Localisation

Through its commitment to localisation, AHP is working to progressively strengthen local communities and civil society organisations to lead on disaster risk reduction, humanitarian response, recovery, resilience and climate change adaptation.

Localisation means recognising, respecting and strengthening leadership and decision-making by national and local actors in humanitarian action, in order to better address the needs of affected populations.

The concept is enshrined in the Grand Bargain, an international agreement between the world’s largest donors and humanitarian agencies, including the Australian Government, to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian action.

The Disaster READY program has a special focus on developing and strengthening local organisations and leadership for improved, locally-led disaster risk reduction and resilience programming.

Building on the partnerships and lessons of the first five years, the new phase of Disaster READY (2022-2027) has recommitted to deepening localisation. Planning has moved to a country-led process, the role of Disaster READY Country Committees (DRCCs) has been strengthened, and each participating country is adopting its own localisation strategy.

Additionally, in rapid and protracted humanitarian emergencies, AHP supports the development and implementation of contextualised localisation strategies for effective and timely response.

Videos

Through the AHP response in Bangladesh, the people of wards 3 and 4 in Raja Palong Union identified local disaster risks and have taken proactive steps to mitigate them with the support of AHP partners. By improving connecting roads and a drainage canal, flooding will be significantly reduced in the future, and accessibility has improved.

The Building Peaceful Futures project and Save the Children have formed community committees to encourage social cohesion and advise the restoration of infrastructure in Iraq. The project supports the safe, dignified return and reintegration of people displaced by the 2014 conflict in Sinjar.

In Solomon Islands, Disaster READY partner Oxfam produced a music video with talented Honiara reggae artist Jah Boy to share messages on community disaster preparedness.

Field stories

Featured

22 Nov 2023

Disability and the climate crisis: ensuring no-one is left behind

22 Nov 2023

The climate crisis is escalating at a rapid rate. Worsening weather events, propelled by climate change, are causing havoc in the poorest countries, who are least responsible for the emissions driving the climate disaster.

22 Nov 2023

21 Nov 2023

A house of one’s own: turning overseas work into climate-safe housing in Vanuatu

21 Nov 2023

After returning from overseas seasonal work and attending a Haos Blong Yumi workshop, Greg Charlie was able to build a house for his family.

21 Nov 2023

7 Nov 2023

Turning climate-resilient construction knowledge into a new career

7 Nov 2023

Before attending a Haos Blong Yumi workshop in Vanuatu, Sandy had no knowledge on how to build a climate-resilient, modern house. He now uses his skills to work in construction.

7 Nov 2023

9 Oct 2023

From talking together to taking charge: women with disabilities lead in Vanuatu crisis response

9 Oct 2023

WITTT Sunshine has grown from a membership of three in 2018, to a network of 600 women with disability in Vanuatu. The group now plays an integral role in women-led, local, disability-inclusive disaster response.

9 Oct 2023

Reports and resources

Featured

AHP Indonesia COVID-19 Response: Pulih Bersama End-of-Program Learning Event

This report presents the key lessons learned and challenges faced during the AHP Indonesia COVID-19 Response. During the End-of-Program Learning Event consortium members discussed the innovative localisation strategies which contributed to the program’s success.

Pacific Community-Led Localisation Summit February 2020: Summary Report

Disaster READY: Pacific Community-Led Localisation Summit Report, February 2020.

Church Networks and Localisation Practice in the Pacific (The Humanitarian Leader: Working Paper 004)

This paper presents a critical reflection of Church Agencies Network Disaster Operations (CAN DO) 2017-2018 localised response to the Monaro Volcano eruption in Vanuatu. The response was funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership.

Disaster READY: Traditional knowledge as an early warning system in the Solomon Islands.

World Vision Australia and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology supported the Solomon Islands Meteorological Services to complete surveys of the role of traditional knowledge in warning communities of potential disasters in the Solomon Islands. The survey and this report are part of a larger Traditional Knowledge Project being implemented by the Solomon Islands Meteorological Services.

Disaster READY: Investing in the Sustainability of Community Disaster and Climate Change Committees in Vanuatu

The Australian Government through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership Disaster READY program, World Vision Vanuatu and CARE developed a joint survey to take a deeper look at Community Disaster and Climate Change Committees in Vanuatu.. This review presents key findings from the survey, and seeks to highlight learnings that might build a better understanding of the role of these committee in disaster preparedness, response and recovery and how the Disaster READY program can best provide support.

How to Collaborate with Pacific Churches for Development Research

This guidance on effective approaches to collaborating with churches in the Pacific for development research is the product of the Research for Development Impact Network -a collaboration between the Australian Council for International Development and Australian Universities. The reports features a case study on elements of the Australian Humanitarian Partnership’s Ambae volcano response in Vanuatu.

Intention to impact: measuring localisation

Localisation will only continue to have momentum if we can show it is improving the effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian aid.