In humanitarian crises, displaced populations are often portrayed as mere beneficiary recipients of aid. Yet they are often the first ones to take action, to provide assistance to their loved ones and to keep community solidarity efforts alive. This is one of the key outcomes of the 28th edition of the Journal of Forced Migration, which focuses on capacity-building in countries in the Global South.

Published by the Centre for Refugee Studies at the University of Oxford in 2007, the 68-page report explores the gap between the statements made by international agencies and their activities on the ground. All assert that they wish to strengthen local organisations. Nevertheless, according to the review, decision-making, funding and the delivery of operations remain largely controlled by international actors.

The journal thus highlights an unbalanced conception of partnership. National NGOs are frequently confined to the role of implementing programmes formulated elsewhere. They are consulted, but rarely brought into strategic decision-making. This results in a relationship of dependency: the international organisation holds the resources and decision-making authority, whilst its local partner provides greater access to communities, field knowledge and the necessary staff.

This document refers to the painful experience of the December 2004 tsunami in Asia, which exposed the limitations of this approach. In the first hours following the disaster, local communities saved many lives using their knowledge of the area and their ability to respond immediately. However, the mass arrival of international agencies sometimes marginalised local organisations. The recruitment of their own staff, rising cost of rents and an increasing number of meetings held in English have undermined existing structures, the journal reported. Instead of strengthening local capacities, external aid has at times contributed to weakening them.

The issue of humanitarian staff safety also reveals a deeply rooted inequality. When the risks become too high, expatriates are usually evacuated, whilst national staff continue to maintain activities amongst the local population. However, according to the journal, local staff accounted for 79 per cent of recorded casualties amongst humanitarian workers between 1997 and 2006. Despite this exposure, they often benefit from less training, equipment and protection mechanisms.

In light of these findings, the journal urges a rethink of humanitarian aid. Capacity-building should not be restricted to training a few staff members or funding short-term projects. It must also support governance, administrative management, financial systems, citizen participation and the autonomy of local organisations.

The case of the PIUR programme in Colombia shows that another approach is possible. Developed with the direct contribution of displaced people, this initiative has helped to fund housing and job-creation projects. By the end of 2006, it had raised $4.2 million and helped more than a thousand displaced people as well as vulnerable families. Its success is built on a simple idea that the communities impacted should be involved in identifying needs, designing projects and monitoring outcomes.

Forced migration cannot, therefore, be addressed exclusively through emergency responses. It requires balanced partnerships, sustainable funding and genuine recognition of local expertise. According to the journal’s findings, providing aid does not mean acting on behalf of communities, but rather creating the conditions that empower them to better protect themselves, make decisions and rebuild their future.