Humanitarian actors have called for the effective implementation of the Grand Bargain commitments at the country level, emphasising accountability, localization, and transparency in aid delivery. Adopted at the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul in May 2016, the Grand Bargain commitments have been signed by 68 UN agencies and INGOs, outlining 51 indicators centered around localization, accountability to affected populations, and aid transparency.
The demand was raised during a webinar titled “Reflection from Field: Accelerating Grand Bargain 3.0” organised by the COAST Foundation, BDCSO Process, and Cox’s Bazar CSO-NGO Forum. The event was moderated by Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Executive Director of COAST Foundation, with a keynote presentation delivered by Md. Iqbal Uddin of COAST Foundation.
Speakers highlighted concerns about some INGO branches obtaining local registration and presenting themselves as local NGOs, a practice that contradicts the Grand Bargain's localization principles. They stressed that effective implementation requires coordinated efforts by UN agencies, INGOs, and local humanitarian actors.
Prominent speakers included Matilda Svensson, First Secretary of the Embassy of Sweden in Bangladesh; Elise Baudot, Head of Humanitarian Financing at ICVA in Switzerland; Bjorn Hofmann, Senior Advisor at the Grand Bargain Secretariat; Sajid Raihan, Country Manager of Start Fund Bangladesh; and representatives from Community World Service Asia, Humanitarian Aid International, and Save the Children.
Md. Iqbal Uddin emphasized the importance of achieving the Grand Bargain 3.0 targets by 2026, which include ensuring that 25% of funding is allocated directly to local responders while strengthening their leadership and capacity. Elise Baudot underscored ICVA’s role in fostering quality partnerships to empower local actors.
Bjorn Hofmann noted that the Grand Bargain Secretariat is collaborating with ambassadors in Geneva to enhance feedback mechanisms through National Reference Groups. Matilda Svensson reaffirmed Sweden's commitment to equitable partnerships, quality funding, and local leadership.
Sajid Raihan advocated for co-creation in organizational development and risk-sharing, addressing misconceptions about local organizations’ governance. Yumna Hasany called for a unified definition of localization and mutual respect, while Sudhanshu S. Singh pointed out that only 0.6% of funding currently reaches local actors, urging greater support for their expertise.
Other speakers, including Josephine Alabi and Reefat Bin Sattar, stressed the need for equal partnerships and immediate action to implement commitments. Additional insights were shared by local leaders such as Masuda Ratna, Rafiqul Islam, and Sheikh Asad, emphasizing Bangladesh’s progress in advancing localization efforts.
The event concluded with a call for enhanced accountability and collaboration to ensure the Grand Bargain commitments deliver meaningful change for affected communities.
