A Humanitarian Development Expert, Michael Ibe, has tasked countries in sub-Saharan Africa to invest in local resource mobilisation strategies to ameliorate the humanitarian funding crisis.

Mr Ibe spoke during an interview in Abuja on Sunday.

He said, “Now, with donors pulling back, it is clear that we need to act for ourselves.’’

He highlighted the urgent need for sub-Saharan African countries to take charge of their humanitarian futures, investing in local solutions and resource mobilisation to overcome the challenges of a shrinking global aid landscape.

The expert said that with global humanitarian funding in crisis, African nations must look inward to ensuring that the most vulnerable are not left behind.

He said that international organisations and donors from the global north often championed the idea of localising aid.

According to him, the reality is that much of the funding and decision-making remains concentrated in their hands.

He said, “Localisation of aid has become a buzzword. But behind the rhetoric, there is a complex web of politics and power dynamics. Localisation means getting funding as close as possible to those who need it. It is about being as local as possible, as international as necessary.’’

He further said that the recent cuts to international aid budgets such as those in the US, UK, Germany, Canada, and France had left a significant funding gap.

He highlighted how international organisations could spend up to 50 per cent of their budgets on overheads, leaving less for the actual beneficiaries.

He stated, “In contrast, local actors, neighbours, volunteers and community organisations are usually the first to respond in a crisis, and they understand the cultural, political, and social context far better than outsiders. Yet, despite the clear benefits, the path to localisation is fraught with challenges. International organisations set high-capacity requirements for local actors, creating a vicious cycle: without funding, local organisations cannot build capacity but
without capacity, they cannot access funding.’’

According to him, women’s rights organisations and faith-based groups often find themselves at the back of the line for funding, despite their deep community ties.

He added, “Meanwhile, the global aid landscape is becoming more uncertain. We must invest in strategies that allow us to generate our own funding. Corporate social investments, for example, can help local actors engage in profit-making ventures with the primary aim of supporting humanitarian work. Advocacy to governments is also crucial, reminding them of their responsibility to protect the most vulnerable. When it comes to localisation, we are on our own. But if we invest in our own resources and strategies, we can build a more resilient, effective humanitarian response. One that truly serves our people. The path forward is clear: self-reliance is not just an option. It’s a necessity.’’

(NAN)