New project to lower compliance burdens for local and national associations

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC), in collaboration with the Humanitarian Quality Assurance Initiative (HQAI), International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA), and the Secrétariat Permanent des Organisations Non Gouvernementales (SPONG), today announces the launch of the project named LOCAL: LOwering CompliAnce burdens for Local and national associations.

The LOCAL project, led by DRC with HQAI, ICVA, and SPONG as subgrantees, funded by the European Union, will operate across three countries: Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, with a pilot phase commencing in Burkina Faso.

The project addresses the increasing pressure on Local/National associations (LNAs) from international actors (International Organizations and donor agencies) to comply with complex and sometimes duplicative quality standards. This project proposes an innovative approach to:

• Streamlining due diligence processes: 
  The project will explore and test innovative approaches, such as "due diligence passporting," which leverages existing compliance assessments to reduce duplication and expedite funding access.
• Enhancing LNA capacity: 
  Through tailored training and capacity-building initiatives, the project will equip LNAs with the necessary tools and skills to meet quality and accountability standards such as the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS).
• Promoting advocacy and engagement:
  The project will encourage international organizations and donors to recognize the benefits of the Due Diligence Assessment (DDA) passporting approach and support its wider adoption to promote the localization agenda.

The LOCAL project will benefit:

• 10 Burkinabe LNAs participating in the pilot phase, selected through a transparent and bottom-up approach.
• An estimated 60 LNAs across the three target countries through various capacity-building initiatives.
• More than 1,200 individuals within LNAs will gain essential skills and knowledge.

Expected Outcomes:

By streamlining compliance processes, strengthening LNAs capacity, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders, the LOCAL project aims to:

• Increase access to funding for LNAs, enabling them to play a more prominent role in humanitarian and development interventions.
• Enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of humanitarian and development programs.
• Contribute to a more equitable and sustainable localization agenda.

The LOCAL project builds upon existing initiatives and expertise of the consortium members:

• DRC will lead this consortium while providing its expertise and experience in strengthening the capacities of LNAs and their staff.
• HQAI will provide key technical expertise on DDA passporting and CHS compliance and will conduct the group audit in Burkina Faso while training auditors from Mali and Niger as observers to complete their training.
• ICVA will lead advocacy efforts to garner support for the project among international actors.
• SPONG will play a crucial role in selecting LNAs and coordinating capacity-building activities.

The LOCAL project is a pilot initiative with the potential for broader application.