Locally owned.
Globally backed.
A Manifesto for Locally Led Action
In the 1960s, "experts" and cows were still being sent to Rwanda in order to intensify agriculture. Today, however, being geared towards local needs is part of the self-concept of international cooperation (IC). Yet many stumbling blocks remain. Together, more than 40 Swiss NGOs have therefore drawn up a manifesto. It is a call to joint action in pursuit of equitable partnerships.
In recent years, the discussion around decolonising and localising IC has often been conducted with a narrow focus on financial flows, whereby cooperation is deemed to be localised if more resources are provided directly to local partners. Yet this perspective overlooks key power considerations that are also present in partnerships, such as who determines projects and programmes, who is included in the relevant decision-making processes and whose expertise is listened to. Providing more funds directly to local players is not enough if, in parallel, the strategic priorities are being set in Switzerland.
Local self-determination not only enhances impact, but also strengthens the resilience of communities, especially against the backdrop of growing global challenges. Numerous obstacles are still being encountered in the way of implementing projects and programmes aligned with the needs and challenges of local communities. Rigid donor stipulations can hamper the structuring of flexible and efficient support for local partners. Fundraising and communication strategies, too, may conflict with the ethical principles of a partnership as equals. This manifesto is therefore both an operating guideline for Swiss NGOs and a call to donors to set their parameters in such a way that facilitates locally anchored IC.
The manifesto is at the same time also a response to the growing power of authoritarian forces that are deliberately undermining human rights, restricting the room for manoeuvre of civil society and weakening the foundations of multilateralism. This makes it all the more important for today’s international cooperation to centre on the world’s most vulnerable. This can only be achieved, however, if local players, Swiss NGOs, governments, donors, the private sector and academia see themselves as allies working in concert to uphold human rights.
Many of the signing organizations have already made considerable headway in their localisation endeavours. Further action is still nevertheless needed from all parties. Ultimately, each organisation faces its own challenges – and accordingly develops different approaches. It is now important to pool these experiences and lead the way together.
Localization in Action: Three Examples from the Field
Solidar Suisse’s work in Myanmar, Pakistan, and Romania shows what equitable partnerships look like in practice. These examples illustrate how local anchoring and international expertise can work hand in hand to strengthen impact, access, and sustainability.
Myanmar: Local Networks Enable Access and Impact
In Myanmar, we are implementing a project together with a local partner organization in an area not controlled by the military junta and where access for international actors is highly restricted. Thanks to the partner’s established local networks and relationships, activities can be carried out safely and effectively despite the challenging context. At the same time, we provide technical support — for example in WASH and shelter — as well as advice on security and risk analysis. This collaboration combines local rootedness with international expertise: as local as possible, as international as necessary. The result is an approach that is both effective and responsible while ensuring the safety of everyone involved.
Pakistan: Working with Local Partner Organizations
Since 2022, Solidar Suisse has been working closely with the Sustainable Peace and Development Organization (SPADO) in northern Pakistan. Together, we support Afghan refugees and help families who have lost everything in floods rebuild their lives and get through the winter months. The partnership is based on clear complementarity: while Solidar Suisse’s small team plays an advisory role and ensures quality and impact standards, SPADO has deeply rooted local networks and reaches communities in remote and security-sensitive areas that are hardly accessible to international organizations. Through this collaboration, our work is implemented as locally as possible and as internationally as necessary — ensuring maximum access, impact, and safety.
Romania: Strengthening Institutions as the Basis for Local Leadership
In Romania, we worked with a small local organization that quickly reached its capacity limits at the beginning of the Ukraine conflict due to the massive influx of refugees and the many new demands. Through our joint work and simple measures to strengthen the organization — such as support in project management, procedures, structures, and organizational development — the partner became a recognized humanitarian actor in the country. As its organizational capacity grew, so did its visibility. The organization was able to secure additional funding sources, including from Swiss donors outside our partnership. This example shows how localization not only enables short-term emergency assistance, but also strengthens local structures that remain sustainable in the long term.