The international humanitarian system is under growing strain. Funding constraints, rising needs, and slow reform are forcing the sector to rethink how it operates. In this moment, locally led humanitarian action is gaining traction as a foundation for a more adaptive and effective response.
At the heart of locally led action lies mutual aid—the informal, community‑driven networks that have long helped people survive crises, often without recognition or support from international actors. Recent crises in Sudan, Myanmar, Gaza, and Ukraine have underscored just how essential these efforts are, raising important questions about how mutual aid functions and how international funding can support it without undermining its core strengths.
Join ALNAP and Groupe URD for our upcoming session at HNPW, where we will present the latest evidence on the outcomes of international support to mutual aid and explore the practical and ethical challenges of scaling such support responsibly. The session will feature a dynamic discussion between funders attempting to scale support to mutual aid initiatives, representatives of mutual aid groups, local actors facilitating these efforts, and donors seeking effective ways to finance them.
Together, we will examine what it takes to move beyond rhetoric and make supporting locally led action a reality—without losing what makes it effective.
Speakers:
- Saddam Idris | External Communication, Localization Coordination Council (LCC)/ Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs)
- Coleen Heemskerk | Humanitarian Director, Act Church of Sweden.
- Federico Motka | Head of Emergencies and Humanitarian, Vitol Foundation
- Vishal Pathak | Senior Coordinator | The All India Disaster Mitigation Institute (AIDMI)
Co-moderators:
- Véronique de Geoffrey | Director General, Groupe URD
- Juliet Parker | Director, ALNAP
This event has now past. Catch up on the discussions in the event recording below.