Voice Out Loud Issue 18: Whose Emergency Is It Anyway? The Role of Local Actors

Kicking off this issue of VOICE Out Loud, Christian Aid reflects on the benefits of working with local partners. Throughout the newsletter, it becomes clear that building a partnership takes time. As reflected in the articles written by Unnati- an Indian partner of Malteser International- and by GVC, relationships change and grow over time. Partnership often starts through cooperation in development or reconstruction, which lays the foundation necessary to be able to cooperate in emergencies. Given that the first response to disasters is carried out by people and organisations already present on the ground, supporting local actors to be prepared for disasters is key, as Tearfund demonstrates. The next step, CAFOD proposes, is trying to improve direct financing to local actors, which would require a shift in mind-set from donors.