Localisation: Local Actors as Equal and Strategic Partners? Field Perspective

A year ago at the World Humanitarian Summit, donors, UN agencies, and INGOs committed to “making principled humanitarian action as local as possible and as international as necessary… [and to] engage with local and national responders in a spirit of partnership.” But what has changed on the ground? And, how can Humanitarian Coordinators and Country Teams deliver on these commitments? Local actors are often seen as having distinct advantages compared to their international counterparts, such as their proximity to populations affected by crisis, ability to respond quickly and sustainability after crisis, as well as their knowledge of context, language and practices. Yet, this proximity also raises questions concerning risk management, duty of care, accountability and adherence to the humanitarian principles. This webinar considered lessons and practical examples from the responses in Syria, Somalia and more broadly which humanitarian leaders can build on to strengthen principled local humanitarian action in conflict settings.