disaster
World: Localisation in words, centralisation in practice: why local leaders still don’t lead
Summary by Christgiving Editorial Desk ODI - Humanitarian Practice Network , as published by ReliefWeb
· August 27, 2026
· 1 min read
Photo: ReliefWeb · view original
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Summary created by Christgiving Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Byline on source page ODI - Humanitarian Practice Network, as published by ReliefWeb Original story Read at the source Source published Aug 27, 2026 Indexed here Aug 27, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway Efforts to reimagine localisation have led to a shift in language, with terms like "equitable partnership" and "systems" becoming more prominent.
Aid distribution has traditionally followed a top-down approach, with resources flowing from donors to recipients. This model has been in place since the nineteenth century, with international organisations playing a key role. The system has historically prioritised accountability to donors and governments over accountability to affected communities.
The concept of localisation has been discussed and reexamined in recent years. Efforts to reimagine localisation have led to a shift in language, with terms like "equitable partnership" and "systems" becoming more prominent. Further details on the development of this system and the evolution of localisation are available from ReliefWeb.
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Category: disaster Published: August 27, 2026 Source: ReliefWeb Reading time: 1 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Aid distribution has traditionally followed a top-down approach, with resources flowing from donors to recipients. This model has been in place since the nineteenth century, with international…
When was this published? This article was first published on August 27, 2026 by ReliefWeb and curated for Christgiving readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by ODI - Humanitarian Practice Network at ReliefWeb. To learn more about how Christgiving selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more disaster coverage from Christgiving, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
