Launched in March 2020, the ToGETHER program is a dedicated initiative aimed at enabling local actors to take the leading role in delivering effective, timely, accountable, and principled humanitarian action within and their respective countries and tailored to the specific needs of each region.
Localization
As local as possible, as international as necessary: The ToGETHER program promotes local ownership and leadership in humanitarian action.
The humanitarian system acknowledges the need for better responses to the growing humanitarian crises intensified by climate change, armed conflicts, and disasters. Local actors, often the first responders on the ground, provide timely and effective assistance and possess unique advantages due to their proximity to affected communities and deep understanding of local contexts. In recognizing these strengths in access, understanding, and community knowledge, efforts have been made towards a more localized humanitarian action. The goal is to grant these actors greater decision-making power.
However, historically, only a small portion of humanitarian aid funding goes directly to local organizations. Efforts to change this gained momentum at the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit, where the Grand Bargain commitments aimed to increase direct funding to local actors to 25%. Since then, there has been a growing consensus among governments and humanitarian organizations about the importance of local leadership in humanitarian actions, leading to various agreements and initiatives, such as the Principles of Partnership and the Charter for Change, emphasizing the need to strengthen the role of local actors in humanitarian actions.
But what does “localization” mean?
The concept of localizationin humanitarian action aims to redefine power dynamics by promoting equitable partnerships and enabling local actors to make decisions and lead responses. It represents a shift towards greater local ownership and leadership. It involves collaboration among various stakeholders, including international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), local civil society organizations, governmental authorities, and traditional leaders. By emphasizing the recognition of local expertise, localization promotes meaningful participation and improves local organizations’ access to essential resources such as quality funding, institutional capacity, and coordination platforms within their respective humanitarian systems. It also highlights the importance of sharing resources and decision-making power to create a more inclusive and locally driven humanitarian response, ultimately aiming for greater effectiveness.
Challenges
However, challenges persist in fully recognizing the potential of local actors in humanitarian efforts. Critiques highlight ongoing power imbalances and the centrality of international actors in decision-making processes. Hindered by a lack of political will and donor requirements, international organizations must reevaluate their roles to embrace a shift in power dynamics. The current top-down model of the humanitarian system undermines local ownership, often leading to a gap between the intended goals and local understanding. There is also a discrepancy between the frontline role of local actors and their influence in shaping strategies and policies.
To address this, localization efforts should enable local NGOs and communities to shape and implement strategies according to their needs. At the same time, INGOs should commit to fostering equitable partnerships in humanitarian efforts. This shift aligns with principles such as the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), which emphasizes the importance of communication, participation, and feedback from affected communities. It recognizes the importance of enabling communities threatened or affected by crises to influence decisions that impact their own livesand advocates for a change in existing power structures within the humanitarian sector.
What is WHH doing? The ToGETHER program
The “Towards Greater Effectiveness and Timeliness in Humanitarian Emergency Response” Program“, ToGETHER, initiated by WHH together with Caritas Germany, Malteser International and Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe, promotes the localization of humanitarian action by fostering collaboration among 40 local and national NGOs across Bangladesh, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Somalia. Funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, the program aims to strengthen institutional and operational capacities, advocates for local leadership in the humanitarian system, and facilitate cross-border learning and knowledge exchange.
Phase 1 (2020-2024) focused on increasing the visibility and leadership of local actors, positioning them at the forefront of humanitarian responses. Local partners enhanced their roles in national coordination, participated in global forums, and significantly expanded their networks.
Following the success of Phase 1, the program continued into Phase 2 (2024-2027), ToGETHER 2.0, focusing on translating the capacities, lessons, and achievements of the first phase into tangible operational impact. Designed collaboratively with the local partners, it introduces new approaches to sustain and expand localization gains:
- A mentoring component sets out to strengthen capacities across a broader network of 120 peer humanitarian actors.
- Integration of anticipatory humanitarian action (AHA) to improve preparedness and response capacities.
- Piloting of a Risk-sharing model in close collaboration with the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO) to ensure more equitable distribution of financial and operational risks among the donor, intermediaries, and local actors.
Components of the ToGETHER program:
1. Local Leadership
The governance structures of the program are designed to reflect the leading role of the 40 local actors. The Country Steering Committees (CSC), comprising representatives of each local partner in one country, set strategic directions and monitor actions at the national level. The Program Advisory Committee (PAC), with one representative from each country, oversees overarching global initiatives. This setup ensures collective decision-making and strategic direction of local partners at both national and international levels.
Additionally, local partners, together with the donor and intermediaries, co-develop a risk-sharing modelto promote a more equitable distribution of financial and operational risks among all stakeholders.
2. Capacity Sharing
At the start of the program, local partners conducted capacity self-assessments and developed organizational capacity strengthening and sharing plans based on their identified priorities. We worked with these partners to implement the strategies through tailored activities like trainings, workshops, peer learning, and mentoring. This ensured tailored and continuous joint development and knowledge sharing among participating organizations. To further enhance their impact, ToGETHER 2.0 integrates key priorities such as anticipatory humanitarian action (AHA) and gender-sensitive programming, while embedding these capacities into local partners’ organizational frameworks and to institutionalize improvements.
Additionally, a mentoring component pairs local partners with a broader network of 120 additional peer organizations to foster knowledge exchange and further strengthen capacities across the humanitarian sector.
3. HOIFA – Flexible Funding for Humanitarian Innovation and Action
The Humanitarian Operation and Innovation Facility (HOIFA) provides flexible funding for emergency responseinitiatives and innovative approaches. Managed at the local level by the CSC, the National HOIFA provides unearmarked funding for emergency preparedness, response, and innovative approaches. At the global level, managed by PAC, the Global HOIFA allocates earmarked funding for strategic priorities, including anticipatory action and gender-sensitive measures. HOIFA funds are allocated based on the priorities identified, ensuring quick and efficient locally led humanitarian action in times of crisis based on contextual knowledge and local needs, and fostering mutual learning between local and international partners.
4. Learning, Exchange, and Advocacy
ToGETHER facilitates various initiatives at national, regional, and international levels to promote reflection, dialogue, and evidence-based learning among involved stakeholders, including other local and international organizations, donors, authorities, and relevant networks. Advocating for priorities such as equitable partnership and flexible funding, ToGETHER enhances the representation of local actors in humanitarian coordination and promotes their voices in international policy making.
The ToGETHER approach:
- Emphasizes the importance of local ownership and leadership in humanitarian action.
- Focuses on promoting local and national actors' leadership and decision-making capacity within their respective countries.
- Advocates for equitable partnerships, accessibility to quality funding, and effective coordination mechanisms.
- Commits to strengthening civil society and involving local actors in international discourses.
- Builds lasting partnerships grounded in mutual respect and trust.
- Facilitates dialogue, knowledge sharing, collaboration, and network building.
Localization: at the core of WHH’s work
Beyond the ToGETHER program, WHH's commitment to localization is reflected in its Strategy 2025-2030 “Zero Hunger on a Healthy World,” which underscores the centrality of local actors and communities in our approach. Additionally, deliberations on localization and putting people at the center have occurred with Country Directors and Advisors, culminating in establishing the WHH Task Force on People-centered and Locally Led Humanitarian Action.
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