Localisation without transformation: dynamics of “localisation” in South Sudan’s humanitarian arena

The Citation2016 World Humanitarian Summit propelled “localisation” to the forefront of humanitarian reform efforts, with high-profile commitments sparking hopes of a sea-change in recognition of and support for frontline humanitarian actors. A decade later, it is widely acknowledged that aspirations for structural and systemic change have not been realised. This article explores how localisation has unfolded in practice in South Sudan, a context with a long history of international humanitarian intervention, in which ideas akin to “localisation” have featured for decades. Since 2016, localisation has become a prominent discourse amongst aid organisations in South Sudan, but direct funding to South Sudanese organisations has changed little, and “localisation” largely takes the form of an expansion of subcontracting, reproducing rather than subverting existing power imbalances. Yet, the prominence of the localisation debate has also generated new opportunities and spaces for claim-making, creating possibilities for change in humanitarian hierarchies.