The GNC Localisation Roadmap: 42 concrete activities to enable locally led nutrition responses in 2024-25

Amidst humanitarian crises, the call for locally driven, locally led, and locally owned responses has grown louder over the years, resonating deeply with some international stakeholders.

Nowhere is this resonance more crucial than in the nutrition sector. Local and national actors (LNAs)* stand as the frontline responders, intimately connected with diverse community members, equipped with the vital contextual expertise to yield impactful outcomes.

Responding to this urgent call, the GNC has developed a groundbreaking Localisation Roadmap for 2024-25 – understanding that true accountability for localisation sparks tangible action. Aligned with GNC's overarching strategic vision and anchored in IASC guidance, this roadmap lights a path to more agile, sustainable interventions. It transforms critical concepts and lessons learned into actionable initiatives to progressively shift power towards local and national actors, cultivating an ecosystem where localisation** can thrive.

“The Localisation Roadmap will serve as an Annex to the GNC 2022-2025 Strategy in support of a strategic shift in adding this localisation lens to the second term of the current GNC strategy. The roadmap will also support and reinforce the entire next GNC strategy” 
– Dr. Rasha Al-Ardi, Global Nutrition Cluster

Crafted under the robust leadership and guidance of local and national actors, the GNC Localisation Task Force spearheaded the development of this transformative roadmap. At its core lies the GNC Theory of Change for Localisation, which underscores the necessity of acknowledging and bolstering participation, representation, and leadership of LNAs within coordination and decision-making realms, aligning with humanitarian principles.
 

“It’s very crucial to recognize the vital role of local and national actors in humanitarian efforts. Our involvement is not just desirable but indispensable for sustainable solutions” 
– Dr. Hiba Aldubaai, Building Foundation for Development

The roadmap unfolds across three sections. Part I serves as a comprehensive repository of background information and key conceptual frameworks. Part II highlights GNC’s ongoing contributions to the localisation agenda. Part III unveils the consultative-collaborative model meticulously employed in the roadmap's development process. This section dives deeper, revealing 42 carefully crafted activities aimed at strengthening GNC's dedication to localisation efforts.

“All 42 of these activities are, quote, ‘essential to shifting the power and building locally-driven responses’ and [help] ‘move us towards the goal of using local organisations wherever possible, and international organisations when needed’. I think all of those activities really drive us towards that goal” 
– Dina Aburmishan, Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance, USAID

The launch of the Localisation Roadmap 2024-2025

The Localisation Roadmap was first shared with the attendees during the Walking the talk on localisation in Nutrition Clusters session on April 30 as part of the Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks running from April 29 to May 10.

The GNC hosted a dynamic event, characterised by cohesive collaboration, where local and national actors took the lead in delivering both opening and closing remarks. Diverse panellists shared valuable insights on key activities outlined in the GNC Localisation Roadmap, emphasising its pivotal role in ensuring the GNC ‘walks the talk’ on localisation in nutrition.

“This roadmap fulfils its objectives very very very highly, through its theory of change and balancing the power between local and national and international partners” 
– Dr. Nuha Salheen, Government of Sudan

Following a presentation by Alexandra Humphreys, the GNC’s Interim Localisation Helpdesk, attendees were engaged in a thought-provoking session where they were tasked with condensing the essence of the GNC Localisation Roadmap into a single word. Their responses underscored the roadmap's inclusive and pragmatic nature: locally led, participatory, actionable, empowering local community…

“Today’s discussion points towards the great role and responsibility that clusters play at the country level to ensure coordination is in place to roll out this roadmap”
– Dr. Mayada Badawi, Sudan Nutrition Sector

* We use the IASC definition of LNA that includes state authorities as well as other organisations engaged in relief.

** The GNC acknowledges that the term ‘Localisation’ is an imperfect term that is top-down in nature and will likely be replaced in the future. As a Global actor, the GNC is committed to building an enabling environment where localisation can thrive. 

Useful links

>> Watch the recording of the launch event: Walking the talk on localisation in Nutrition Clusters remote 
>> Check resources and/or contact our Anti-Racism and Localisation Working Group if you have any questions. 
>> Request Nutrition in Emergencies support from the GNC.

Key resources

>> The GNC Localisation Roadmap 2024-2025
>> The GNC 2022-2025 strategy