Where are the local voices in localization?

Local organizations often feel excluded from the conversation about localization, according to a report published last week. Humentum, an organization focused on improving how nonprofits operate, interviewed 50 local and national nongovernmental organizations — which it calls NNGOs — to get their perspective on locally led development. While there has been a significant focus on how international NGOs and donors need to change in order to shift power to local organizations, according to the report, there has been limited participation in the debate from the leaders of local and national NGOs themselves. This is because the discussions often take place in forums where they are not present. “There is limited NNGO leader participation in the ‘shift the power’ and ‘locally-led development’ conversations and agendas,” the report said. “Their perspectives are therefore missing in the discussions and knowledge produced … Can we really advance locally-led development when the discussions and strategies are not locally-led?” The report quoted Willie Mpasuka, executive director of Rays of Hope in Malawi, who said that the imbalance between local organizations, funders, and INGOs was the main barrier to change. “You cannot decolonize the sector when there is such a big power imbalance,” he said. “They set the agenda, they see themselves as the main drivers of development, and we are auxiliary partners, so in that kind of mindset where would they create the space to listen to you about shifting power?” The report identified four other significant issues for local NGOs: a need for a sustainable funding model; a lack of autonomy and decision-making ability, with international partners’ interference described as the “norm”; a lack of resources to provide proper staffing; and a restrictive risk and compliance environment, with conflict with national governments becoming more common. In response, the report called on both INGOs and funders to take “explicit care” to involve local organizations in all discussions around equitable development.