The Localisation of Aid: Acceleration or Re-centralisation in Times of Disruption?

Introduction: This paper explores the rise, setbacks, and future of localisation in humanitarian and development aid amid today’s global funding shake-ups. Methods: Drawing on decolonial theory and organisational change literature, the study situates localisation within a broader critique of Western epistemic and institutional dominance in global aid. Empirical examples from Syria, Somalia, Sudan, and India illustrate both the viability of community-led responses and the persistent barriers local organisations face. Results: Despite normative commitments such as the Grand Bargain and Charter for Change, progress remains limited; local actors receive a fraction of total aid funding, while international intermediaries continue to dominate financial flows and decision-making. Structural, political, and institutional barriers - including donor risk aversion, compliance complexity, and organisational selfpreservation - undermine localisation. Recent shifts in donor landscapes, including the exit of United States Agency for International Development and the rise of Gulf Cooperation Council donors, present both opportunities and threats. Conclusion: The article concludes with concrete recommendations to accelerate localisation, including regulatory reforms by recipient governments, coalition-building among local actors, simplified donor requirements, and improved tracking of localised funding. It calls for a reconceptualisation of aid relationships - from paternalistic models to mutual partnerships rooted in equity and shared agency. The disruption of the current aid system, though destabilising, presents a rare window for structural transformation towards a more just and effective localisation of aid.