Locally led action subverts traditional aid myths

Three months on from the devastating floods that submerged vast swathes of Pakistan, locally led fundraising and early action have proven pivotal in reducing the human toll of the crisis. As the international humanitarian sector grappled with questions on how to effectively intervene, local actors found agile, context-specific support mechanisms and took action to assist affected communities immediately. The scale of the impact, with over 33 million people (more than six times the population of Norway) affected and leading to the deaths of over 1500 people, was the result of a catastrophic climate-related event. 

As the world contends with the destruction that Pakistan’s monsoon floods have left in their wake, as well as the cascading impact of an emerging health crisis, some truths regarding the role of local organisations within the sector begin to become more visible, debunking myths long held by the traditional aid sector: 

• Local organisations already have expertise to respond to crises affecting their communities. International actors should now begin to do away with ‘capacity building’ initiatives, especially when conducted to improve ‘knowledge’ in local contexts. 
• Local organisations, who are already in closest proximity to crises, are more agile compared to international actors, and in situations such as the 2022 Pakistan floods where literally every second counts, they are better positioned and adapted to prevent loss of life and livelihoods. 
• Local or national networks in the Global South that build themselves organically and with minimal Global North interference have more autonomy, opportunities for self-determination and increased flexibility to manage unprecedented community challenges.