Humanitarian Policy and Practice

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.

Through long-term projects such as Local2Global and involvement in Charter4Change network, ACT Alliance EU members are looking to lead by example in the shift from sub-contracting of local partners to meaningful partnerships built on the principle of complementarity and capacity sharing. This involves new frameworks for risk sharing, flexibility of project funding and advocacy to the EU institutions and Member States for donor commitment.

For example ACT Alliance EU member Christian Aid was among a consortium of organisations to pioneer localisation for the EU Directorate General for humanitarian aid – ECHO – through four country pilots ‘Accelerating Localisation Through Partnerships’. This led to national asks and a global framework translating the global commitments from the World Humanitarian Summit into concrete elements of partnership which donors and organisations alike should develop.

At organisational and policy level, ACT Alliance EU’s members are navigating changes to frame and implement ‘the triple nexus’ – that is, better coordination of humanitarian, development and peacebuilding programming. We are providing platforms for local actor and local faith actor perspectives on the discussions, which have remained hard to capture and slow moving at institutional level.

Featured Resources

ACT Alliance consultation on the African adaptation agenda

On the occasion of the 2023 Africa Climate Summit, ACT Alliance convened a Faith leaders and actors consultation on clim... Read More

The MFF review must deliver more resources for development and humanitarian action as requested by the EC

  The mid-term revision of the MFF must deliver the additional resources and flexibility necessary to allow the... Read More

Africa-EU partnership of equals: how can we get there? Is the Global Gateway fit for purpose?

Together with other FBOs, ACT Alliance EU organised a panel discussion hosted by MEPs Bricmont (B, Greens) and Zorrinho... Read More

Demolitions in Masafer Yatta - Joint statement by CIDSE and ACT Alliance EU

  Masafer Yatta; Photo credit: Emily Glick, https://savemasaferyatta.com/en/gallery/ Demolitions in Masaf... Read More

Towards a people-centred, fair and sustainable recovery : recommendations for future priorities for EU's development coo...

Priorities for the EU's development cooperation in the post-Covid 19 era - Policy paper The Covid-19 pandemic and the... Read More

Insider's Guide to the New EU-ACP post-Cotonou Agreement

The new partnership agreement between the European Union and the members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and P... Read More

Resources

Joint statement by ACT Alliance EU, Oxfam and CIDSE

ACT Alliance EU, Oxfam and CIDSE have issued a joint statement ahead of the EU-Israel Association Council meeting on Oct... Read More

Social Protection as a basis for self-determined human development

To build back better after the COVID-19 pandemic to a new and different normal, that provides a solid ground for self-de... Read More

Doing renewables right: taking rights and environment into action

Christian Aid Time for Climate Justie 21 paper, August 2020 Link: CA J187453 TFCJ briefing- A just energy revolution- t... Read More