Briefing papersDecember 2019Larissa FastCommunity representatives visit a family on the outskirts of Beni, DRC to raise awareness about Ebola. Photo: World Bank/Vincent TremeauThis briefing note synthesises research from HPG’s two-year project ‘From the ground up: understanding local response in crises’. It focuses on the different roles of intermediaries in humanitarian assistance to further explore the nuances of local action. It uses the metaphor of ‘space’, particularly the grey spaces of the middle and the margins, to capture the richness and variety of functions and roles beyond the categories of local and international humanitarian action. The note focuses first on intermediary actors and their roles, followed by a discussion of those operating in the marginal spaces of humanitarian response. Such spaces stretch our understanding of terminologies and can shift our perspectives. Moreover, examining roles instead of actors can promote inclusiveness and offer ways to expand our conceptions of complementarity.The note draws upon research corresponding to the four themes of HPG’s local humanitarian action agenda – capacity and complementarity, dignity in displacement, humanitarian financing, and the protection of civilians – with the aim of exposing pathways to implementing a more effective and locally led humanitarian response.Read the research Beyond local and international: humanitarian action at the marginsDocumentRelated Mapping local capacities and support for more effective humanitarian responsesHow a better understanding of capacities and financial resources beyond the international humanitarian system could inform a more ’local’ response.Briefing papers25 November 2019 Valuing local resources in humanitarian crisesLooking at international humanitarian assistance, which comprises as little as 1% of resource flows to countries affected by humanitarian crises.Research reports and studies31 October 2019 Rethinking capacity and complementarity for a more local humanitarian actionReflecting on two years of research into capacity and complementarity between local and international actors to inform a more local humanitarian action.Research reports and studies22 October 2019 Researching local humanitarian action through partnerships with local actorsThis paper examines the Humanitarian Policy Group’s initiative to involve local actors in research projects.Briefing papers5 August 2019See more:humanitarian policyhumanitarian systemshumanitarianfinancecapacity buildingGlobal
