The humanitarian system seeks adequate answers to the immense and constantly growing humanitarian needs. As part of the local civil society, local actors are usually the first responders after a shock. Effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian action can be improved through local knowledge, trust and other complimentary capacities, giving local actors an increasingly important role. While local and national humanitarian organisations provide an important work, they often still function as mere implementers of strategic and operational decisions taken by international humanitarian organisations.
It is therefore crucial to support local actors in their own operational preparedness and response capacity, their organisational and institutional ability, in the availability of adequate funding and integration in relevant humanitarian coordination mechanisms. Equally important is the transformation of roles between the different actors within the humanitarian system.
ICVA has developed this note to support dialogue on strengthening principled and effective humanitarian action by NGOs during the COVID-19 response, with a focus on reinforcing local and national action wherever possible.
The NGO Coordination Committee in Iraq was established in Baghdad upon the initiative of a number of NGOs operating in the country that felt the need of creating a neutral space of discussion and dialogue amongst humanitarian agencies. Following the withdrawal of the UN from Iraq, NCCI increased its...
NGOs are widely recognized as key actors in an effective, efficient and accountable emergency response because they are frontline implementers for the majority of humanitarian operations. As such, the appropriate engagement of NGOs within humanitarian leadership is a critical component for success....
