Evaluation and Evidence Support) and subcontractor roles on multi-year programs (e.g., the $57M DRC IMAGINE project, the $29M SURGES program in Mexico, the $15.3M SWS Learning Partnership). Contract values are determined through competitive bidding and are not publicly disclosed; pricing is project-based with durations typically ranging from one to five years. Its go-to-market is sales-led, with content marketing, conference participation, and direct donor engagement supporting pipeline development.

The company is organized as a privately held LLC with 11–50 employees, no disclosed venture or private equity backing, and a founder/management-controlled ownership structure. In January 2026, LINC merged with Acacia Global Consulting under the LINC brand to broaden its consulting capabilities in locally-led development. LINC has been recognized by USAID as Small Business of the Year (2018) and won USAID's 2023 Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting Case Competition, and it maintains active operations across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Southeast Europe.

Name

Linc

Legal name

LINC, LLC

Website

https://linclocal.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LINC is a Washington, D.C.-based international development consulting firm that delivers systems thinking, organizational network analysis, and capacity strengthening services to bilateral donors (USAID, USDA, DFID/FCDO) and to international NGOs operating across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Management Consulting Services (541618), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Instrumentation, Controls & Automation Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Compliance Technology, GRC Platforms & Controls Automation Advisory (BPAHAFAO)

Keywords

• International development consulting
• Organizational network analysis
• Capacity strengthening services
• Systems thinking methodologies
• Monitoring and evaluation

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Development Contracts and Grants: LINC generates revenue primarily through competitive awards from bilateral and multilateral development donors including USAID, USDA, DFID, and other government agencies. Contracts include prime awards where LINC leads consortia and subcontract awards where LINC provides specialized technical services to larger primes. Revenue is project-based with varying contract values and durations, typically ranging from one to five years.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

LINC is a Washington, D.C.-based international development consulting firm that provides training, consulting, research services, and technical assistance to local organizations and donors. The firm delivers specialized advisory services using proprietary methodologies including Organizational Network Analysis (ONA), Participatory Systems Mapping, and the Pre-Investment Capacity Building (PICKS) tool, applied across sectors such as WASH, market systems, resilience, governance, and youth workforce development.

Product overview

Linc is a consulting firm specializing in international development services, not a traditional software product company. Rather than offering a unified platform, Linc provides a portfolio of advisory methodologies, assessment frameworks, and research services centered on systems thinking approaches. The core offerings include Organizational Network Analysis (ONA), Participatory Systems Mapping, and the Pre-Investment Capacity Building (PICKS) Tool, which are applied across various consulting engagements. Supporting services include MEL/CLA frameworks, Capacity Strengthening, Collective Action facilitation, and Financial Sustainability research. These methodologies are delivered as professional services across development programs in areas including resilience, WASH, workforce development, market systems, and local organizational capacity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Organizational Network Analysis (ONA) A methodology examining three forms of social capital (bonding, bridging, and linking) to understand organizational relationships and network dynamics, enabling strategic program design and measurement of network strengthening interventions for development programs.
• Participatory Systems Mapping A systems thinking approach that engages stakeholders in mapping complex systems to identify causal factors, leverage points, and opportunities for sustainable change.
• Pre-Investment Capacity Building (PICKS) Tool A pre-investment capacity assessment tool designed to help organizations identify and address capacity gaps before engaging in development partnerships or programs.
• Structural Factor Analysis A market systems analysis approach used to identify and prioritize enabling environment barriers and gaps, providing basis for implementation strategies and intervention design.
• Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) and CLA Services Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) approaches combined with MEL frameworks to support evidence-based decision making and adaptive program management for development programs.
• Capacity Strengthening Consulting Organizational development consulting services to help local organizations strengthen their internal capacities, strategic planning, and back-office efficiencies.
• Collective Action Facilitation Multi-stakeholder engagement approaches that bring together civil society, government, and private sector actors to address complex development challenges collaboratively.
• Training Services Capacity building training programs that teach partner organizations to conduct their own network analysis and systems thinking analyses.
• Research Services Research and analysis examining development sector topics such as CSO financial sustainability, funding patterns, and conditions that drive organizational resilience.

Quantifiable outcome

• In Nicaragua workforce development network analysis: surveyed 131 core network actors in nine functional groupings, identifying 506 unique organizations and describing 1,248 partnerships
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Counterpart InternationalcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2026LINC is conducting the baseline evaluation for USDA's Livestock for Increased Food Security and Trade (LIFT) project, a five-year initiative implemented by Counterpart International in Kenya to strengthen Kenya's livestock sector.
• IESCcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2026LINC is delivering an independent baseline evaluation for the U.S.-Vietnam Trade in Agriculture and Food Safety Expanded (TAFSE) Project, a five-year USDA Food for Progress-funded project implemented by IESC to support trade of food and agricultural products in Vietnam.
• First ConsultminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025LINC partnered with Ethiopian consulting firm First Consult to host a high-level panel on 'Navigating a Changing Economic Landscape' regarding Ethiopia's currency regime changes, producing a Learning Brief for development partners.
• GreenHubminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2023On USAID/Vietnam Local Solutions for Plastic Pollution (LSPP) Activity, LINC served as subcontractor to Vietnamese NGO GreenHub, providing technical support including systems mapping workshop facilitation and social network analysis training.
• Palladium InternationalcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2022LINC serves as subcontractor to Palladium International on the $29M, five-year SURGES program (2022-2027) in Southern Mexico. LINC applies systems thinking methods including Market Systems Mapping and Structural Factor Analysis for prioritized value chains including coffee and tourism.
• Infotrak Research and ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2021Infotrak Research and Consulting, a Kenya-based research firm, serves as LINC's field data collection partner for the USDA Kenya LIFT project evaluation. Infotrak brings extensive experience implementing large-scale surveys across Kenya.
• Gerry Roxas FoundationminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2020LINC serves as technical advisor for the Philippine NGO Gerry Roxas Foundation on the USAID Community of Practice for Effective Partnerships (COPE) Activity, a three-year program fostering south-south cooperation among CSOs across Asia and Latin America.
• FICOSECcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2020FICOSEC (Fideicomiso para la Competitividad y Seguridad Ciudadana de Ciudad Juarez) partnered with LINC on the USAID/Mexico Multi-Stakeholder Strengthening Activity, providing co-funding and serving as implementer alongside LINC as prime awardee.
• CorporativacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2020Corporativa (Corporadora de Fundaciones A.C.) partnered with LINC on the Mexico MSA activity, contributing leveraged funds while working as project implementer and subawardee. The program was funded in equal amounts by USAID and Mexican resource partners.
• Asamblea de OrganizacionesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2020Asamblea de Organizaciones served as Mexican implementing partner alongside LINC on the Multi-Stakeholder Strengthening Activity in Mexico, contributing to the unique consortium model with Mexican and international partners.
• Global CommunitiescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2019LINC served as sub-contractor to Global Communities on the USAID-funded Kosovo Up To Youth project (2019-2024). LINC led the third objective focusing on developing, building, and supporting resilience partners and Youth Learning Networks for vulnerable youth aged 16-24.
• Peace DirectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017The Facilitating Financial Sustainability (FFS) project was jointly implemented by LINC, Peace Direct, and Foundation Center (now Candid) as part of USAID's Local Works Program. The project developed and tested approaches to improve local CSO financial sustainability through research and collective action learning phases.
• Foundation Center (now Candid)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Foundation Center (now Candid) partnered with LINC and Peace Direct on the FFS project, contributing funding analysis and data resources. Foundation Center analyzed close to 18,000 grant records across six countries to understand CSO financial sustainability support.
• WaterSHEDcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017LINC partnered with WaterSHED Asia in Cambodia to design a collective action approach with local stakeholders in support of the national rural water and sanitation strategy. LINC conducted an Organizational Network Analysis of 88 national RuSH organizations to understand existing relationships and support the Cambodian Government's 2025 vision.
• University of Colorado BouldercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016LINC was part of the consortium implementing the USAID Sustainable WASH Systems (SWS) Learning Partnership, a $15.3 million activity (2016-2021) led by University of Colorado Boulder. The partnership generated evidence on systems approaches for WASH sustainability in Cambodia, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda.
• IRC WASHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016IRC WASH partnered with LINC on the SWS Ethiopia activity, focusing on rural water supply and facilitating Learning Alliances. IRC and Tetra Tech served as the local facilitation partners working with WASH stakeholders in four areas of Ethiopia.
• Tetra TechcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Tetra Tech partnered with LINC on the SWS Ethiopia activity for small-town sanitation. The consortium partners facilitated Learning Alliances consisting of 15-25 key WASH stakeholders representing public, private, civil society, and other sectors.
• Mercy CorpscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2015LINC partnered with Mercy Corps as a sub-contractor on the DFID-funded $57 million IMAGINE project in the Democratic Republic of Congo. LINC led the five-year M&E component tracking social capital and accountability for public utility service provision, conducting baseline, mid-term, and endline Organizational Network Analyses.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• DAI: One of the largest US-headquartered international development consulting firms; competes for many of the same USAID and FCDO prime awards that LINC also pursues, particularly in governance, resilience, and capacity strengthening.
• Tetra Tech: Global consulting and engineering firm with a large international development practice; an active LINC consortium partner on SWS and a competitor on USAID WASH, governance, and capacity-strengthening awards at much larger scale.
• Abt Associates: Large research and consulting firm with a substantial international development division; competes for USAID and DFID MEL, evaluation, and systems-thinking contracts at significantly greater scale and geographic reach than LINC.
• Management Systems International (MSI): Long-established MEL, governance, and capacity strengthening consultancy (now part of Tetra Tech) that competes with LINC for USAID MEL, CLA, and systems-thinking awards but at a much larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Palladium International: Large global development firm (and an active LINC prime/partner on SURGES) operating in MEL, market systems, and governance; competes for many of the same USAID and DFID awards and represents both a partner and a competitive threat.

Direct peers

• EnCompass LLC: Small-to-mid-size US-based international development consulting firm specializing in MEL, CLA, capacity strengthening, and systems approaches — a near-direct functional peer to LINC in the same donor-funded MEL/systems niche.
• Itad: UK-headquartered international development consultancy specializing in MEL, evaluation, and learning for FCDO and other donors; comparable to LINC in methodology focus, technical specialism, and donor-funded consulting model.
• Social Impact (SI): International development consulting firm focused on MEL, evaluation, and learning, with similar size and donor base to LINC; competes for the same USAID, MCC, and FCDO evaluation and learning contracts.
• IESC: Nonprofit international development consultancy (and current LINC prime on USDA TAFSE) implementing USDA Food for Progress and USAID programs; comparable in size, donor mix, and agricultural/food security focus.
• Bixal: Mid-size US federal and international development consulting firm with MEL, CLA, and systems work; comparable in size and USAID/BHA-focused portfolio, with overlapping capabilities in monitoring, evaluation, and learning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LINClocal
• Facebookfacebook.com/lincllc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/linc-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Linc