In the more than six decades of its existence, the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, has found that local organizations have a number of distinct advantages that allow them to better manage most crises. That’s why USAID is launching a new, locally led humanitarian assistance policy.
“The policy has a set of goals, but really it's about how do we increase the direct funding to local partners, and how do we strengthen their capacity and build their leadership role in the humanitarian assistance space,” said Danielle Mutone-Smith, USAID’s Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Humanitarian Assistance.
“The number of people in need of humanitarian assistance is growing and is at a historical high, and having an approach that really focuses on local humanitarian actors, putting them at the center of our responses is coming at a really critical time.”
There are a number of good reasons why USAID is committed to placing local communities at the center of its humanitarian work, said Danielle Mutone-Smith. “This is really looking at how we can build those partnerships better at all levels.”
“Local organizations and communities are closest to the crisis, and that gives them a really unique take on the issues at hand. They're usually the first people responding in an emergency,” she said. “They have partnerships and relationships with affected communities, and a take on the local context that's really valuable in our responses. So, we are looking at how the local and national organizations that are already on the frontlines of humanitarian response, can bring that experience and bring their leadership into our work even more.”
“Success might look different in different contexts because we work in so many different environments,” said Danielle Mutone-Smith.
“We have a ways to go, but we're committed to this journey. And we look forward to taking action on this policy and deepening our local leadership in our humanitarian response for many years to come.”
