Study on Localization in Poland

Background to the study

Polish and international actors, working together in Poland in response to the needs arising from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, have come together in 2022 and created the NGO forum coordination, hosted by Polish Humanitarian Aid, in order to coordinate their efforts and discuss common issues.

The relationships between L/NNGOs and CSOs from one side and international actors (INGOS, UN agencies, donors) on the other side have provoked discussions, in particular on how the localization commitments taken in 2016 in Istanbul were implemented and respected in this particular context.

In order to document/capitalize the experiences and further improve relationships between local and international actors in Poland and beyond, the Partnership Working Group decided to conduct this study.

Research Objectives

The main issue of the study remains “to analyze and inform how the international humanitarian support in Poland is being implemented with L/NNGOs and CSOs, in relation to the Grand Bargain Localization Commitments” in order :

• To improve relationships between international actors (INGOs and Un agencies) and L/NNGOs and CSOs in Poland (lessons to be learnt from both actors)
• To share lessons learnt in Poland to further support the implementation of the localization agenda at global level.

The main users of the study will be:

• Humanitarian donors (UN agencies and International NGOs acting as donors) including staff from head quarters
• International humanitarian actors (International non-governmental partner-organizations), including staff from head quarters
• Local actors (Local and national NGOs working in Refugee Response in Poland)

© European Union, 2022 (photographer: Dan Gutu)