Over the last years, calls for humanitarian agencies and donors to be ‘as local as possible, and as international as necessary’ have dominated dialogue within the humanitarian space, with discourse on how this aim can be achieved. Despite efforts towards this aim, Local and National Actors (LNAs) particularly Women Led Organisations (WLOs) and Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) access to and meaningful participation and leadership in the humanitarian coordination system remains varied and limited. The advantages and gains of cluster coordination that is meaningfully inclusive of WLOs, OPDs, and other diversity organisations cannot be overemphasized, and it is therefore important to support their participation and leadership in cluster coordination mechanisms.

Under the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Transformative Agenda, Cluster Lead Agencies are encouraged to consider developing a clearly defined, agreed, and supported sharing of cluster leadership with local and national actors wherever feasible. This session will
explore how various clusters and Areas of Responsibility (AoRs) are promoting the leadership of WLOs and OPDs within humanitarian coordination mechanisms. Panelists, including local leaders, will share their experiences and offer valuable insights for other country clusters looking to implement similar initiatives.

Session outcome

A shared understanding of how humanitarian actors can promote leadership by WLOs and OPDs in humanitarian coordination mechanisms, with practical examples and sharing of experiences.