Transforming through locally led development – a collection of case studies 

A decade on since localisation rose up the agenda, the time to meaningfully act and engage on this issue is long overdue. 

As the Pledge for Change and the Grand Bargain both approach their ten-year mark, this is a timely moment for reflection and introspection. Localisation runs the risk of becoming a ‘fatigued concept’, caught between a lack of strategic will and institutional inertia in the sector.

Transforming an INGO necessarily involves risk and requires patience, while success depends on building strong consensus. The future of the international aid sector, across both local and global stakeholders, may well depend on allyship. Some changes may need to be radical; many others will be incremental.

Introducing Bond’s collection of case studies

Existing power structures, the lack of a universally accepted definition of localisation, and the gradual rightwards shift in global political discourse are creating confusion and exacerbating fault lines and mistrust. Alongside this, terms like ‘locally led’ and ‘decolonisation’ are increasingly used, but often without shared understanding or alignment in practice.

With this in mind, we wanted to highlight the efforts some UK-based international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) have made to successfully move the project of localisation forward. Each organisation has taken a different approach and is at a different point in its journey. What they have in common is the act of taking bold steps to turn their principles and commitments into action.

This collection documents real journeys moving beyond theory into practice, discusses real challenges as well as offers multiple pathways toward a common goal: shifting power to local actors in meaningful and lasting ways.

In our new resource, we hear directly from The Mango Tree, Transform Trade, HelpAge International, Link Education, and Avert. Each case study is presented in the voice of the organisation, capturing the decisions, tensions, reflections, and lessons that have shaped their transformation processes.

The case studies seek to address:  

• What does it mean for an INGO to become locally led?  
• Which practical components are involved? 

There is no fixed route to locally led development. There are several possible pathways towards this goal, and these case studies highlight just how diverging our paths can be to reach a shared goal 

Case studies: Transformations through locally led development

Key insights and themes

• Governance reform as a critical step 
  Without change at the governance level, an organisation will not transform. 
• Importance of decisive leadership and early donor engagement 
  Donors who ‘bought in’ to the INGO’s localisation strategies were more likely to provide crucial funding to support their partner’s transformation. 
• Creativity and flexibility were essential 
  The strategy for becoming locally led must be highly creative… this took courage, determination and hard work. 
• Core values served as north stars 
  Each of these organisations was able to retain, and often returned to, their founding purpose and values. 

We hope this will be insightful for everybody across the sector, whether you’re just beginning to consider what becoming locally led might involve, or are already in the midst of change.Your chance to participate in our upcoming Webinar

These case studies show there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to INGOs becoming locally led. Organisations have taken different starting points and arrived at different destinations, some UK-registered charities closed, while others took on new roles within their global organisations.

Upcoming webinar

The upcoming webinar will offer a space to hear directly from those involved, share reflections, and deepen collective learning across the sector.

Join us in our upcoming webinar to hear directly from the organisations featured in this case story collection. Learn how they navigated complex transitions, stayed rooted in core values, and embraced locally led change. Your journey might start here!