The Indonesia localisation Lab (INALocLab), endorsed by the NEAR Network, serves as a collaborative platform to advance locally led humanitarian action in Indonesia by strengthening the leadership, capacity, and coordination of local and national actors: establishing NRG, transformation from HCT to IHCP, etc. Rooted in the principles of localisation, the Lab promotes equitable partnerships, shared decision-making, and sustainable humanitarian responses that are driven by local knowledge and ownership.

Over the years, the Indonesia localisation Lab has functioned as a space for learning, experimentation, and collective reflection among civil society organizations, local NGOs, community-based organizations, and other humanitarian stakeholders through IDHA and partners. Through peer learning sessions, policy dialogues, and practical tools, the Lab has supported local actors to articulate their priorities, strengthen organizational systems, and engage more meaningfully with national and international partners.

From a locally led perspective, the Lab emphasizes shifting power and resources closer to affected communities. This includes advocating for more flexible and accessible funding mechanisms, promoting transparent governance and accountability, and reinforcing local coordination structures that enable collective response during crises. The Lab also captures and documents local practices and lessons learned from disaster responses across Indonesia, ensuring that local experiences inform national and regional humanitarian policies.

Endorsed by the NEAR Network, the Indonesia localisation Lab contributes to broader regional and global localisation efforts by amplifying Indonesian local actors’ voices, practices, and innovations. It bridges local experiences with global advocacy, demonstrating how locally led approaches can enhance the effectiveness, relevance, and sustainability of humanitarian action over time.

An additional point related to this movement is the agenda of the Third Indonesian Humanitarian Congress, which highlighted the theme “From the Sumatra Flood and Landslide Disaster Response to Independent and Collaborative Humanitarian Coordination Led by Local Actors.” This agenda ultimately led to the establishment of the NRG and the adoption of the Titi Moektijasih Declaration.

Amidst the emergency response efforts for the wet hydrometeorological disaster that hit three provinces: Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, Indo-loc Lab held the Third Indonesian Humanitarian Congress. The congress was held in Jakarta and brought together representatives from the Indonesian Government, the UN, INGOs, and local/national NGOs. This congress resulted in the “Moektijasih Declaration.” The declaration contained several commitments, including Strengthening Local Leadership in Humanitarian Coordination, Transforming the Sustainable Resource Ecosystem, Enhancing National Humanitarian Capacities and Standards, National Humanitarian Policy and Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration, and Regional Leadership and Global Contribution. The declaration concluded with a commitment to contribute to a shared focus on disaster management in Sumatra.