Localization of humanitarian action – Committed to being the change we aim to see

NHN is working with international and local actors to strengthen the latterbs role as a major contributor to humanitarian action. The ultimate goal of the initiative is bto place those affected by the crisis at the heart of humanitarian action, to protect their rights and dignity, and to ensure their full participation.b
NHN supports local humanitarian actors to take their place alongside international actors to ensure that optimum benefits reach the crisis affected people. The purpose is to enable the local actors to be the agents of promising humanitarian actions at the grass-roots. NHN is committed to being the change we aim to see. NHN has unfolded the endorsements into specific and measurable activities with timelines.

The charter of commitments places emphasis on the following
• Localization of the humanitarian action – Increased financial and technical capacity transferred and leadership role entrusted to local actors to take charge of the local humanitarian action.
• Local humanitarian institutions capacity development – Bridging the institutional capacity gaps in the areas of internal governance, financial management, and service delivery.
• Promoting linkage development among the humanitarian actors b Promoting links between local and national, and local, national and international humanitarian actors to strengthen the voice of local humanitarian actors.
• Collaboration with the state institutions b As part of building mutual trust and creating synergy in their actions, promoting institutional linkages between the local and national humanitarian actors and the relevant agencies in the government.

The Charter of commitments

1. Recognition

   CRI-1: bRealigned policies preventing partnerships with local humanitarian actors to deliver faster, reliable and sustainable relief to crisis-affected communities.b
   Definition of the indicator: The agency (international humanitarian organization) will identify policies, if any, that prevent it from entering into partnerships with local humanitarian actors. Eliminating such barriers is essential to deliver faster, more reliable and sustainable relief to crisis-affected communities. In such partnerships, the role of the latter will be recognized as a key informant in the design, and as a flag carrier in the subsequent implementation, monitoring and reporting of local humanitarian action. To achieve this, as deemed necessary, the agency will propose actions and timelines in the CRI monitoring framework.

2. Collaboration

   CRI-2: bFormed medium- to long-term partnerships with local humanitarian actors to deliver faster, reliable and sustainable relief to crisis-affected communities.b
   Definition of the indicator: The agency will in collaboration with its local partnersb carryout feasibility assessments to forge medium- to long-term strategic partnerships. Such strategic partnerships should identify all important ingredients of collaboration for the localization of humanitarian action also addressing local partnersb capacity development requirements and their engagement as frontline actors to take charge of the humanitarian action. Achieving such partnerships is essential to deliver faster, more reliable and sustainable relief to crisis-affected communities. To achieve this, the agency will propose specific actions and link them to specific timelines in the CRI monitoring framework.

3. Organizational development

   [Development of skill-sets and competencies through knowledge transfer, mentoring, and technical assistance]
   CRI-3: bCapacitated local humanitarian partners to deliver faster, reliable and sustainable relief to crisis-affected communities.b
   Definition of the indicator: The agency will develop customized plans based on the assessment of capacity gaps of its local partners. Further, the agency will provide support to build capacity of its partners in specific areas as indicated in the capacity development plan. Bridging the capacity gaps of the local partners is essential to deliver faster, more reliable and sustainable relief to crisis-affected communities. To achieve this, the agency will propose specific actions and link them to specific timelines in the CRI monitoring framework.

4. Strengthening financial capacity

   CRI-4: bAllocated funds to local humanitarian actors to deliver faster, reliable and sustainable relief to crisis-affected communitiesb
   Definition of the indicator: The agency will demonstrate its commitment to the localization of humanitarian action by indicating the annual transfer funds (to local humanitarian actors) in the CRI monitoring framework. The agency must disclose the overall percentage it allocates each year to the transfer fund. This fund is expected to increase each year thereby reducing the direct role of the agency or other international agency/agencies implementing humanitarian projects on its behalf. Strengthening financial capacity of the local partners is essential to deliver faster, more reliable and sustainable relief to crisis-affected communities. To achieve this, the agency will propose specific actions and link them to specific timelines in the CRI monitoring framework.

5. Strengthening common voice

   CRI-5: bProvided technical assistance to local humanitarian forums to strengthen the voice of crisis-affected communities.b
   Definition of the indicator: The agency will work with local humanitarian forums including NHN to provide technical assistance for strengthening their role. Agency will promote/disseminate networking, capacity building, leaning and knowledge sharing or exchange opportunities for the humanitarian actors through the platforms of local humanitarian networks. The agency will motivate its partners to obtain membership of local humanitarian networks. Strengthening role of the local humanitarian networks is essential to deliver better coordinated, faster, reliable and sustainable relief to crisis-affected communities. To achieve this, the agency will propose specific actions and link them to specific timelines in the CRI monitoring framework.

6. Overarching commitment (ethics, accountability and transparency)

   CRI-5: bEnsured accountability to the crisis-affected communitiesb
   Definition of the indicator: The agency will make merit-based decisions during the selection of grantees (the local humanitarian actors), and while their contracts are supervised/administered during the course of humanitarian action. Relevant information about the grantees must be made available/provided (wherever possible) on demand (particularly to the communities they work with/for). The agency shall ensure utmost fairness by conforming to the spirit of localization of humanitarian action, as is emphasized by this document. The agency should intermittently engage the services of third party firms to obtain neutral opinion about the transparency and conduct of its partners. The agency must propose measures (actions and timelines) in the CRI monitoring framework to particularly evaluate the ethics, accountability and transparency factors of its partnership contracts.