Localization of aid
(2025) p.187-206- Abstract
Humanitarian aid has long been characterized as a top-down, centrally driven enterprise. Recently, this has begun to change through the broad concept of localization, which commonly describes the empowerment of national and local actors. This chapter showcases the range of localization views within humanitarian aid, focusing on terminology, various definitions and three main interpretations. It also connects localization to its historical roots. The chapter further examines barriers to wider adoption and case studies of successful implementation. Finally, it identifies existing research gaps and presents opportunities for further research.
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/5b9799ea-705b-4570-a30f-9f01c6b2e1d7
- author
- Frennesson, Lina LU and James, Eric
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-01-01
- type
- Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Capacity development, Capacity strengthening, Global South, Humanitarian aid, Humanitarian logistics, Local humanitarian action, Localization, Locally-led solutions
- host publication
- A Research Agenda for Humanitarian Logistics
- pages
- 20 pages
- publisher
- Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105029892219
- ISBN
- 9781035310326
- 9781035310333
- DOI
- 10.4337/9781035310333.00017
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © The Editors and Contributors Severally 2025. All rights reserved.
- id
- 5b9799ea-705b-4570-a30f-9f01c6b2e1d7
- date added to LUP
- 2026-03-10 14:24:12
- date last changed
- 2026-06-03 03:00:44
@inbook{5b9799ea-705b-4570-a30f-9f01c6b2e1d7,
abstract = {{<p>Humanitarian aid has long been characterized as a top-down, centrally driven enterprise. Recently, this has begun to change through the broad concept of localization, which commonly describes the empowerment of national and local actors. This chapter showcases the range of localization views within humanitarian aid, focusing on terminology, various definitions and three main interpretations. It also connects localization to its historical roots. The chapter further examines barriers to wider adoption and case studies of successful implementation. Finally, it identifies existing research gaps and presents opportunities for further research.</p>}},
author = {{Frennesson, Lina and James, Eric}},
booktitle = {{A Research Agenda for Humanitarian Logistics}},
isbn = {{9781035310326}},
keywords = {{Capacity development; Capacity strengthening; Global South; Humanitarian aid; Humanitarian logistics; Local humanitarian action; Localization; Locally-led solutions}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{01}},
pages = {{187--206}},
publisher = {{Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.}},
title = {{Localization of aid}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781035310333.00017}},
doi = {{10.4337/9781035310333.00017}},
year = {{2025}},
}