Localisation: When Theory meets Reality

Almost two years ago the World Humanitarian Summit, (together with the Grand Bargain and the Charter for Change) called for, and received a commitment to a localised approach to the delivery of aid in humanitarian programming. Targets were set, agencies committed to the ideal and since then many hours have been spent designing new channels, arguing definitions and establishing partnerships that will allow for the fulfilment of the promises.

Localisation is not a new concept. It is, in essence, the very heart of good aid and development practice. It is (in part) about hearing the local voice, recognising local capacity and honouring local culture. It is, as an international aid worker, committing to a role of alongsider, to a partnership that preferences the priorities of the local actors and gets out the way as soon as practical. (While the flow of funding is essential in the dialogue, localisation is, and must be about much more than funding.)

As an aid worker I have no argument with the principle of localisation and in practice I and the organisation I work for have long sought to find ways to ensure that we get out of the way. Our methods of engagement have always been about community participation and local capacity building. But, the reality is that there will always be a balance that needs maintained – especially in the humanitarian sector.

I sat with James, the CEO of one of our local partners recently and was reminded of the challenges that he faces in the drive for a localised approach. Proudly he points to the wall behind his desk where a collage comprising of the logos of over a dozen donor agencies that fund his agency hangs. But, he says, a recent interaction with one of these institutional donors frustrates and disappoints him.

As a well respected local NGO a donor approached him saying that they wanted to partner (and fund) directly with a local actor and (among) the requirements of this local NGO were that they:

• must be locally registered
• must be able to show evidence of a strong local governance structure that includes a local board
• must be able to provide evidence of past capacity to implement in the sectors and geographies selected

After a number of discussion with the donor and having no issues with any of those criteria, James and his team, one of the only reputable and suitably credentialed agencies with a track record of operating in the fragile context required, submitted the concept and all the evidence required. And, as per standard procedure, submitted a budget to deliver.

Imagine then his disappointment when he received a letter advising him of the refusal of the donor, (a signatory to the Grand Bargain and the localisation agenda) to fund his agency. The letter praised his operational reputation, but stated that they would not allow funding to be allocated to ‘overheads’ which included a small percentage towards the operating costs of the governance structures including board expenses.

Expecting local NGOs to meet ‘international standards’ (the words used by the donor) of compliance and governance but refusing to pay towards the establishment and maintenance of these standards seems to be not only short sighted, but in direct contradiction of the commitment to localisation. If we, the international community, expect ‘international standards’ then we need to be willing to fund and support the building of this capacity.

South Sudan is Power

Mayom Adhal: Photo: Daryl Crowden

As I enter the school compound I am welcomed by most of the 1,000 students led by tall, strong, proud looking young women resplendent in purple uniform shirts. In 4 abreast marching formation, from tallest to smallest they march around the compound singing and repeating amongst other words I understand: "South Sudan is Power... "

WV has been working in this school in Mayom Adhal (Aweil North), and 32 other schools across the County, for almost three years supporting WFP school feeding programs. In a lean-to shack behind one of the classrooms three women, Mums who have been trained by the WFP program to cook and deliver food hygienically and safely, tend to two fires burning under huge pots of a porridge of sorghum, beans and lentils.

Mayom Adhal: Photo: Daryl Crowden

Like a number of other states of South Sudan, Northern Bahr el Ghazal is severely food insecure. (IPC4: At least 20% of households face extreme food consumption gaps, resulting in very high levels of acute malnutrition and excess mortality.) As I met with Council officials I am told "People are hungry". This WFP/World Vision feeding activity is helping, children are receiving at least one meal which is packed with nutrition. But until now, they came to a school with no, or very bad sanitation facilities and no clean safe, water. As a result of the lack of latrine facilities many young girls stay away.

The introduction of the Australian Government (DFAT) funded Humanitarian Partnership Agreement South Sudan response (Africa) has allowed for the opportunity to design a wholistic program of health, dignity and wellbeing.

• With a local partner we are building latrine blocks that will be private, disability accessible and gender segregated.
• Around the school colourful posters raising awareness of basic hygiene practices remind the community of the importance of hand washing and other the dangers of open defecation. We hope that these latrines will also bring young women back to school.
• We are also providing LifeStraw Community units to each classroom and two for common/community use. Children and teachers bring their own container of (mostly contaminated) water to school each day, empty it into their classrooms LifeStraw and throughout the day they have clean, safe drinking water.

Mayom Adhal: Photo: Cecil Laguardia

These complementary WFP/DFAT/WV programming activities are essential to addressing the needs of the community, and most importantly to improving the wellbeing of children through the provision of their basic rights. If this means that children are happy, safe and healthy at school then South Sudan has a generation of educated children to look forward to and the hope of a peaceful and bright future.

I Can Buy Shoes

Over the years I have often found myself humbled and embarrassed by the welcome afforded me as I arrive in communities where the organisation for whom I work is working.

Yesterday, I headed out into rural North South Sudan (Northern Bahr el Ghazal). After driving for hours on and off dirt tracks that would challenge any cartographer or four-wheel driver, through numerous informal checkpoints and communities constituted of a couple dozen mud brick/thatch houses and a few cows, we turned a corner to find a mob of people brandishing gardening tools blocking the road. One of my colleagues suggested we should slow, only to be told by our driver (laughing) that this was our welcoming committee.

I was instructed to get out of the vehicle and walk to meet the menacing crowd, some wearing Australian Aid and World Vision branded shirts, all singing and dancing, some waving sticks and others sharp looking hoes and green plastic watering cans as they advanced towards and then around me. Every now and then, in amongst the Dinka singing I heard the words “World Vision” while together we danced and sang our way down the track to a demonstration garden and the community gathering tree.

This community is one of seven sites in this region where World Vision, with local government and DFAT funding is working to improve food security and livelihoods through the provision of gardening and fishing kits. Over the past few years World Vision Australia has used funds donated by Australians to support World Food Program (WFP) projects in the region. These have provided short-term food interventions, but this Australian Humanitarian Partnership Famine Response (AHP) project complements the WFP work and builds sustainability by teaching women and men new agriculture techniques and introducing seven new crops that have been chosen to improve nutrition and diversify the existing (inadequate) crops.

Among the women who welcomed me today were two women with a disability; one with congenital blindness and the other an amputated arm as a result of the war for independence that caused most of the people in this area, close to the Sudanese border, to flee. But now, back home, these two women are amongst the group of 20 women Lead Farmers who have been trained to design gardens and grow crops – and to teach their communities to do the same in home gardens.

One of the women tells me that when she was chosen by her community to be one of the people involved in the project she was nervous, afraid of leaving home, but the day she received her gardening kit, which included seeds for the seven different crops, was “the happiest day of [my] life”. As a result of her involvement in the project she says: “I have bought myself shoes; my daughter is at school instead of at home; and my husband and I are not fighting anymore – we work together on our own garden at home. My garden gives me hope for my little girl”.

The funding for this project will finish at the end of this year, but by that time World Vision, with our partners, will have worked with about 2,000 households (about 12,000 children, women and men) to improve their food security and livelihoods – and provide hope for an improved future.

You are Welcome to South Sudan

It happened without warning, you’re always told it will. Horns were blaring, sirens wailing and people shouting. Chaos erupted around us seemingly out of nowhere. My security training told me - you shouldn’t be here - but what do you do when you are already in the middle of it.

But as quickly as the muscle memory of my security training was kicking in, I knew, or maybe just felt, that there was nothing to fear here. Apart from the fact that people and vehicles were coming from all directions - nothing unusual in Juba - flags were waving, and vuvuzelas blasting. This was not a belated World Cup celebration, this was a celebration protest.

The colours of Ethiopia and Eritrea, flags not often seen together in recent years, were leading the smiling, singing people. This was a celebration of the recent peace deal between Eritrea and Ethiopia (of which there is a large population in Juba).

For the first time in years the closed borders are open. 20 years ago families were torn apart by the conflict between the two states - today, my colleagues tell me they are planning trips into Eritrea to visit family they have never met.

So, as I sit on the banks of the White Nile discussing South Sudanese politics, its terrible impacts on millions of people and World Vision’s part in response, I hear myself praying that maybe this could be a sign of hope for the people of South Sudan - can we dare to pray that peace and hope could spread across the continent?