localisation labs
Yemen Localisation Lab
Overview
Yemen Localisation Lab (YLL) was established not merely as a coordination forum, but as a strategic buffer designed to shield the local humanitarian ecosystem from systemic shocks while advancing a more equitable and resilient localisation model. Its formation came at a critical juncture when a significant contraction in international humanitarian funding repositioned National NGOs (NNGOs) and Women-Led Organisations (WLOs) as the primary, and often sole, providers of life-saving services.
This transition represented a form of “localisation by default,” where responsibility was devolved to local actors without the commensurate authority, funding, or institutional protection. In response, YLL emerged as a unified national platform, representing a coalition of over 300 NGOs. Its journey has been one of consolidating local voices, building strategic alliances, and advocating for systemic change to overcome the profound constraints facing Yemeni organisations—from financial asymmetry and a severe banking crisis to increasing bureaucratic and political restrictions.
The Lab’s current focus is on operationalising the NRG framework, strengthening structured engagement with coordination bodies, and advancing alignment of localisation monitoring tools with national planning processes.
Yemen Localisation Lab Representative
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Movement Building
Movement Building
The core of the YLL’s movement-building work lies in its creation of a unified, nationally anchored platform. The Lab was deliberately structured through a Steering Committee composed of leading national networks, each contributing a distinct thematic strength—women’s leadership, localisation practice, nexus coordination, and civil society engagement. This structure has evolved to enhance representation and broaden national coverage, now collectively representing nearly 300 NGOs across northern and southern Yemen.
This strategic consolidation has been instrumental in transforming previously separate and fragmented localisation forums into a single, coherent platform. By unifying these voices, YLL has significantly amplified the influence of local actors in national-level discussions and policy-making. A key milestone was the Lab’s formal launch, which convened national and international NGOs, UN agencies, and national authorities. This inclusive event facilitated collective priority-setting, clarified roles, and secured shared agreement on the strategic direction, ensuring collective ownership and reinforcing the Lab’s legitimacy as the central hub for localisation advocacy in Yemen.
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Building Bridges
Bridges
The Yemen Localisation Lab functions as a critical bridge-builder within a complex humanitarian architecture. It actively works to connect parallel localisation structures, fostering alignment and clarifying mandates between different platforms to reduce confusion and create a more cohesive ecosystem. Through proactive engagement with key international partners like OCHA, Oxfam, and UN Women, the Lab has successfully carved out a recognised space for collaboration and strategic dialogue.
This engagement extends to senior-level discussions with major INGOs and UN agencies, helping to align mandates and identify practical entry points for partnership on issues like Indirect Cost Recovery (ICR) and equitable funding. Furthermore, the Lab builds crucial cross-sectoral linkages. Through its participation in platforms led by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (MOPIC), the YLL connects civil society with local authorities and private-sector actors, positioning localisation within a broader developmental and governance framework. This strategic positioning strengthens the Lab’s influence and ensures that the priorities of local actors are integrated into wider national strategies.
During the most recent period, the Yemen Localisation Lab advanced from structural establishment toward institutional consolidation and policy engagement. A key milestone was the formal convening of the National Reference Group (NRG) under the Localisation Initiative, resulting in agreed governance documents, a contextualised country-level Grand Bargain 3.0 indicator framework, nationally defined thematic priorities, and an annual action plan. These outputs created a structured national mechanism through which local actors can engage in tracking localization progress and contributing to policy dialogue.
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Solutions
Solutions
The YLL has evolved from a dialogue platform into a mechanism that delivers tangible solutions and institutional protection for Yemeni humanitarian actors. It acts as a “strategic shield,” mitigating the impacts of systemic shocks on its members. A primary focus has been on tackling the “Risk Transfer without Resource Transfer” model, where local organisations bear immense operational risks without access to flexible funding or decision-making authority.
Evidence-Based Negotiation: The Lab equipped local actors with a data-backed, bilingual analytical study on localisation barriers. This tool has become central to negotiations with UN agencies and donors, providing concrete evidence to advocate for fair Indirect Cost Recovery (ICR) and challenge inequitable partnership practices.
Addressing the Banking Crisis: With a majority of its members experiencing blocked or delayed fund transfers due to the national banking schism, the YLL has consistently highlighted the devastating impact of this liquidity chokehold. Its advocacy aims to find systemic solutions that can stabilise financial channels for life-saving interventions.
Protecting Women-Led Organisations: Recognising that WLOs face disproportionate challenges, including funding reductions and gendered access restrictions (Mahram), the Lab champions solutions that ensure their survival and leadership. This includes targeted advocacy for dedicated funding streams and the removal of bureaucratic barriers that impede the work of female humanitarians.
Through its unified advocacy architecture, the YLL ensures that these locally identified priorities and solutions are integrated into high-level strategic documents, such as the Yemen Localisation Master Plan, translating grassroots challenges into policy-level change.
In addition to policy engagement, the Lab supported the development of advocacy-oriented communication products, including a women leaders’ video and a success stories booklet documenting locally led initiatives. These materials elevate community-driven solutions and leadership experiences, contributing to increased visibility and more structured advocacy engagement with partners and donors.
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Learning
Learning
Capacity strengthening and knowledge generation are fundamental pillars of YLL’s strategy. The Lab is committed to being a learning organisation, both for its members and for the wider humanitarian community. Through its network partners, the Lab facilitates comprehensive institutional strengthening programs, including targeted training, workshops, and mentorship activities that have directly supported dozens of national organisations in enhancing their operational and strategic capacities.
Knowledge generation is another key function. The Lab has produced critical resources, such as an in-depth analytical study documenting the structural challenges to localisation, which serves as both an advocacy tool and a learning resource. Furthermore, the Lab embeds women’s leadership as a core component of its learning agenda, supporting a dedicated national coordination platform for WLOs to generate evidence, share experiences, and lead advocacy. Internally, the Lab employs a “Pause & Reflect” methodology, conducting periodic reviews to assess what is working, identify challenges, and adapt its strategy accordingly. This commitment to continuous learning, knowledge exchange, and reflective practice ensures the Lab remains agile, effective, and responsive to the evolving needs of its members.
In parallel, the Lab strengthened its evidence-driven positioning through the completion of a national analytical study on NGO sustainability, which is now informing discussions on equitable financing, institutional resilience, and reform of partnership practices.
Please also see the 2025 report: “𝙎𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙉𝙂𝙊𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙔𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣: 𝙁𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝘿𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙘 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣.” This study investigates the financial sustainability of local and national NGOs (L/NNGOs) in Yemen within the broader context of localization and aid effectiveness.