Neutrality, Access, and Making Localisation Work: GISF Research Paper (2024)

Humanitarian organisations face significant obstacles in reaching communities afflicted by violence and insecurity. Traditionally, these barriers were associated with armed conflicts. However, the evolving landscape of protracted crises—marked by chronic state fragility and widespread criminality—has exacerbated the challenges of humanitarian access. This is particularly evident in hard-to-reach areas where the needs of communities are both more urgent and more complex to address. This study explores the complexities of maintaining neutrality in increasingly challenging environments. Specifically, it examines the interaction of neutrality with humanitarian access, acceptance-based strategies, and the dynamics of collaboration between local, national, and international NGOs.