Humanitarian actors call for localisation of aid in Bangladesh on the World Humanitarian Day

Humanitarian actors have urged donors and aid agencies to strengthen the localisation of aid and ensure greater support for local organisations in Bangladesh.

They called for the effective implementation of the Grand Bargain commitments, adopted at the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul in 2016.

The commitments include providing quality and flexible funding to local actors and ensuring accountability to affected people.

The call came at an international seminar titled “Accelerating Grand Bargain 3.0 for Advancing Humanitarian Action in Bangladesh” organised by COAST Foundation, BDCSO Process, and Cox’s Bazar CSO-NGO Forum, held at a city hotel.

The event was moderated by Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Executive Director of COAST Foundation, while Md Iqbal Uddin presented the keynote paper.

Speakers expressed concern over some international NGOs registering as local NGOs to claim benefits under the localisation agenda.

They said this practice goes against the real spirit of the Grand Bargain, which is meant to empower genuine local organisations.

In his keynote, Iqbal Uddin noted that progress on Grand Bargain 3.0 has been slow, even though it is due to end in 2026.

He urged donors to ensure at least 25 per cent direct funding to local actors.

First Secretary of the Embassy of Sweden in Bangladesh, Matilda Svensson, said her country is already meeting this target and stressed the need for equal partnerships instead of subcontracting.

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