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What is Localization?

As the Localization Advocacy Group, advancing with the initiative of the Support to Life Association, the Human Resource Development Foundation (İKGV), and the Civil Society Development Center (STGM), we believe in 'localization', which aims to improve humanitarian aid and mind that this issue does not fall off the agenda. This is exactly why we are starting a series of broadcasts.

In this series called #WhatIsLocalization, all of our members will describe what 'localization' means to them; will explain the results of localization in the field, and share the outputs of their efforts.

The more localization is talked about, the better...  The more localized humanitarian aid is, the more effective it is...

What is Localization?

In the context of humanitarian aid, localization can be defined as 'strengthening the local community to meet the needs of disaster-affected communities in the most effective, efficient and principled way'.

Local empowerment refers to supporting the capacities of both local actors (NGOs, public/local government), and affected individuals and communities. Localization acknowledges that effectiveness and efficiency in humanitarian aid work are possible with the change of power balances. Effective participation of local actors in decision mechanisms regarding policy and implementation in humanitarian aid can be ensured by transferring more resources to the local area, especially in the financial field.

Localization entered the humanitarian agenda for the first time at the Humanitarian Aid Summit, which was held in Istanbul for the first time in May 2016. At the meeting where NGOs, UN agencies, academia, public institutions, private sector and political people came together, localization was the most accepted solution proposal put forward to improve the existing flaws of the humanitarian aid system. At the summit, localization commitments were signed with the 'Grand Bargain' agreement, which is translated into Turkish as the 'Great Compromise'. Global and regional networks that were subsequently established began to follow these commitments, which would make humanitarian aid more local and less bureaucratic.

with the Grand Bargain;

  • Greater transparency in the humanitarian chain,
  • Transferring global funds to local actors,
  • Investment in the leadership and capacities of local stakeholders,
  • Stretching donor rules on access to grants,
  • Reducing the reporting burden,
  • Long-term (multi-year) granting of funds,
  • It was aimed to increase the contract aid programs.

To date, 63 institutions, including donors, UN agencies and international NGOs, have signed the agreement.

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