Locally-led action is more than one story

by Vijayalakshmi Viswanathan 

This blog is the first piece in a series that explores insights from an ongoing research process. NEAR’s Flagship Research Report which is slated for release in January 2026 looks at building a more locally-led aid system.  

Stories matter. How we tell them and whose voices are centred in them matters. Understanding challenges from different perspectives matters. Learning from these when we discuss locally-led action matters. 

For a long time, the dominant narrative has been the top-down localisation agenda. Much of this focus has understandably been around funding by donors, the UN and INGOs; and the ability of local organisations to mould themselves into ‘suitable partners’ in order to access those partnerships. The most generous angles have largely still been an exploitative view of local and national organisations as a ‘efficiency’, cost-cutting or risk transfer solution. While these conversations have evolved, the pace of change on the ground remains slow. The dominant narrative remains that of an international donor / agency and their empowered local partner(s).   

In her 2009 Ted Talk, Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche talked about the dangers of a single story. “Power is the ability not just to tell the story of another person,” she said, “but to make it the definitive story of that person”. 

We are at this critical juncture in the humanitarian sector, with increasing politicisation and reducing donor budgets competing with growing needs. Conversations around the future of aid are picking up pace. It is important that alternatives do not mimic the same one-story problem, replicating top-down systems just with new jargon, and losing the opportunity to learn from local leadership for system reform.  

Part of this means understanding how locally-led action across the Global South is more than one story. It is the story of organisations coming together to advocate jointly for what localisation means in their contexts. And the story of a national organisation acting as an incubator for more grassroots innovations. And the story of navigating complicated dynamics as civic space closes. And the story of working across artificial silos because affected families don’t classify their problems as a humanitarian, development, climate, or peacebuilding issue. And the story of people losing their homes and loved ones, but as frontline responders having no space to grieve. And the story of taking the time to build trust with a community over endless cups of tea – only to worry about how to attribute those hours in a rigid logframe. And on and on.  

For when we look beyond the viewpoint of the formal international aid architecture, we see the narratives are far more nuanced. Across the Global South, local and national organisations have always been finding ways to serve their communities, to innovate, to navigate their widely differing national realities, and even to build south-south solidarity.  

Drawing on the vast expertise of NEAR’s membership, partners and the broader sector, we feel that it is important to bring together these threads. So over 2025, NEAR is delving more deeply into some of these questions by putting together a flagship report. Through this research, we aim to do more than an academic exercise, challenging the one-story perspective and amplifying diverse realities to help shape the system. How does locally-led action play out on the ground in different contexts, both within and beyond the gaze of the formal international system? What does south-south solidarity among local and national organisations look like and how is it evolving?  

Over the coming months we will be exploring challenges, realities and hopeful solutions on building a more locally-led aid system from a Global South perspective. Watch this space for interesting insights through the process.  

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Vijayalakshmi Viswanathan is leading NEAR’s Flagship Research Report work. She has been a practitioner with national organisations in the Global South, working on locally-led action. She also brings extensive experience of leading on action research and learning studies for the humanitarian and development sector.  

Breaking Barriers, Amplifying Our Collective Voices: The NEAR Delegates Programme

by Degan Ali and Valeria Geremia 

This blog is an official launch of the NEAR Delegates Programme. With this programme and through our members we are building a network of empowered local leaders who will shape policy conversations, influence aid decisions, and redefine what meaningful participation looks like.  

A Lone Southern Voice in a Crowded Room (Degan reflects on the last decade) 

There was a lot of pressure that was put on me, both by the Global North and the Global South, and it was unnecessary. I was constantly being put in this position of being the sole tokenistic Global South voice for everybody, and that's really hard to do. 

At the World Humanitarian Summit, I found myself in a difficult position, being one of the only ones who was ready to shift the power and speak up about uncomfortable topics.  As leader of Adeso and a founder of NEAR, many times I was the only representative from the Global South in high-stake spaces where critical decisions about humanitarian aid and development were being made.   

I never wanted to be the only voice, but for many years I was. The vision was (and is) a movement, a collective force powerful enough to dismantle old structures.  

Slowly, that movement has taken shape. NEAR’s Leadership Council members and NEAR’s Secretariat gradually joined me in representation, strengthening this collective and unified voice.  

For many years, I was seen as the face of NEAR, and I was really happy when we started expanding our representatives. It relieved a huge burden for me from being the only face or voice of the Global South.   

Empowering Local Leadership: The NEAR Delegates Programme 

For too long, global humanitarian decision-making has been controlled by a small group of powerful voices, while local actors—the very people living the realities these policies impact—have been left out of the conversation. The NEAR Delegates Programme is designed to change this dynamic.  

This initiative shifts advocacy and representation from traditional gatekeepers to those working on the frontlines: local leaders, community-driven organisations, and those directly impacted by global policies.  

By 2027, NEAR aims for our members to be the leading voices at global gatherings and multi-stakeholder processes, ensuring that their insights, experiences, and solutions drive decision-making, not just decorate it.  

More Than a Seat at the Table—A Redefinition of Leadership  

We recognise that true change can only happen through collective leadership and shared responsibility. 

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For NEAR to be a truly membership-based organisation and not a secretariat-led organisation, it’s important that the voices advocating for NEAR’s issues be represented by our members. 

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The Delegates Programme isn’t just about representation; it’s about transforming leadership. NEAR isn’t centralising power in a secretariat or a few chosen figures. Instead, it’s building a network of empowered local leaders who will shape policy conversations, influence aid decisions, and redefine what meaningful participation looks like.  

A Movement Rooted in Action  

The NEAR Delegates Programme is all about action and impact. Delegates will take on key roles in:  

• Speaking at Global Forums: Amplifying local voices in high-stakes discussions.  

• Shaping Policy: Collaborating with donors, international organisations, and policymakers to influence humanitarian policies.  

• Building Networks: Strengthening ties between local actors and global decision-makers.  

• Mentoring Future Leaders:  Passing knowledge and skills to the next cohorts, ensuring continuity and sustainability.   

But it’s not just about shaping global conversations—it’s also about building skills, influence, and opportunities.  

The members get an opportunity to hone their public speaking, networking, representation and their advocacy skills. They start developing a network for their institution as well. They develop a profile for themselves and their work—not just for NEAR, but for their own organisations - an additional benefit. 

The Future We Are Building  

The NEAR Delegates Programme is a call to move beyond discussions about localisation and make it a reality. It’s an opportunity to reimagine what global leadership looks like - one where those most affected by humanitarian crises are at the forefront of designing the solutions.  

Through this initiative, NEAR is investing in local voices, ensuring that leadership isn’t dictated by geography or funding, but by expertise, experience, and the ability to drive real change. Delegates won’t just participate in global discussions; they will shape them, influencing policy, challenging outdated models, and championing advocacy that puts communities first.  

By supporting and amplifying multiple voices to join the collective voice, many can share their experiences to reshape the global humanitarian landscape. This takes the pressure off of the few and uplifts more local voices from the Global South – strengthening our collective voice—one Delegate at a time.  

Degan Ali is Executive Director of Adeso and is on NEAR’s Leadership Council. Degan co-founded NEAR and was its leader at the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit. Her advocacy to funnel humanitarian funds to local actors helped spur the “Grand Bargain” 25% commitment.  For more than a decade, she has been a thought leader and leading voice in localisation and decolonisation of aid. Degan is a mentor shaping the Delegates Programme at NEAR. 

Valeria Geremia is NEAR’s Network Influencing Coordinator and joined NEAR in August 2024.  Valeria brings extensive expertise in coordinating civil society networks and elevating local organisations’ role in policy discussions and advocacy. She leads the Delegates Programme within NEAR’s Secretariat.  

NEAR’s MENA Summit Day 3: Shifting Mindsets Towards Transformative SOLUTIONS

//English below//

“When speaking to community members - no one has ever said, ‘I need more aid’. People have plans”  ~Suleiman Abdulahi of Common Reserve 

The final day of NEAR’s MENA Summit 2025 was dedicated to solutions. We shifted mindsets towards partnerships and innovative solutions that can foster South-to-South Solidarity and address the challenges across the MENA region.   

Leaders from academia, social impact, philanthropy, public and private sectors came together to share transformative solutions as well as lay the foundation to collaboratively develop action-orientated contextualised solutions and approaches that build resilience and promote positive change.  

Key themes discussed throughout the day included: innovation, the evolving humanitarian needs in the region, innovative and blended financing models, investment for social impact, sustainable business models, exploring partnership approaches, and leveraging technology to strengthen solidarity.  

The first panel featured:  

• Degan Ali, CEO of Adeso, who talked about her inspiring professional and organisational journeys and the nascent Proximate Fund as a funding mechanism to strengthen locally-led funds in Africa. Degan encouraged us to think beyond aid dependency, reminding us that “the [aid] system was designed to maintain power in the Global North.” She prompted us with critical questions about how we can decolonise the system if we don’t decolonise our own institutions. Degan also highlighted Waqaf, as a powerful source of Islamic funding, and how every new project at Adeso needs to have an exit strategy and financial independence. 

• Saad Alotaibi, CEO/Chairman of the Union at Nama Foundation and Kuwait Charities Union, fascinated us with the movement of zero, and the importance of incorporating an investment mindset into the humanitarian sector illuminated by examples from his organisation’s work across Africa. Grounded in the pursuit of self-sufficiency and anchored in the belief that everyone and every place has something to offer which has inherent value. “Money doesn’t disappear; it moves”. Saad shared examples from Somalia where people are investing into the medical services that are being provided to them.  

• Suleiman Abdullahi, Founder of Common Reserve, discussed the need for improved digital banking solutions and why he’s setting out to build a bank for the aid sector.  Suleiman encouraged us to think in an empowered way - that we can think creatively and strategically with greater impact when not operating from a victim mindset, “We can build our own infrastructure and tools”.  In the case of Common Reserve, the platform will power financial infrastructure, and cost-effective fund transfers for contexts that have been shut out of the banking system.  

The afternoon was dedicated to action-orientated discussions in small groups facilitated by Saad Alotaibi and Dr. Prof. Basmah Ahmed Jastaniah, Chairperson of International Training Institute at Akadymiuwn International University. Participants set off to define solidarity and think through transformative solutions and how South-to-South cooperation can strengthen solidarity for Global South communities they serve.  

Looking ahead - we’re excited to work in community to build on the sparks, ideas, and relationships that were initiated and strengthened in Amman last week. Creativity, innovation, partnerships and collaborations should be our focus.  

As our colleague Wejdan pointed out,  

“It’s not even about thinking outside the box. The box is destroyed.”  

NEAR's MENA Summit: Day 2

//English below//

“We are not seen as equals.” 

Led by thoughtful leaders during Day 2 of the NEAR MENA Summit, we confronted harsh truths, explored actionable visions, strategies, and practical tools. Day 2 was about centring the work of NEAR localisation labs in advocacy, influencing and strategic engagement towards improving the aid system and in these efforts.  

The NEAR Influencing Team reviewed how to design and implement advocacy strategies, particularly in evolving contexts. We unveiled the new Delegates Programme which will help to improve and strengthen the advocacy capacity for the collective.  

We also reviewed recently published NEAR Policy Brief on Coordination and Complementarity which was created in close collaboration with NEAR members using a policy circle. This policy brief highlights common barriers that local organisations face and lays out the future vision for coordination and complementarity through incremental, cultural, and transformational changes.  It’s a tool for building a collective voice within movements and advocating externally to stakeholders at national, regional, and international levels. 

Leaders of local NGOs from across countries in the region highlighted that,  

“Whenever we’re invited to coordination platforms, UN agencies want to chair all of them. We have to repeat the same thing. We don’t know who is responsible for taking the decision or who is doing the coordination?”   

And they also identified that, “Collective national advocacy through [NEAR localisation] Labs is crucial to having a strong and united voice” 

NEAR members – Palestinian NGOs Network (PNGO) and Lebanon Humanitarian and Development Forum (LFDF) - shared concrete examples about how their strategic and persistent coordination advocacy efforts have resulted in increased participation and leadership within internationally-dominated spaces. 

During the reception, we had the opportunity to hear from and engage with regional localisation lab leaders and a diverse group from the international community - INGOs, donors and other international agencies. 

The summit’s energy and momentum are palpable. We’re looking forward to welcoming additional regional leaders to the concluding third day which will be focused on Solutions! 

We wrapped up the day with Nadine Saba’s concluding remarks and call to action, 

“Local organisations and leaders, can and will, create a paradigm shift” 

NEAR's MENA Summit: Day 1

Mahmoud Hamada and Amjad Shawwa with Wejdan Jarrah, launching Palestine Localisation Lab

//English below//

The NEAR MENA Summit kicked off on Monday –

3 packed days and a locally designed and led agenda by NEAR members from Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Yemen.

We started the day with collective processing – reflecting on the past 15 months – legitimising each other’s suffering and pain without judgement or comparisons. Colleagues spoke of nearly escaping death, losing loved ones and dear colleagues, without time for mourning or the luxury of feeling sadness. All of this grounded by a deep determination toward supporting their communities.

We rejoiced with our colleagues as they launched new localisation labs in Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Yemen – learning about how these leaders are contextualising their movement building and goals according to the localised needs and priorities of their communities. “It is the communities that guide us on solutions they want;" and "Labs provide a room for knowledge-exchange and enhance experience-sharing to come up with solutions that improve people's lives" were some of the reflections from their launches.

We engaged with critical reflections and questions of these leaders’ lived experience:

“Donors act as though we are contractors. We’re not ready to practice the meaning of localisations”, and “Are we capable of changing anything or are we sedating ourselves? Where’s our energy going?”

A leader in Yemen compared their journey as akin to that of climbing a mountain while rocks are being thrown at them which they must add to their load on this arduous journey. And even in this hardship, these leaders expressed solidarity with each other and their communities, inspired us with their commitment, and remain optimistic. "We, local organisations, are capable of making a change.”

The vision for and manifestation of a global system of solidarity beyond aid dependency lies with each one of them and not the current disappointing and crumbling aid system.

Wejdan Jarrah, NEAR’s MENA Regional Representative.

Hisham Derani, Syria Localisation Lab Host, launching the Syria Lab.

Asia Al-Mashreqi during the MENA Summit discussions.

Nadine Saba, Lebanon Localisation Lab Host, launching Lebanon Lab.

A question from Lebanon to international humanitarians…

By Nadine Saba 

Nadine Saba

[also found in From Poverty to Power]

As organisations race to respond to the unfolding crisis in Lebanon, Nadine Saba – representing hundreds of Lebanese and Global South NGOs – spoke at the recent Grand Bargain humanitarian gathering in Geneva. Here, we share an edited transcript of her powerful address…

On Sunday night, I was getting ready to pack to come here to join you in Geneve after a long day replying to calls from mayors and school directors asking for help; preparing with team members 1200 hot meals from a small community kitchen; preparing to dispatch drinking water for a new collective shelter that had just opened; following up with sector lead on hygiene kits to be delivered. I sat down, thought about this week, I thought about today and asked myself: what should I say?

Should I tell you what we feel? Or should I tell you what we fear? And would that make much difference? Should I tell you about the numbers of displaced, the number of injured people, the number of lives lost, the number of aid workers dead? I am pretty sure that all of you have these numbers, these reports, somewhere in your inboxes, on your desks.

But does it matter? With everything going on in the world, will you be shocked by a couple of thousand of people killed in the space of two weeks and a million or more that are internally displaced within a country of 10,452km square? Looking at the last decade, we have seen a lot of misery, at least in the region that I call home: from Syria to Yemen, Sudan, Gaza to Lebanon… The last crises, the last years, have raised the threshold of misery, and maybe because of that we got used to the suffering of people, to diplomacy failing to solve or halt conflicts, to a slow response in supporting people, to a lack of accountability for violations of IHL [International Humanitarian Law]; where the terminology used of “forgotten crisis” gets another meaning, but forgotten by whom? Not the affected people…

Now, going back to Lebanon, the place where you would witness all the risks you would identify in your risk identification matrix, from the economic crisis, currency devaluation, the fragility of institutions, protests, the impact of the Syrian crisis, the pandemic, the port explosion, social tensions and now the war…

What can I tell you about that? Should I talk to you about our needs? I assume that you know that Lebanon, in this crisis, needs almost everything, from shelter to mattresses, water, from food to health support – just an hour ago I heard about a first case of cholera in my region, Akkar – without forgetting mental health, protection, child protection and responding to gender based violence… And that everything is taking long to arrive…

In the past weeks, there are people who left their homes with nothing, sleeping in the streets of Beirut. Communities did not stand by in the face of suffering: they are coming together to help each other – not only the local civil society but also individual initiatives of neighbors who stepped in to provide necessities. Governorates have activated disaster risk management units; directors of schools and municipalities are trying to find the resources to respond to the needs of displaced families.

‘Why were they not ready? It’s been over year now that the risk of a regional spillover of the conflict in Gaza was very evident. Or at least, it was very evident to us in Lebanon and in the wider region.’

And yet they are still waiting to get enough support. Instead, we see international humanitarian actors running around to organise the response. You have sector leads – all international actors – trying to “coordinate” at the national and sub-national levels.

I have a question and a request for you: first, why were they not ready? It’s been over year now that the risk of a regional spillover of the conflict in Gaza was very evident. Or at least, it was very evident to us in Lebanon and in the wider region. And yet, international actors waited for a drastic increase in hostilities and a massive displacement of people to what was deemed safe zones, to start scaling up the response. For us, local and national civil society in Lebanon, we do not need to scale up our presence, we are already on the ground, before, during and after any crisis.

And now I have a request for you, for all of us: I want more, I want more of all of you, of all of us here, in the room. I want more and better of the system. Because when I look around this room (whether face to face and virtually), the first thing I can think of is the power that each one of you hold, here in Geneva and in other capitals, over the people in Lebanon and in any crisis-affected context.

I have been taught that power and responsibilities go hand in hand, as much as your power increases so does your duty and responsibility, or if I want to use our jargon, your accountability; actually our accountability, because we as LNNGOs [local and national NGOs] are part of the system as well. For now, I do not feel that we are living up to that accountability. And we cannot afford not to.

Nadine Saba is the co-founder and director of Akkar Network for Development (AND), and has 18 years of experience with NGOs in Lebanon. In the above address, she was representing NEAR (Network for Empowered Aid Response), a movement of 276 Local and National Civil Society Organisations from around the world. Nadine also is a Steering Committee member of the LHDF (Lebanon Humanitarian and Development Forum), serves on the NEAR leadership council and acted as the Global South Sherpa for the Grand Bargain in 2023-2024.