Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks
HNPW 2023 (17-28 April 2023)
          


   
 
Session title: Promoting localisation through an inter-cluster and inter-agency approach
19 Apr 23 (11:00-12:30) UTC+2
 
SessionAbstract

Local and National Actors (LNAs) are critical actors in a humanitarian response, but their access to meaningful participation, representation, and leadership in the humanitarian coordination system remains limited. Structural discrimination, power imbalances, and (unconscious) bias within international organisations and the international humanitarian system constitute significant barriers to shifting power and resources. The advantages and gains of coordination that is meaningfully inclusive of local and national actors cannot be overemphasized and it is, therefore, crucial that are brought to the forefront of the humanitarian agenda. They include but are not limited to:

  • LNAsunderstandthe situations, dynamics, challenges, and solutions within their contexts
  • LNAs have the trust of, and access to, affected populations, and can mobilise networks and resources locally
  • When properly funded and supported, LNAs render the humanitarian response more effective, efficient, and sustainable.

Co-hosted by the Global Child Protection Area of Responsibility, the Global EducationCluster, the Global Nutrition Cluster, and the Global Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Clusterand Save the Children, this session will present the jointly developed Inter-Agency Toolkit on Localisation in HumanitarianCoordination and current work to pilot its tools and approachesinNorth-East Nigeria, Somalia, and South Sudan.


Background

The Global CPAoR, the GEC, the GNC, the GWC, Save the Children, Street Child UK and other partners produced the Toolkit onLocalisationin Humanitarian Coordination, to equip inter-agency humanitarian coordinators, co-coordinators, and partners to invest in local and national actors’ participation, representation and leadership in diverse humanitarian coordination settings. Importantly, the toolkit also provides specific resources for local and national actors to strengthen their capacity for influence and leadership in coordination fora. This toolkit aims to be the go-to resource forlocalisationacross a range of clusters/AoRsand humanitarian coordination structures, with tools relevant to a wide range of practitioners.Importantly, the toolkit does not replace dedicated staff time or funding to support national actors. Rather, it advocates for bothof these andprovides key tools and shares knowledge from the experience ofimplementinglocalisationin coordination projects in multiple countries.The specific aims of the toolkit are:

  1. To support increased meaningful participation of local and national actors in coordination processes throughout the HumanitarianProgrammeCycle,
  2. To contribute to increased leadership roles within humanitarian coordination structures, and
  3. To enable increased access to funding.

Agenda

1. Welcome remarks – 5 mins

2. Introduction of the toolkit – 15 mins

3. Perspectives about the toolkit from panelists – 30 mins

4. Discussions and Q&A session – 30 mins

5. Wrap up – 5 mins


Speakers

Global Cluster / AoR representative

National level cluster representative

Local and National Actor representative