Localization Across Contexts: Lessons learned from four case studies

This brief summarizes research on the localization of humanitarian action in several different contexts—Indonesia following the 2018 earthquake in Sulawesi, and the Horn of Africa, specifically humanitarian situations in Kenya, Somalia, and South Sudan. The goal was to unpack assumptions related to locally-led humanitarian action and to identify the factors that lead to effective, timely, and principled responses. The research was qualitative and primarily focused on engaging with local actors in each context. While the studies were substantially different in scope and context, this brief is meant to highlight some of the key similarities and differences found across localization processes, and to begin to identify lessons learned that may reach beyond these specific emergencies.