HNPW 2026: Mutual Aid and Locally Led Action

The international humanitarian system is under unprecedented strain. Politically motivated financial constraints, escalating needs amid protracted crises, and slow progress on reform have created mounting pressure to reprioritize and reset how this international system functions. In this context, attention is turning toward truly locally led humanitarian action—not as a peripheral concept, but as a potential cornerstone for a more adaptive and effective response.

At the heart of locally led action lies mutual aid: the informal, community-driven initiatives through which people have historically supported one another, often outside the scope of international actors. Rooted in local networks and resources, these efforts have always existed, yet remain largely unrecognized and unsupported by the international system. Recent crises in Sudan, Myanmar, Gaza, and Ukraine have brought mutual aid into sharp focus, revealing its role as a primary lifeline for communities under extreme duress. This raises critical questions: How does mutual aid work? What drives it? How extensive is it? And why, in the most complex contexts, does it become the backbone of solidarity, survival, and resilience?

Emerging evidence shows that mutual aid can deliver timely, relevant, and sustainable assistance grounded in local realities. However, supporting these initiatives through international funding without undermining their core strengths is a delicate challenge. One promising approach—Supporting Community-Led Response (SCLR)—aims to do precisely that. But can it be scaled without replicating the pitfalls of traditional support? What impacts does it have on mutual aid initiatives? And what risks must be managed?

This session will present the latest evidence on the outcomes of supporting mutual aid through international funding and explore questions around the practical and ethical challenges of scaling such support responsibly. It will feature a dynamic discussion withfunds attempting to scale support to mutual aid initiatives, representatives of mutual aid groups, local actors facilitating these efforts, and donors seeking effective ways to finance them. Together, we will examine what it takes to move beyond rhetoric and make supporting locally led action a reality—without losing what makes it effective.