As a consequence of the deteriorating insecurity in Somalia, international aid organizations have dramatically scaled down their field presence since 2006. Operations on the ground have been increasingly carried out through local partners and staff via remote management: a model which has challenged traditional operational modalities and brought many ethical dilemmas. This work aims to create better understanding of humanitarian partnerships in this context, outlining the impact of remote management on the dynamics between local and international humanitarian actors. The study is based on a literature review and 18 interviews with humanitarian practitioners and researchers. This work posits that while international actors often doubt the capacities of local actors and their ability to deliver aid, the reality reveals local actors have a better capacity to deliver humanitarian assistance in Somalia today. The central role of local actors in Somalia has created an opportunity for international actors to support them: by equipping them to respond and developing support systems for any up-coming crisis.
