Localization in Humanitarian Settings – An Integrated Approach between Government, Business, and Community

Throughout the world, UNICEF engages closely with government and local authorities for emergency preparedness, disaster risk reduction, and emergency response to ensure a more sustainable model of long-term support. In South Asia, the traditional partner is through Disaster Management Authorities, both at the national and provincial level. UNICEF strives to build the capacity of these authorities to take leadership of emergency response through providing technical support and accompaniment. However, with the increasing frequency and severity of emergencies in the region, further work is required to ensure local leadership of disaster risk reduction efforts to mitigate future impacts. 

Traditional models of engaging with private sector actors are related to fundraising and corporate social responsibility – models that ignore the role of businesses in society and the support they can provide in terms of technical capacity and advocacy, among other areas, to support children affected by humanitarian emergencies in the region. UNICEF is looking at opportunities to engage business communities as partners in emergency preparedness and response for children – however this is an emerging area of work and requires further research to identify what models of engagement are most effective and how UNICEF can leverage the specific niches of businesses for results for children. Driven by these commitments, UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA) is looking at opportunities to improve localization through a three-pillar approach: strengthening of government and local authorities, engagement of the private sector as a partner, and elevating community structures for child-centered emergency preparedness and response.