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INTRODUCTION

In 2018-2019, the Grand Bargain Localisation Workstream conducted demonstrator country missions to Bangladesh, Iraq and Nigeria and held a series of regional workshops to promote better understanding and support the implementation of the localisation commitments. One of the most consistent areas of feedback shared in the missions and regional workshops was the lack of sustained discussion or momentum around the Grand Bargain at the country level. Many field level representatives of signatories as well as local actors reported a lack of clarity as to their own roles and opportunities related to the Grand Bargain’s localisation commitments. Workstream members therefore agreed to prompt dialogue at country level and this was identified as one of the key activities/outputs in the Workstream workplan (2020-2021).

Given its nature as voluntary grouping of mostly headquarter-based representatives of signatory organisations and invited local actors, Workstream members acknowledged that it was neither feasible nor desirable for the workstream to try and lead these dialogues at the country level. Its role would instead be catalytic, relying on the interest and active engagement of those based in country, facilitate exchange and learnings among the countries selected. These dialogues would be aimed:

1. To promote wider understanding and implementation of Grand Bargain commitments on localisation at country level
2. To catalyse collaboration between Grand Bargain signatories and other relevant stakeholders at country level on implementation of localisation commitments while – when possible – exploring synergies and linkages with existing humanitarian coordination mechanisms (such as Humanitarian Country Teams and Clusters), donor coordination mechanisms and platforms as well as civil society networks
3. To support in-country counterparts to identify their context-specific opportunities, challenges and specificities when it comes to localisation and develop their own plans or solutions
4. To learn lessons that will inform discussion and strategic direction in relation to the next phase of the Grand Bargain beyond June 2021.

Dialogues will be organised by country-based facilitators, who will determine the substantive focus and method for their respective country dialogues, develop a plan in consultation with country level stakeholders, share the finalised plan with GB Workstream on Localisation (indicating any specific requests for support they may need), organise and manage the dialogue/s, and share a short outcome report on the dialogue. The Workstream will provide support and follow-up on dialogue processes and this will include advice to country-based facilitators in the development of the dialogue process, provision of background and guidance materials, support and facilitation of south to south learning and exchange, and periodic feedback information teleconferences to discuss emerging findings and lessons learnt.

Requirements of the dialogue processes

Bearing in mind the Workstream’s limited role, the following are the only requirements for a dialogue process to be selected as a Workstream-affiliated process:
• It must be co-facilitated by at least three actors, including at least one local actor, and one signatory donor or signatory agency
• The dialogue process must be open and inclusive of Grand Bargain signatories and local actors
• It must build upon, rather than seek to replace or alter, the existing Grand Bargain commitments on localisation
• A short progress report from the co-facilitators should be submitted to the Workstream no later than the end of May 2021