Published just days before the meeting, scheduled for October 17, 2024, the report highlights the successes and challenges of implementing the Grand Bargain’s commitments, particularly those centered on localisation. The Dutch Relief Alliance, formed in 2015, has made significant strides in advancing this agenda, working with over 100 local organizations across 45 global crises, including Afghanistan, Syria, and Yemen.

Moving from Geneva to Goma: Local Voices at the Forefront

One of the key themes of the report is the ongoing shift from global promises to local action. Grand Bargain 3.0, which represents the latest phase of the initiative launched in 2016, calls for at least 25% of humanitarian funding to be directed to local actors, as directly as possible. This reflects a growing recognition that local organizations, grounded in the realities of crisis-affected communities, are often better positioned to deliver timely and effective aid.

The report features voices from the ground, including those from Afghanistan, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), all advocating for more trust and equitable partnerships between international NGOs and local actors. Interviews with local leaders underscore the necessity of giving local organisations more control over decision-making and resources.

One of the interviewees, Shahabuddin Hamdard from Afghanistan, highlights the resilience of local organisations that continue to operate despite extreme challenges. “We stay because we have to,” he said, noting the ability of local actors to navigate complex environments and find creative solutions even when external aid is limited.

Achievements and Challenges

The Dutch Relief Alliance has been at the forefront of pushing for locally led humanitarian responses. In 2023, over 37% of the Alliance’s response budget was managed by local partners, surpassing the target set for 2026. The report celebrates these milestones but also candidly addresses the challenges that remain, including systemic power imbalances and funding shortfalls. In Sudan, for example, access to humanitarian aid is severely restricted due to ongoing violence, and local actors often bear the brunt of the risks involved.

The report also calls for more flexibility in funding mechanisms and the creation of long-term strategic partnerships with local organisations. This, it argues, will enable local actors to not only respond to immediate crises but also build resilience within their communities.

A Call for Action at Geneva

As the international humanitarian community prepares for the Grand Bargain Annual Meeting in Geneva, the Dutch Relief Alliance is urging stakeholders to double down on their commitments to localisation. The report concludes with a clear message: locally led action is not just a matter of efficiency, but a moral imperative in an increasingly complex global landscape.

With the spotlight on Geneva, all eyes will be on how donor governments and international organisations respond to this call for deeper, more equitable partnerships. The future of humanitarian aid, the report suggests, hinges on the ability to empower those who are most affected by crises to take the lead in their own recovery.

As the world faces growing humanitarian needs, the Dutch Relief Alliance’s report serves as both a celebration of progress and a sobering reminder of the work that remains to be done. The Grand Bargain 3.0, it argues, is an opportunity to transform the humanitarian sector from the ground up.

Please read or download the report here. Or find the report (and earlier publications) in the menu on the publications page.