The Rhetoric and Reality of Localisation: Refugee-Led Organisations in Humanitarian Governance

Abstract

When refugees flee war and persecution, protection and assistance are usually provided by United Nations organisations and their NGO implementing partners. In parallel is a largely neglected story: refugees themselves frequently mobilise to provide protection and assistance to other refugees. At a global level, there has been a shift in international policy rhetoric towards 'localisation' and inclusion of refugees, which potentially provides an opportunity to engage with refugee-led community organisations (RLOs). However, RLOs rarely receive access to international recognition or funding despite often being regarded by refugees as an important source of assistance. In this paper we draw upon ethnographic research on the interactions between international institutions and RLOs in Kampala, Uganda, to explore how 'localisation' unfolds in practice within humanitarian governance. In the absence of a clear policy framework for localisation at the global level, national level representatives have considerable discretion in whether and how they partner with RLOs, leading largely to their exclusion-and the development of alternative support strategies by RLOs. We suggest that an effective localisation agenda will require much more attention to the role of power and interests at the local level if RLOs are to be engaged as meaningful actors in humanitarian assistance.

Building Africa’s Homegrown Humanitarian Systems: Restoration as an Alternative to Localization

“…In this sense, asking international actors to exercise restraint, phase out subcontracting, and eventually orchestrate their own redundancies are difficult things to ask of actors that have built and dominated the current system for decades, and understandably have an interest in its continuation. Some recent studies have already noted varying levels of resistance from international actors to paradigm shifts in the humanitarian sector (Erdilmen and Ayesiga Sosthenes 2020;Pincock et al, 2020). However, African countries can overcome the resistances and even receive international backing if they have a clear enough and self-funded strategic plan for restoration.…”

Localisation Agenda, Shift the Power and African Philanthropic Models in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal

“…This promise too was largely not achieved. There is still inequality, power and resource imbalance between local NGOs and donors in the humanitarian system (Roepstorff, 2020;Pincock et al, 2021).…”

“…The goal of the localisation agenda is to improve the overall humanitarian system, and ensure efficient and fast delivery, quality, impactful and sustainable humanitarian action that are efficient and meets the needs of intended beneficiaries. The central role of local actors in achieving these outcomes has long been recognised (Krause, 2014;Pincock et al, 2021;Gomez, 2021). With their unique strengths of strong understanding of local contextual circumstances, politics and culture, proximity, timely response, and cost-effectiveness in delivering interventions, local communities and institutions are better placed to deliver critical intervention to those in need (Bakarat and Milton, 2020;Bakarat and Abunimer, 2020;van den Boss, 2021).…”

“…With their unique strengths of strong understanding of local contextual circumstances, politics and culture, proximity, timely response, and cost-effectiveness in delivering interventions, local communities and institutions are better placed to deliver critical intervention to those in need (Bakarat and Milton, 2020;Bakarat and Abunimer, 2020;van den Boss, 2021). With growing debates and contestations surrounding the current humanitarian system and its underpinnings (see for example, Roepstorff, 2020;Pincock et al, 2021), actors within the development ecosystem are becoming increasingly interested in knowing the opportunities, challenges and best practices on the relationship between donors, INGOs and local civil society organisations (CSOs), and the most effective ways to enhance the localisation agenda to ensure that resources and power flow directly to local and national CSOs in the Global South. In doing so, the aim is to put the 'local actors' at the centre of development work (Hodgson, 2020;Al-Abdeh and Patel, 2019).…”

New actors and contested architectures in global migration governance: continuity and change

“…Refugee-led community organisations also engage in advocacy to improve the situation of asylum seekers, refugees and undocumented migrants. Most of this advocacy work happens at the local level, as organisations tend to lack funding and access to national and international arenas of decision-making (Pincock, Betts, and Easton-Calabria 2020). They may also be discouraged by the national government from participating in rights-based advocacy (Sahin Mencutek 2020).…”