Around 2015, the humanitarian aid sector set out the localization agenda in motion. Embedded within The Grand Bargain, the localization agenda elevated the propensity for systems change within the humanitarian sector and calls for a greater inclusion of local actors have featured for some time in debates on how to make humanitarian action more efficient and address unequal power relations within the humanitarian system.  Though the localization agenda is at the core of current reform efforts in the humanitarian sector, there is paucity of scholarship on the discourse of localization in a protracted refugee humanitarian context. A qualitative case study design Was undertaken, and data was collected by conducting interviews on zoom and employing semi-structured interview guide. Six respondents (2 from local NGOs, 2 from international NGOs, 1 from UN agency and 1 from Ugandan government) were interviewed. The data collected were transcribed with the aid of “otranscribe” and analyzed through thematic analysis. The paper observes that the current discourse of localization in the protracted refugee humanitarian response in Uganda is characterized by two divergent and opposing conceptualization of localization; one based on decentralization approach, and another based on transformative approach and as such the paper argues the need for patience and acceptance of these various conceptualization to allow time for epistemological maturity of the concept.  Furthermore, five practices related to localization (funding, partnership, Capacity strengthening, Coordination and Visibility) were explored and while there was reported improvement, the study observes that, in practice, the engagement level of the local actors is still relatively low and contends that effective localization is only possible if trust among actors in the aid chain is built over time. Moreover, the study also identified factors such as Uganda’s progressive refugee policy, the availability of well-educated and experienced pool of local human resource and Uganda’s geographical positioning in a region ragged with conflict as major opportunities that could be harnessed to foster localization. In contrast however, the study identified that lack of trust of local actors, stringent and restrictive donor funding conditions, lack of collective risk sharing, lack of clarity on what constitute localization, and weak capacity strengthening modalities as being some of the key challenges hindering localization in the Ugandan refugee operation. To this end, the paper observes that in a protracted refugee situation especially that liken to the Ugandan situation, localization would have a high chance of succeeding especially given the stable context of the operation. The paper argues that the practice of localization could be enhanced if local and national actors put pressure on international actors and demand leadership, that financial and programmatic risk and accountability are shared responsibility and when long term engagement is made with local and national actors thus allowing for meaningful capacity strengthening thereby leading to building of trust between the local and international actors.

In recent years localisation has risen on the agenda in the humanitarian sector. It is seen to have great deal of benefits including being more cost efficient, more sensitive to culture and context and offers quicker responses. Opponents to this claim that it is too difficult to know whichactors can be trusted and that there is a risk that they do not comply with the humanitarian principles. In addition to this, concerned voices have risen that criticise the use of the term ‘local’. It lacks a common definition and is often used without a discussion of who it refers to. Changing this is of vital importance if the humanitarian sector wants to work against the power imbalances that remain from colonialism. Critical localism is a theory that criticises this arbitrary use of ‘local’ and sets out a framework for a variety of factors that should be taken into consideration when discussing and defining the ‘local’. This thesis is a case study conducted through a theoretical thematic analysis thatinvestigates if the localisation initiative Local to Global Protection complies with the guidelines of critical localism, with an additional focus on Eurocentric presence in academic work. The results from this study can be used to shed light on the problem with an arbitrary portrayal of ‘local’ while also offering real examples from the humanitarian field on how to avoid it. The findings showed that the initiative complied with the guidelines to a large degree. Its strongest area was the way ‘locals’ were presented from their own point of view instead of letting large international actors present their view of them. The part that showed most room for improvement was the lack of representation of the authors own bias in the portrayal of the ‘local’.

This thesis analyzes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on relationships between international and local humanitarian actors responding to the 4 August 2020 Beirut Port Explosion. The concepts of “the local”, localization, inequality, and remote management provide a theoretical framework for this analysis. Data collection for this case study research includes a review of published and grey literature, and five video interviews with staff of local and international humanitarian organizations in Beirut. Empirical findings show that local-international inequalities—in the forms of limited access, recognition,and control—have been observed in Beirut and Lebanon for decades, and persisted during the port explosion response. This research further suggests that COVID-19 has contributed to an increase in inequality, most notably by reducing the participation of local actors in humanitarian coordination meetings, and disproportionately transferring risk from international to local actors due to a reliance on remote management. Findings also show that the port explosion caused an influx of funding that was disproportionately directed to international actors, and the economic crisis created a currency devaluation that has exacerbated local-international wage disparities and threatened to limit the reach of local NGO activities. Despite the strength of the civil society—shaped by a strong education system, decades of working through crisis, and government inaction—local actors have often been excluded from humanitarian practice in Beirut and Lebanon. At the same time, findings highlight increases in equality: some local actors adapted more quickly than international actors to COVID-19 and were able to leverage their strengths to receive more funding and greater leadership in the port explosion response. These movements demonstrate adaptability in humanitarian practice that would be critically required in any future reform. This thesis concludes with two recommendations: (1) the use of remote management due to COVID-19 is likely problematic and requires further research to identify best practices; and (2) critical localization provides a useful framework to analyze and mitigate the persistence of local-international inequalities infuture humanitarian responses, and helps to find a meaningful way forward.