localization labs
Asia-Pacific Localisation Labs
Overview
Established in 2020 and spearheaded by NEAR, the Asia-Pacific Localisation Lab (APLL) is a coalition of local humanitarian actors and civil society organisations from across Asia and the Pacific. Our core mission is to shift power, resources, and decision-making to the frontline.
Through years of collaboration, the establishment of Localisation Labs, and the AASHA Funds, we have built the trust, systems, and expertise to act as a cohesive and agile force. This initiative is backed by the institutional strength of the NEAR Network and the Asia-Pacific Localisation Lab representing South Asia, South East Asia, Pacific and the Regional Hub at the Pujiono Centre in Indonesia, ensuring robust coordination and support.
Read our latest news
01
Movement Building
Movement Building
Strengthening Collective Power
Anchored by the Kathmandu Covenant
At the heart of APLL is a growing, interconnected movement of local leaders, civil society, and regional partners working toward a shared vision: equity and self-determination. The Kathmandu Covenant serves as our foundational manifesto—a collective commitment to redesigning the humanitarian, development, and peace ecosystem. We are shifting the paradigm so that local actors are no longer implementers on the periphery, but architects at the centre. Our movement is defined by four unshakable commitments:
Our Commitments
Champion Local Leadership
We ensure local actors are recognised, resourced, and respected as the primary leaders in any crisis. From the initial shock of disaster to long-term resilience building, we assert the authority of those who live through the challenges.
Forge Equitable Partnerships & Demand Just Funding
We reject the sub-contracting model. We build genuine, equitable partnerships and secure direct, high-quality funding for local organisations, so financial autonomy follows operational responsibility.
Amplify Community Voices & Strengthen Collective Power
We place affected communities at the helm of decision-making. We act with accountability and cultural respect, building a unified regional movement through strong South-to-South collaboration that transcends borders.
Uphold Humanity
We take a definitive stand. We unequivocally condemn all violations of international law and demand the protection of all civilians, grounding our movement in fierce protection of human rights.
02
Building Bridges
Building Bridges
Forging Authentic Partnerships
From Sub-contracting to Co-governance
APLL is actively reshaping the humanitarian landscape by dismantling the walls between local actors, governments, and international partners. We don’t adapt old systems at the margins; we bring stakeholders together to reimagine how aid is designed, delivered, and governed from the ground up. By centring local expertise and intentionally redistributing power, we are building an agile, inclusive ecosystem that can navigate future crises with integrity.
- Redefining Partnerships: We move beyond transactional relationships to forge authentic alliances. Through events like the APLL Summit and learning exchanges, we bring communities together to co-design the processes that affect their lives, so local wisdom shapes global strategy.
- Redistributing Power: We act as a catalyst for structural change, ensuring that resources flow more equitably and decision-making is shared. Our work demonstrates that lasting transformation happens only when power is ceded to those closest to the crisis.
- Cultivating a Resilient Ecosystem: We are building bridges across diverse contexts to create a region-wide safety net. By connecting grassroots voices with high-level policy makers, we ensure that the future of aid is not just coordinated but truly collective.
03
Solutions
Solutions
Co-creating contextual innovations
The AASHA Fund: Hope in Action
APLL is operationalising a new economic architecture for aid through the AASHA Fund. Established in 2025 by Asia-Pacific Local Leaders of NEAR, the AASHA Fund (meaning “Hope”) is a regionally governed, community-led pooled fund designed to shift power and resources directly to local civil society. It is the first of its kind in the region—a blueprint for a decentralised and resilient humanitarian ecosystem.
Decentralized and agile
The AASHA Fund responds to the “everyday disasters” overlooked by global agencies. With a 72-hour disbursement capability built on trust rather than paralysing risk assessments, we provide immediate support where it is needed most.
Participatory governance
Authentic co-ownership is our standard. Governed by its 17 founding organisations, the fund ensures accountability is primarily to affected communities rather than to distant donors. Local insights guide every funding decision.
Context-driven solutions
The fund operates through three integrated streams: 40% for Emergency Response, 30% for Resilience Building (supporting early warning systems and women’s cooperatives), and 30% for Locally Led Innovation (such as community seed banks). This balance ensures communities have the financial autonomy to respond effectively before, during, and after crises.
04
Learning
Learning
Documenting evidence & Breakthroughs
Knowledge as a Tool for Systemic Change
The Learning Workstream is the engine of our intellectual self-reliance. We strengthen the capacity, knowledge, and leadership of local and national civil society organisations by promoting peer-to-peer learning and sharing practical experiences. We enable local actors to document their realities, reflect on challenges, and co-create solutions grounded in evidence rather than external theory.
- Evidence Generation & Thought Leadership: We are building a library of proof. By supporting rigorous evidence generation on localisation, we influence global policy and practice. We facilitate learning agendas driven strictly by members’ priorities, ensuring relevance and radical ownership of the narrative.
- Connecting the Region: The workstream acts as a bridge, connecting different regions and experiences, as well as linking other workstreams within the network. We foster a cross-pollination of ideas that strengthens the collective intellect of the movement.
- Influencing the Global Agenda: Our goal is to build a more connected, informed network of local actors who can collectively advocate for systemic change. By documenting failures and breakthroughs alike, we fuel the global localisation agenda with undeniable, frontline data.