Strengthening Leadership of Local and National Actors in Humanitarian Coordination: Practical Case Studies

The Global Cluster Coordination Group’s (GCCG) Localisation Task Team has launched the paper titled Strengthening Leadership of Local and National Actors in Humanitarian Coordination: Practical Case Studies, which draws from real experiences across diverse contexts. In 2025, as conversations around the Humanitarian Reset place renewed emphasis on local leadership, this guide offers timely, concrete entry points to enhance local leadership at both global and country levels, including:

• Co-leadership and co-coordination of clusters by local actors
• Inclusion of local organisations in Strategic Advisory Groups
• Local leadership in the Humanitarian Programme Cycle (HPC)

The GCCG supports country-level cluster and inter-cluster coordination to enhance the quality of humanitarian response. To advance locally led action, GCCG members established a Localisation Working Group (LWG), which develops and disseminates practical tools and guidance for clusters. This LWG is co-led by the Global Education Cluster (GEC) and the Child Protection Area of Responsibility (CPAoR).

Strengthening local leadership is not only a principle but also a proven strategy for improving humanitarian outcomes. With the localisation commitments of the 2025 Humanitarian Reset and the ongoing shift towards cluster transition and deactivation, the guide offers a practical resource and tools for cluster coordination teams, international actors, and local and national actors (LNAs), providing adaptable approaches to embed and expand LNA leadership across coordination structures.