In her latest article, "Brokering Localization: Country-Based Pooled Funds in Humanitarian Assistance," Associate Professor of International Affairs and Director of the Humanitarian Action Initiative Maryam Z. Deloffre examines Country-based Pooled Funds (CBPFs), to identify different brokerage models and how they affect localization.
CBPFs are intermediaries in the aid chain connecting donors to implementers such as the United Nations, international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) and national NGOs (NNGOs). In her article, Dr. Deloffre analyzes four of the longest running CBPFs—Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, and Sudan—by tracking financial flows and social ties over a 10-year period. Longitudinal data allow for a more contextualized understanding of CBPFs' intermediary roles and patterns of engagement. Her examination reveals four brokerage models, gatekeeper, liaison, corporatist, and facilitator that produce varied levels of localization: low (gatekeeper, liaison), moderate (corporatist) and high (facilitator). The findings suggest that institutional rules, such as limiting funding eligibility to NGOs and requiring equal representation on advisory boards, increase localization. Finally, the analysis shows the critical role of NNGO coalitions in facilitating interactions with CBPFs and increasing localization.
For more read the complete article via open-access online.