Redefining Localization: Assessing Nationalization and Locally Led Approaches Through the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement : Insights from Pacific National Societies, Palang Merah Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea

This thesis critically examines the extent to which nationalization and locally led approaches offer more effective and contextually accurate pathways for achieving localization in humanitarian action, using the Red Cross Red Crescent (RCRC) Movement as a central case study. The study employs a qualitative approach, following an extensive literature review, seven key RCRC documents are analyzed through framework analysis to identify key themes related to localization, nationalization, and local leadership. Additionally, three operational contexts — Pacific National Societies, Palang Merah Indonesia (PMI), and Papua New Guinea (PNG) — provide context-specific insights into the operationalization of localization in varying humanitarian contexts. Findings reveal that while nationalization and locally led approaches offer viable pathways for advancing localization, their effectiveness is contingent upon targeted efforts by international actors to reconcile power dynamics, balance risk-sharing, and maintain financial and operational support. The RCRC's 2024 reframing of localization as 'locally led action' underscores the growing recognition of local agency in humanitarian response, yet the findings indicate that nationalization is a subset of the broader locally led approach rather than a comprehensive solution alone. Ultimately, the study argues that localization should be reframed as an ongoing, bottom-up process rooted in local agency, requiring strategic investment in locally led leadership, equitable partnerships, and long-term capacity building and financing to achieve sustainable humanitarian outcomes.