In collaboration with Charter 4 Change Working Group Uganda we held the Annual Dialogue 2024 under the theme: “Rethinking localization, tracking progress and chanting the future”
The event brought together key actors in Uganda’s humanitarian space to discuss; overcoming funding barriers and mobilization strategies, exploring innovative financing, investment opportunities to support locally-driven initiatives for sustainable development as well as policy and institutional frameworks for collaboration.
Speaking during the event, Michael Opio, the Program Director at Care International Uganda hailed the C4C Uganda chapter for being exemplary noting that the C4C Uganda chapter is recognized as a role model for other C4C chapters that other countries can emulate in terms of functionality, including a secretariat, working groups, and signatories.
Opio added that he is confident that local actors have the capacity to take the space and collaborate with INGOs emphasizing that the technical and institutional capacity building is essential for localization to be realized.
“As local partners, you need to optimize capacity sharing, labour mobility, and digital transformation to realize the importance of collective action in Uganda’s humanitarian sector,” said Opio.
Dr. George Didi Bhoka, the MP representing Obongi district (a refugee hosting district) noted that Governments across the globe have adapted the private, public, & civil society partnerships for development. He noted that communities should be able to contribute to sustainable solutions to enable civil society organizations contribute to both humanitarian and development programs.
Ruth Gyayo, the principal inspector in the ministry of local government revealed that Uganda was among the co-conveners of Global Refugee Forum 2023 where it made 5 resolutions, including the Localization agenda.
“Local actors provide immediate humanitarian aid in the face of disaster, but they need us in terms of resources because the disasters are not planned for and all disasters require our intervention as a team. Collaboration and networking is key. We need to ensure equal partnership with transparency, accountability, and mutual respect,” said Ruth Gyayo.
“We are coming together to ensure humanitarian action is sustainable through a change of approach. We should empower the local actors to realize impact in the humanitarian action,” Joyce Julian Acoko, Chair C4C Uganda.
Emily Drijaru, from the West Nile Humanitarian Platform revealed that in West Nile region, organizations have evolved from theories-to-action in their humanitarian response. “We are witnessing; effective humanitarian response, effective collaboration, significant increase in partnerships, increased attention from the media & academia and increased donor funding among others,” said Drijaru.
While making a presentation about overcoming funding barriers for LNAs including RLOs innovation models, successful case studies and opportunities, Sheila Namugga, the resource mobilization officer at RELON revealed that in many communities, local organizations are the lifeblood of meaningful change but when it comes to funding, there’s often a huge gap.
“Donors are more likely to trust large international organizations, like Oxfam, simply because they’ve received millions in funding and have more established systems. Meanwhile, smaller, community-based organizations struggle with requirements like audited financial reports, administrative capacity, even though they have the trust and support of the people they serve.
“How do we change this narrative?” she questioned.
Namugga recommended that there is need to start valuing the real impact local organizations have within their communities. “It’s time for funders to look beyond the paperwork and consider the voices of the communities who rely on these organizations.
Namugga also advised the local organizations to continue to improve their internal structures, ensuring transparency and professionalism.
“Let’s not forget that change starts with the people who know their needs best. Local organizations are essential for sustainable, community-driven development. Let’s stop limiting their potential by rigid funding criteria and start investing in real change,” advised Namugga.
The actors discussed opportunities, challenges and frameworks to establish and strengthen collaboration and partnerships in the humanitarian action where they shared best practices including;
- Visibility and branding; for organizations to be findable before they become fundable
- Showcase what you have already done
- Grant management: local actor to ensure that they comply with donor terms
- Have an existing governance and leadership structure
- Invest in specialization; local actors to stick to their thematic areas
- Carry out Comprehensive capacity enhancement for local actors
- Local actors to invest in their core team; develop abilities of your technical team
- Capacity assessment: local actor to put in place internal controls on finances and accountability
- Conducting Monitoring and Evaluation for data-driven programming.
- Building rapport and establishing mutual trust between local actors, INGOs, donors and government
The annual dialogue attracted refugee led organizations (RLOs), local NGOs, international NGOs, and government entities, donors to redefine localization and continue to advocate for meaningful engagement of local actors in humanitarian responses in Uganda and beyond.