Local voices or elite control? A discussion on the reality of localisation in Finnish development cooperation on 26.11.

As development cooperation actors are trying to shift their work towards a more locally-led direction, it is important to ensure that our efforts genuinely lead to equitable and sustainable global development. Therefore, Partnering for Change, a project managed by the Deaconess Foundation and Filantropia, is organising an event to discuss these concerns and to explore how we, the Finnish development cooperation community, can effectively implement the localisation agenda in practice.

In recent years, the Finnish development cooperation community has recognised the importance of local ownership and leadership in achieving sustainable development outcomes. The localisation agenda emphasises the need for recipient country communities, individuals, and organisations to own, direct, and implement their own sustainable development agenda. However, many challenges exist, including the power of elites, corruption, and upholding the rights of women and sexual and ethnic minorities. These challenges may hold the potential to undermine the ideal of the localisation of development cooperation.

It is crucial to ensure that our efforts genuinely lead to equitable and sustainable global development. This event will focus on the challenges of implementing the localisation agenda. We will critically analyse localisation as a development strategy and assess whether it is appropriate for use at this time, especially in our current global context.

We will draw on lessons learned by Finnish and partner experts, individuals and communities in order to explore strategies and identify pragmatic solutions. Come with us to discuss and share your ideas and thoughts!

Our panellists include:

Jouni Hemberg, Emeritus Executive Director of Finn Church Aid and non-fiction writer. Development cooperation professional with over 30 years of experience in leading Finnish NGOs. Recently published a book Kolme kiloa maissia.

Mwila Zaza, Grants and communications specialist with two decades of experience in the development cooperation and social services sector. Communications Consultant for PARC and Grants and Development Manager for the Global Fund for Widows.

Teppo Eskelinen, Senior lecturer in social sciences at the University of Eastern Finland. He has done research on topics such as global justice, development policy, social utopias, and democracy.

The discussion will take place on Tuesday 26.11.2024 at 9.30-11.30 in Aurora living room at the Deaconess Foundation (Alppikatu 2, Helsinki).

The event will be in-person only with a limited number of seats. Chatham House rule will be applied, and coffee and small breakfast will be served. You are welcome to join already from 9 onwards for coffee and networking.

Please register through this link.