The “Empowering Local and National Humanitarian Actors” (ELNHA) project, funded by POPI with local organizations such as Efforts for Rural Advancement (ERA), was aimed at transforming the humanitarian landscape in Bangladesh. Recognizing that local actors are often the first responders during crises, ELNHA sought to shift power and resources towards these actors, enabling them to lead emergency preparedness and response efforts effectively.
The project was structured around three core strategies:
- Strength: Enhancing the technical and organizational capacities of local and national humanitarian actors (LNHAs) to design, lead, and deliver humanitarian responses.
- Voice: Amplifying the influence of LNHAs in shaping local and national humanitarian agendas through coordination and advocacy.
- Space: Advocating for systemic changes in the international humanitarian architecture to create an enabling environment for local leadership.
In Bangladesh, ELNHA facilitated the formation of platforms like the National Alliance of Humanitarian Actors Bangladesh (NAHAB) and the Bangladesh Women’s Humanitarian Platform (BWHP), which played pivotal roles in coordinating local responses and advocating for inclusive humanitarian practices. The project also introduced innovative funding mechanisms, such as the Humanitarian Response Grant Facility (HRGF), allowing local actors to access funds directly for self-designed interventions.
Through these efforts, ELNHA contributed to a more equitable and effective humanitarian system by empowering local actors, promoting inclusive leadership, and fostering sustainable community resilience.