Together with Action Aid, Christian Aid and Caritas Internationalis, #HAI worked with UN OCHA to analyse approximately 100 self-reports submitted by donor governments, UN agencies, INGOs and other humanitarian actors to prepare a paper ‘Reinforce Local Systems and Invest in Local Capacities’. The paper identifies barriers in better delivery on two core commitments of #AgendaForHumanity, i.e., 1) reinforce, do not replace local and national actors, and 2) invest in local capacities. The paper also comes up with a few recommendations for better delivery on the commitments. Please access the paper here.
Advocacy
Logos On Aid Supplies: Helpful, Demeaning … Or Dangerous?
Visibility is important during aid delivery for a number of reasons, including accountability to the affected population as well as to donors. However, does excessive focus on visibility undermine dignity of the beneficiaries? National Public Radio (NPR? came up with an analytical article by collecting views from different people. HAI’s views were also obtained. Please read the detailed article here:
Mobilisation of Local Resources for Humanitarian Aid
HAI is thankful to Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) and Forum for Indian Development Cooperation (FIDC) for organising a seminar on 10 May 2018 on the topic of Localisation of Local Resources for Humanitarian Aid. This seminar provided an opportunity to present the highlights of the #HAI paper entitled, ‘International Humanitarian Aid and the Localisation Debate: Why is it important to have “Local Funds” for “Local Organisations”.
#HAI is championing the agenda of localisation since the World Humanitarian Summit. #HAI is trying to address the barrier restricting local organisations to access humanitarian funding. #HAI is also advocating with the Grand Bargain signatories for better delivery on their commitment to pass on at least 25% of global humanitarian funding to local and national actors. In this context, #HAI firmly believes that local fundraising by affiliates of INGOs defeats the very spirit of #localisation. National resources should be accessible to local and national actors.
The HAI presentation generated a good discussion. It is expected that a process will initiate now for a few legislative and policy reforms in India, which will eventually provide a favourable environment to local and national humanitarian actors. The presentation was made by the #HAI CEO Sudhanshu S. Singh. Afterwards #HAI president NM Prusty emphasised that Indian CSOs should now look for bigger global role to replicate Indian model of disaster response and management.
What has changed since the WHS?
HAI CEO Sudhanshu S. Singh was interviewed by the Norwegian journal ‘Bistandsaktuelt’ on Localisation of Aid. The interview, in Norwegian, is published here:
Development Cooperation Review
HAI CEO S.S. Singh and President Mr NM Prusty participated in the event organised by Research and Information Systems for the Developing Countries (RIS) to launch Development Cooperation Review (DCR). DCR was launched by Hon’ble State Minister for External Affairs MJ Akbar. HAI CEO was part of the panel discussion, right before the launch.
Agenda for Humanity in Action
Agenda for Humanity, a UN led process post the WHS, has come up with its newsletter. #HAI is glad that it’s very first news talks about #HAI and activities of its two member organisations, namely Anchalik Gram Unnayan Parishad – AGUP and North-East Affected Area Development Society (NEADS). Please do read this newsletter and share widely. This is a good global acknowledgement of our local actions.
The newsletter could be accessed here.