About Roots of Change

The push toward localization is reshaping the landscape of global development and humanitarian aid. Traditional donors, who have controlled the what, how, and where of aid, are now rethinking their roles. As aspirations for locally led development gain momentum, so do questions about how to deliver its goals.

Roots of Change explores the localization agenda — zooming into its successes and failures and zooming out to see what changes are needed from both donor and recipient organizations. The series will also elevate the voices of local leaders and their reflections on localization.

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How a 'bottom-up' approach can help meet climate finance targets

How a 'bottom-up' approach can help meet climate finance targets

By Catherine Cheney, Thomas Cserep
Closing the gap: Getting climate finance to the local level

Closing the gap: Getting climate finance to the local level

By Elissa Miolene
The rise of the global south expat — and why it's bad for localization

The rise of the global south expat — and why it's bad for localization

By Rebecca L. Root
Opinion: How USAID is working to hit its localization targets PRO

Opinion: How USAID is working to hit its localization targets

By Samantha Power
Localization ‘lagging’ on bulk procurement, says USAID chief PRO

Localization ‘lagging’ on bulk procurement, says USAID chief

By Michael Igoe
Opinion: The world is becoming more religious. That matters for development

Opinion: The world is becoming more religious. That matters for development

By Waseem Ahmad, Patrick Watt
Malawi shifts perspective on land reforms in a bid to retain investors

Malawi shifts perspective on land reforms in a bid to retain investors

By Madalitso Wills Kateta
The call to end 'abject humiliation' over development conferences

The call to end 'abject humiliation' over development conferences

By Alessio Perrone
Mayors with ‘climate ambition’ urge MDBs to help plug finance gap

Mayors with ‘climate ambition’ urge MDBs to help plug finance gap

By Chloé Farand
USAID asked local leaders what needs to change. This is what they said PRO

USAID asked local leaders what needs to change. This is what they said

By Elissa Miolen
Where are the local voices in localization? PRO

Where are the local voices in localization?

By David Ainsworth
Are European donors falling behind the US on localization? PRO

Are European donors falling behind the US on localization?

By Jessica Abrahams
The localization wars PRO

The localization wars

By Michael Igoe
How localization will change INGOs PRO

How localization will change INGOs

By David Ainsworth
Localization? I hate the word. Decolonization? I hate that even more

Localization? I hate the word. Decolonization? I hate that even more

By David Ainsworth, Amruta Byatnal
How funders are trapping local NGOs in a ‘starvation cycle’ PRO

How funders are trapping local NGOs in a ‘starvation cycle’

By David Ainsworth
Inter-American Foundation's model offers lessons for localization

Inter-American Foundation's model offers lessons for localization

By Teresa Welsh
Samantha Power lays out her vision for USAID

Samantha Power lays out her vision for USAID

By Adva Saldinger

From our partners

Championing community-driven digital gender inclusion

From UNHCR Innovation Service

UNHCR Innovation Service

From UNHCR Innovation Service

‘We see you, we love you’: Building bridges for Cape Town’s LGBTQI+ refugees

From UNHCR Innovation Service

IWD Invest in Women, Invest in Localization, think piece

From development Research and Projects Center, dRPC

Budget Advocacy Toolkit for Epidemic Preparedness

From GHAI

From the Ground Up: Partnering with Cooperatives on Locally Led Development

From OCDC International Cooperative Research Group

Planting Seeds of Hope in Zambia

From Action Against Hunger

AVFund's short film

From UNICEF

Opinion: To achieve global migration goals, invest in local solutions

From Mayors Migration Council

HOW DOES CRS PROMOTE LOCALLY-LED RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT?

From Catholic Relief Services

The Power of Local Partnership

From ChildFund International

Supporting Community Leaders and Advocating for Locally-Led Solutions

From Conrad N. Hilton Foundation

Locally Led Development Resources

From Council on Foundations

Epidemic Preparedness and Response Financing Increased in Nigeria’s Kano State

From GHAI

What Difference Do Cooperatives Make?

From OCDC International Cooperative Research Group

USAID-Funded ACCELERATE Initiative to Boost Tuberculosis Elimination Efforts in South Africa

From The Aurum Institute

STRENGTHENING HEALTH SYSTEMS

From Action Against Hunger

UNICEF OOI's Investing in Women in Technology

From UNICEF

Cities Don't Get Much Support for Migrant and Refugee Aid. This Global Fund Aims to Change That

From Mayors Migration Council

POLICY BRIEF | POLICY PRINCIPLES TO SUPPORT EFFECTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE LOCAL LEADERSHIP IN HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE AND DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

From Catholic Relief Services

Rising to the challenge of children’s needs in a changing world

From ChildFund International

Donor Statement on Supporting Locally Led Development

From Conrad N. Hilton Foundation

Advancing Locally Led Development: An Overview of U.S. Foundations’ Direct Global Giving

From Council on Foundations

Locally Led Advocacy: Opportunities, Challenges and What We’ve Learned Along the Way

From GHAI

Cooperatives Enable Locally Led Development

From OCDC International Cooperative Research Group

Aurum Institute Ghana Receives Grand Challenges Grant For Catalyzing Equitable Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use

From The Aurum Institute

PROPEL ADAPT

From Action Against Hunger

Equity & Innovation

From UNICEF

Philanthropy Can Better Support the Youngest Migrants and Refugees by Investing in Cities

From Mayors Migration Council

PARTNERSHIP & CAPACITY STRENGTHENING AND LOCAL LEADERSHIP

From Catholic Relief Services

Locally Led Development

From ChildFund International

Leading Global Foundations Join Bilateral Donors in Commitment to Locally Led Global Development

From Hilton Foundation

Locally-led development: We are willing and ready

From The Aurum Institute

Locally-led development: We are willing and ready

From The Aurum Institute

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Devex

Devex is the media platform for the global development community. A social enterprise, we connect and inform over one million development, health, humanitarian, and sustainability professionals through news, business intelligence, and funding & career opportunities so you can do more good for more people.

In partnership with

Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach more than 24 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 50 countries, our 8,300 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

Aurum Institute

The Aurum Institute is a proudly African organisation whose mission is to generate evidence for policy and translate policy into practice to positively impact the health of communities globally. They partner with governments, the private sector and civil society to design and deliver high-quality care and treatment to people in developing communities. Aurum's headquarters are in Johannesburg South Africa, with a staff presence in the USA and Europe, as well as operations in Mozambique, Ghana, Lesotho and eSwatini.

ChildFund International

Worldwide, 570 million children live in extreme poverty, vulnerable to many factors that threaten their well-being. Children need protection, support and care at each stage of childhood to stay safe, healthy, learning and on track to achieve their potential. ChildFund works with local partner organizations, governments, corporations and individuals to help create the safe environments children need to thrive.

Council on Foundations

The Council on Foundations is a nonprofit membership association that serves as a guide for philanthropies as they advance the greater good. Building on our 75-year history, the Council supports over 850 member organizations in the United States and around the world to build trust in philanthropy, expand pathways to giving, engage broader perspectives, and co-create solutions that will lead to a better future for all.

Catholic Relief Services

Catholic Relief Services was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States to serve World War II survivors in Europe. Since then, they have expanded in size to reach more than 130 million people in more than 100 countries on five continents.

Global Health Advocacy Incubator

Drawing on decades of experience working with global civil society organizations across public health issues and political systems, the Global Health Advocacy Incubator provides strategic support to advocates working to enact and implement laws that save lives. Our history is rooted in one of the most successful public health campaigns — tobacco control. Building on the successes and lessons learned in the global fight against tobacco deaths, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids launched the Global Health Advocacy Incubator in 2014 to strengthen advocacy capacity to improve public health around the globe.

Conrad N. Hilton Foundation

The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation is a family foundation established in 1944 by the man who started Hilton Hotels. We provide funds to nonprofit organizations working to improve the lives of individuals living in poverty and experiencing disadvantage throughout the world.

International Cooperative Research Group - OCDC

The International Cooperative Research Group (ICRG) collaborates, partners, and co-creates with local researchers and cooperative development stakeholders. We carry out rigorous, locally-led research that bridges the gap between theory and practice. In the ICRG’s research, learning, and application model, research activity builds trust, ownership, and uptake of outcomes through engagement with key local stakeholders. This collaborative approach amplifies our research outcomes, deepens local uptake of concepts, and thus changes lives.

Mayors Migration Council

The Mayors Migration Council is a mayor-led coalition that accelerates ambitious global action on migration and displacement. Created by mayors for mayors, we are a coalition of 200+ city leaders from all over the world. We are guided by a Leadership Board of global city leaders and supported by a nimble team of political advisors and urban practitioners. As a Sponsored Project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, our work is made possible by philanthropic and government funders.

UNHCR

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is mandated by the General Assembly of the United Nations (Resolution 428 (V), December 1950) to lead and coordinate international action for the worldwide protection of refugees and the resolution of refugee problems. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees supports the work of the High Commissioner.

UNICEF

UNICEF works in the world’s toughest places to reach the most disadvantaged children and adolescents – and to protect the rights of every child, everywhere. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we do whatever it takes to help children survive, thrive and fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

African Visionary Fund

The African Visionary Fund is unleashing breakthrough impact and tackling systemic inequities by driving resources and offering unrestricted, unburdensome funding to high-impact African founders.

International Development Innovation Alliance

IDIA is a collaboration platform that brings together senior leadership from the world's leading development innovation agencies.

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