Together with a network of local knowledge, data and advocacy actors, we want to disrupt and decentralise knowledge production in crises, building narratives that highlight and amplify community voices and are owned by those closest to crisis.
Humanitarian response is governed by a story the minority world wrote for itself. A story of need and response, of resourceless people waiting to be saved. Agency-owned fundraising machines and political agendas crowd out the complexity of people's experiences, the political and economic forces that drive them, and the agency of the people living through it all. This matters because narrative drives decisions. Right now, the wrong people are holding the pen.
With the dominant humanitarian system at a breaking point, we need new stories. Locally produced and locally owned, written by a movement of local actors. Centring community priorities, capacities and gaps rather than zeroing in on needs alone. Challenging how aid systems operate and helping connect funders and international support to what already exists.
Working across Somalia, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), this multi-year programme will push for the knowledge, data and voices of those closest to the crisis to hold aid systems to account and shift how crisis management works. The programme aims to do so in four ways:
Highlight local knowledge, data and capacities: We will map and highlight local knowledge and data on crisis conditions, community priorities, capacities and expectations, to support systems in better understanding the civil society research, advocacy and accountability landscape. We want to understand what they are trying to achieve, what is getting in their way, and what support they need to get there.
Build local data and accountability coalitions: We will create a space where local actors can come together to learn from each other and request technical support on their terms. The coalitions will bring together local researchers, data experts, thinkers, advocates and grassroots movements that work on surfacing community insights, community priorities and rights, for them to lead on crisis knowledge and advocacy, and to connect and resource what is there.
Support coalitions to lead: The coalition members will design and lead on community data and dialogue processes, aiming to unearth community priorities, capacities and expectations of global solidarity. Local advocates will build on this evidence to design narrative and advocacy strategies, targeted at decision-makers across governance, humanitarian, climate, development and peace spaces.
Build a global movement: We aim to connect coalitions across countries into a light, flexible collective, to build a truly global movement for an alternative story of crises – one that can no longer be dismissed and holds powerholders to account. This means facilitating cross-country knowledge exchange, co-creating joint advocacy products and ensuring local experts are in the right rooms.
