As global aid budgets face significant reductions and humanitarian needs continue to escalate, the sector is forced to confront a critical turning point. In this episode of the Positive Impact podcast, host Charlotte Lang leads a transparent and rigorous discussion on the "inexorable change" of localization. This conversation brings together Martin Gallard, Partnerships and Localisation Advisor at Terre des Hommes Lausanne; Claire Barthélémy, Course Director at the Geneva Centre of Humanitarian Studies; and Esther Opoka Adong, a humanitarian practitioner and Master’s student at the University of Geneva. With our local partner gusest:
Viktoriia Preobrazhenska, Ceo, Dobrobut, Deep Purkayastha, director Praajak Development Society India. Mohammad Zahidul Islam, director Breaking the Silence Bangladesh
From this podcast you can understand the profound "identity crisis" currently facing international organizations. The panel moves beyond theory to discuss the friction between an international NGO's struggle for financial survival and the ethical necessity of transferring power to local actors. Through professional and serious analysis, the guests explore how localization serves as a mechanism for justice and the decolonization of humanitarian action.
The narrative of the episode centers on the three pillars of sustainability, equality, and power shift. Martin Gallard outlines how Terre des hommes aims to translate these values into a concrete financial objective: ensuring that 20% of the organization’s operational budget is managed directly by local and national NGOs by 2028. This shift is illustrated through the work of Viktoriia Preobrazhenska, head of the Ukrainian organization Dobrobut, who shares how local teams drive case management and needs assessments on the ground in Kharkiv and Ivano-Frankivsk.
The discussion also tackles the complex obstacles to this transition, from the "dominant narrative" of Western ideologies to the practical challenges of financial compliance and corruption perceptions. Rather than viewing localization as the end of international organizations, the panel envisions a future of coexistence where international actors move into supportive roles. By highlighting new tools like the 360-degree localization partnership reviews and the Local Link Hub, the podcast provides a roadmap for a more inclusive, people-centered approach to global aid.
Ultimately, this podcast is an essential resource for those looking to understand why the first concrete step toward effective aid in 2026 must be to trust local civil society and provide flexible, core funding to those who lead the response.
