Between formal partnerships and real impact: how lack of autonomy weakens local participation in humanitarian programs
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25128/2520-6230.25.3.1Keywords:
humanitarian aid, localization, partnership, autonomy, local humanitarian organizations, international humanitarian organizations, UkraineAbstract
The topic of the article is “Between formal partnership and real impact: how the lack of autonomy weakens local participation in humanitarian programs”. The purpose of the study is to identify how the lack of autonomy of local humanitarian organizations weakens their local participation in humanitarian programs. The article focuses on the problem of limited autonomy of local organizations in the implementation of international humanitarian programs in Ukraine. The methodology of the study is based on a theoretical and analytical approach to understanding the processes and concepts that are directly related to the localization of humanitarian aid. The author examines how formalized partnerships without real influence from local actors lead to inefficiency, loss of trust in communities, duplication of initiatives, and reduced adaptability of programs to the context. The author considers autonomy as a basic humanitarian principle that implies independence from political, economic and other external influences, as well as the difficulties of observing it in the context of conflicts and emergencies. Particular attention is paid to the concept of partnership in the humanitarian sector, its potential and challenges, in particular, the inequality in influence and access to resources between international and local organizations. Particular attention is paid to practical examples of interaction between international agencies and Ukrainian NGOs in 2022-2024, which allows to identify barriers to sustainable development and the potential for change. The article offers recommendations for reforming partnership models and the principles of fair localization of humanitarian aid. The findings of the study can be used to improve the effectiveness of localization of humanitarian response in Ukraine. The conclusions note that the limited autonomy of domestic humanitarian organizations in partnership with international structures leads to formalization of the participation of local actors, duplication of efforts, reduced program effectiveness, and loss of motivation among local teams.
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