Beyond Shifting Power: Rethinking Localisation Across the Humanitarian Sector

True localisation means centring the voices, agency, and aspirations of communities themselves. This is a lesson to both local and international development and humanitarian practitioners. Credit: Michael Ali / Unsplash

By Angela Umoru-David
ABUJA, Nigeria, Jan 23 2026 (IPS)

For the last decade, many in the foreign aid sector have emphasised the need for localisation, and in the last 5 years, the calls have been louder than ever. I am one of such voices.

I believe that power should shift to local actors...