Ten years after the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS), Oxfam America is launching the Localization (R)evolution blog series – a space for reflection on the achievements, frustrations, and debates shaping local humanitarian leadership (LHL) and locally led development (LLD) over the past decade.

Transformational change is necessary

At a time of escalating crises, deepening inequality, and shrinking humanitarian resources, progress on localization has been uneven and too often symbolic. Power continues to sit largely with international institutions, while local and national organizations – particularly women-led, youth-led, and marginalized-group-led actors – remain under-resourced despite being first responders and agents of long-term, sustainable change.

Sharing our story

Throughout 2026, this site will post a series of periodic reflections on where LHL and LLD – a cornerstone of our strategy since 2015 – stand today in Oxfam America’s work, and how we continue to collaborate, learn and unlearn with local champions and affected communities, governments, civil society organizations, peer NGOs, and donors.

These posts mark our commitment to move the localization agenda ahead as one of the fundamental elements of a transformed global system that has people at its center. We invite you to join us in this Localization (R)evolution!