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.