Re-balancing power in the delivery of humanitarian assistance from the traditional top-down INGO and UN-led model to empowerment of those often at the frontline of response – affected communities and local civil society – is the major challenge for the humanitarian sector and donors in the coming years. ACT Alliance EU members are at the forefront of raising awareness of the approaches for genuine transfer of power to survivors, affected communities and local civil society actors.
As faith-based organisations we equally seek to raise awareness of the comprehensive role of faith actors in humanitarian response. The Covid-19 crisis highlighted the fact religious leaders are often the first to reach those hardest to access, are trusted sources of authority and information, and defenders of civil liberties.
The European Union at country and programming level is increasingly taking into account the role of faith actors and through work in consortia we seek to further equip these efforts and initiate more systematic and effective engagement with faith actors.
