International NGOs have an important role to play in supporting smaller, local partners to take their rightful place at the table, according to Catholic Relief Services’ Daniel Mumuni and Haydee Diaz.
As the first Ghanaian to lead CRS in Ghana, Mumuni said that development workers who come from the community or country being served have distinct advantages, especially when it comes to access to communities and being able to advocate for policy changes. “You're able to make certain pushes … with the connections that you have, the governments that you work with,” he said.
For Diaz, who leads CRS’ work in Honduras and is originally from Cuba, working with local partners is critical for ensuring the success of a project or intervention in communities affected by high rates of violence. “The way we're able to work in those communities, with peace, where people feel comfortable coming to program activities, is because of the reputation and the credibility that our local partners have built up for years,” she explained.
Watch the full video to hear from Mumuni and Diaz about how local organizations can be better supported to take the lead.
Dig into Roots of Change, a series examining the push toward locally led development.
This piece is produced in partnership with Catholic Relief Services as part of our Roots of Change series. Click here to learn more.
About the author
Naomi Mihara
Naomi Mihara is an Associate Editor for Devex, working on creative and audiovisual projects. She has a background in journalism and international development, having previously served as an assistant correspondent for Japanese newspaper The Yomiuri Shimbun and as a communications officer for the International Organization for Migration in Southeast Asia. She holds a master’s degree in Multimedia Journalism from Bournemouth University.
