“In 2016, the Grand Bargain was launched at the world humanitarian summit in Istanbul, whereby the world’s most important humanitarian donors pledged to allocate 25% of international humanitarian aids directly to local organisations. But, seven years later, in 2022, it has been estimated that just 1.2% of aids has been actually distributed that way. The humanitarian aid system is still deeply centralised, and the decision-making power remains in the hands of the North of the world”.

The comment has been inspired by a hefty report by Caritas Europa, called “Unfilled promises. Addressing the gap between commitments and practice in locally-le humanitarian action”. In 76 pages, our new report reveals that just three of the main governmental humanitarian donors monitor the direct flow of their funds to the local NGOs, and just one of them achieves the goal of allocating them 25% of the funding. “Unfilled promises” shows, in particular, an indicator about 20 of the main governmental donors, UN agencies and international NGOs based on the quality of their commitment in decentralising the humanitarian aid system. Mgr. Michael Landau (in the photo), president of Caritas Europa, states: “Humanitarian workers and local volunteers are there before, during and after crises. Transferring resources to them is not only economically advantageous; it is a serious matter to show the values of self-determination, subsidiarity and justice”.