Grand Bargain
Ongoing Accountability & National Reference Group support
The Grand Bargain remains one of the most important global commitments on localisation, funding, and accountability. Yet progress has stalled, and key commitments risk being quietly diluted. NEAR works to keep Global South leadership at the centre of the Grand Bargain evolution by grounding the process in the lived realities of our members. We bring clarity, evidence, and community perspective into GB discussions – ensuring that debates on funding, transparency, and intermediary roles reflect the needs of those closest to crises.
Grand Bargain National Reference Groups (NRGs) bring country-level expertise and lived experience directly into the Grand Bargain process. They act as a structured channel for monitoring commitments, providing feedback from national civil society, and surfacing political obstacles to reform. This work strengthens the Grand Bargain’s relevance and accountability, ensuring it does not remain a global technical exercise detached from the realities of frontline response.
Through our support to National Reference Groups and direct engagement in working groups, NEAR helps shape the direction of the GB, safeguarding the commitments that matter most. Our priority is simple: a Grand Bargain that strengthens local leadership in aid systems.