Help Localisation Facility
Together for strong partnerships
Local, needs-based and on the basis of equitable partnerships: Help is setting new standards in humanitarian assistance with the Help Localisation Facility (HLF).
Our aim is to strengthen local humanitarian actors in crisis and conflict areas, promote local ownership of projects and enable them to assume a leading role in humanitarian assistance. Together, we ensure a more efficient, needs-based and sustainable assistance on the ground.
The challenge: Growing needs, shrinking funding
In 2024, over 300 million people worldwide were in need of humanitarian assistance. Causes such as escalating conflicts, the climate crisis and increasing poverty are exacerbating the situation. At the same time, fewer and fewer financial resources are available for humanitarian projects. In order for humanitarian assistance to benefit as many people as possible, it must be designed more efficiently and sustainably.
Our solution: strengthen local actors – enable sustainable assistance.
Why local organisations are essential
In crisis and disaster areas, local organisations are first responders. They know the needs of those affected, are part of local networks and can react quickly. In addition, they remain engaged and accountable to their communities long after attention-driven international actors have moved on to the next crisis. Despite this, their involvement is widely reduced toan implementing role, while international organisations and donors decide on project design, funding and evaluation.
In addition, local actors are confronted with high administrative barriers and time-consuming donor regulations, which often delay rapid assistance. Many local organisations have to make advance payments and bear the financial risks.
We are changing this with the Help Localisation Facility.
What is the Help Localisation Facility? (HLF)
A new approach to humanitarian assistance
With the HLF global programme, Help is enabling a more just, efficient and partnership-based cooperation with at least 20 local humanitarian actors. The three central goals of the programme are:
- Equitable partnerships: We build long-term, trusting relationships with civil society organisations, thereby reducing existing power imbalances.
- Increased participation for local stakeholders: We actively involve local civil society in the design and implementation of humanitarian measures. The needs and interests of local communities are therefore always at the centre of our programming. The capacity to respond to humanitarian crises as well as the decision making power of local actors is strengthened. In addition, responsibility, risks and accountability are fairly shared between Help and local partners.
- Flexible and needs-based funding: We reduce administrative hurdles to quality funding and promote structural investment in local actors and their organizational capacities. Together with our partners, we continue to ensure the implementation of funding guidelines and international quality standards.
Our Vision
Together with local and international civil society actors, the Help Localisation Facility lays the foundations for a stronger, more efficient and just humanitarian system in order to respond to growing humanitarian needs despite shrinking funding. This can only be achieved through equitable partnerships that take into account the expertise and experience of our local partners in all aspects of humanitarian work.
Pilot region Ukraine
The Help Localisation Facility will be piloted in Ukraine from November 2024 to December 2026, in order to gather learnings for an expansion to additional regions.
Local actors are vital, especially in conflict regions such as Ukraine: they know the people and their needs, respond quickly and efficiently and not only help in the short term, but also lay the foundations for long-term reconstruction.
Our partners
We are working with the Avalyst organisation in the Donetsk region. Avalyst provides drinking water, hygiene products and multi-purpose cash assistance to vulnerable populations, while also carrying out building repairs.
In the Kharkiv region of Ukraine, we work together with Safe Sky. Safe Sky provides emergency assistance and organises mine safety training for utility company employees.
Funded by the Federal Foreign Office
The Help Localisation Facility global programme is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office and implemented by Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe in cooperation with international and local civil society actors. The programme is in line with the Federal Foreign Office's strategy for humanitarian assistance and implements the core objectives of the Help’s organisational strategy and the resulting policies on empowerment and localisation.
