Brokering Localization: Country‐Based Pooled Funds in Humanitarian Assistance

ABSTRACT This article analyzes Country‐Based Pooled Funds (CBPFs) to identify types of brokerage models and their effects on localization. CBPFs are intermediaries in the aid chain connecting donors to implementers such as the United Nations, international non‐governmental organizations (INGOs) and national NGOs (NNGOs). This paper analyzes four of the longest running CBPFs—Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, and Sudan—by tracking financial flows and social ties over a 10‐year period. Longitudinal data allow for a more contextualized understanding of CBPFs' intermediary roles and patterns of engagement. The analysis reveals four brokerage models, gatekeeper , liaison , corporatist , and facilitator that produce varied levels of localization: low (gatekeeper, liaison), moderate (corporatist) and high (facilitator). The findings suggest that institutional rules, such as limiting funding eligibility to NGOs and requiring equal representation on advisory boards, increase localization. Finally, the analysis shows the critical role of NNGO coalitions in facilitating interactions with CBPFs and increasing localization.