In debates on humanitarianism in the last decade or so, ‘localisation’ has been a central concern, broadly referring to the transfer of decision-making power, resources, and responsibility to local and national actors. While the inclusion of certain actors such as local and national non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is relatively straightforward, incorporating others — like affected communities themselves or local less formal civil society — is often more complex. We argue that formal accountability mechanisms — systems that hold donors, NGOs, and implementing agencies responsible for their actions, decisions, and resource use — are valuable but can create an illusion of control in crisis settings. Humanitarian response is enacted by human beings, and it is ultimately human beings who hold each other to account. If accountability is truly understood as an opportunity to learn, grow, improve, in ways that include different stakeholders’ perspectives, it should be possible to achieve more reciprocal and genuine forms of accountability.
Editorial: Cindy Horst, Hilde Refstie, Cathrine Brun, Mohideen Mohamed Alikhan, Marta Bivand Erdal, Danesh Jayatilaka, Ahmed Musa, Eria Serwajja, Emmanuel Viga
Robin Vandevoordt
Marie Godin, Cadeau Heritier
Nell Gabiam
Emmanuel Viga, Hilde Refstie
Ahmed Musa, Cindy Horst
Hassan Aden
Mohideen Mohamed Alikhan, Danesh Jayatilaka
Reflections Heidi Mogstad Keluel Agook , Kuol Arou, Siham Ahmed, Joyeux Mugisho, Simon Marot Touloung, Hilde Refstie Kari Eliassen-Viejo, Sian Olwen Rowbotham Sever Dzigurski, Cindy Horst
