Localisation: The key to effective and responsible humanitarian responses
Procurement plays a vital role in facilitating effective humanitarian responses. Yet, the procurement methods utilised by many organisations in our sector can often result in multiple adverse consequences. Frequently, the urgency to deliver aid quickly leads to procurement processes and outcomes that are costly, inefficient and environmentally harmful. This is further compounded by the difficulties faced by humanitarian purchasers in managing conflicting priorities, resource constraints, and supplier limitations.
Solvoz is an online platform designed by and for humanitarians that facilitates responsible and sustainable procurement in our sector. With a strong emphasis on localisation, local procurement and local sourcing, we enable the delivery of more efficient and greener humanitarian responses. To learn more about how localisation supports the delivery of more effective humanitarian responses whilst empowering local service providers and economies, read on.
Localisation
In our sector, localisation essentially refers to a structural shift of decision-making power in the delivery of humanitarian responses from international agencies to local actors. This encompasses international entities supporting the empowerment of local organisations, governments and communities, and fostering closer relationships with them to ensure humanitarian responses remain relevant, suitable and sustainable. It also involves efforts to increase the capacity of local actors to prepare for, respond to, and recover from crises, as well as promoting their engagement in all decision-making processes.
The ultimate goal is to create a more inclusive and effective humanitarian response system that is accountable to affected populations and their local representatives, and that supports the strengthening of local economies.
Given that procurement activities constitute the largest portion of any humanitarian budget, there is a compelling case for NGOs and donors to undertake more substantial measures toward the localisation of their procurement.
Strengthen local economies
The term “local economy” refers to all available resources in an intervention area, including local production, markets and labour. Strengthening local economies through humanitarian procurement is crucial to promoting sustainable development and building resilience in crisis-affected communities.
While not a panacea, there is now widespread agreement among NGOs and donors that utilising local resources and suppliers facilitates economic recovery and also minimises potential social and environmental harms. Procuring goods and services locally can create a range of economic opportunities, generate income and therefore contribute to an area’s long-term recovery. Supporting local businesses and markets can help reduce dependence on external aid and promote self-sufficiency. In effect, by bolstering local economies, humanitarian procurement can positively influence the long-term well-being of communities affected by crises.
Market assessments
Conducting a local market assessment entails assessing the availability and quality of goods and services within a particular geographical region. This includes evaluating various factors such as the types of goods and services available, their respective quality and costs, the quantities in which they are available, and the suppliers capable of providing them.
The purpose of a local market assessment is to help inform decision-making about how to source goods and services for an intervention in a way that is appropriate for the local context and mitigates any potential harm to the local economy and environment. These assessments employ various tools and methods to gather information, such as surveys, focus groups and key informant interviews. The insights gained can help to guide procurement and sourcing decisions, and can also be used to design programmes that support the local economy and contribute to its lasting recovery.
Streamlining Local Procurement, Supporting Local Economies
Solvoz is the go-to platform for organisations in our sector that are striving to support more efficient and sustainable local procurement. With a comprehensive open-access knowledge base, an extensive network of technical expertise, and an innovative digital tender platform, Solvoz seamlessly connects your requests for quotations to over 400.000 suppliers worldwide. As part of our Software as a Service (SaaS) model, we also provide complimentary sourcing support to help your organisation find the solution that best aligns with your mission and operational context.
In emphasizing the centrality of your specific, outlined requirements – including any necessary sustainability criteria and supplier validation conditions – our collaborative digital platform can support your procurement department to identify the most relevant, high-quality bids from local and regional suppliers worldwide. Our approach therefore ensures that you consistently obtain the best quality products at the most competitive prices and in a timely manner. This enables both the localisation of procurement and more efficient, cost-effective and sustainable responses to humanitarian crises.
Localise your Organisation's procurement today!
If you want to learn more about how Solvoz can support your organisation to achieve greater impact through the localisation of your procurement whilst also attaining significant cost savings then please get in touch.