Perspectives on Locally Led Humanitarian Action: Advancing UK Practice and Policy

With a new British government promising “genuine respect and partnership with the Global South,” Bond, CAFOD, University of Essex and University of Warwick are bringing together experts, practitioners, and academics to explore what this means for locally-led humanitarian action at an event on Thursday 27th March, in London.

The discussions will focus on the role of UK-based international NGOs and donor institutions, such as FCDO, DEC, and Start Network, in supporting local and national actors (LNAs) from Kenya, Syria, Ukraine, and beyond. The event builds on ongoing conversations across Bond’s work, within the Bond Humanitarian Working Group, and other networks focused on localisation, decolonising aid, and equitable partnerships, including Charter4Change, RINGO, and Pledge for Change.

The programme outline is below and features opening and closing plenaries, along with three thematic sessions focusing on key aspects of localisation, shaped by input from LNAs and priorities identified by Bond’s Humanitarian Working Group:

Sessions include:

  1. Modern Partnerships in UK Humanitarian Action
  2. Mutual Accountability, Equitable and Empowering Partnership Practices in Humanitarian Action 
  3. Local leadership in humanitarian programming and funding – how do UK INGOs and UK donor institutions approach local leadership in programme and grant management?  
  4. Modern partnerships in Risk Management 
  5. Ways forward for UK donors and UK INGOs on locally-led humanitarian action

Confirmed speakers include:

Local civil society representatives:

  • Martin W. Irungu, Executive Director, Empower and Serve, Kenyan national CSO
  • Mila Leonova, Director, Ukraine CSO Alliance 
  • Rand Sukhaita, Coordinator, IMPACT/Syrian Civil Society Networks Platform (SCNP)
  • Sudan ERR representative (name not disclosed for risk management)

INGO representatives:

  • Christine Allen, Executive Director, CAFOD
  • Halima Begum, CEO, Oxfam GB
  • Laurent Martial, Localisation Advisor, CARE International UK 
  • Tsungi Mahumucha, Director of International Programmes, Plan International UK

Donor representatives:

  • Barbara Lecq, Senior Humanitarian Advisor, FCDO
  • Duncan Bell, Senior Humanitarian Advisor, FCDO Syria
  • Fiona Tarpey, Policy Advisor on Localisation, FCDO 
  • Jayne Crow, Head of Programmes, DEC

This is an opportunity to engage in critical discussions on shifting power in humanitarian action and shaping partnerships that centre local leadership.

If you would like to attend this event, please register your interest on the link below. Please note that due to limited capacity we are allocating one place per organisation where possible.

Register your interest here