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Paper short abstract:

Using focus group interviews, this study explored how Korean NGOs and new donors perceive and adapt to the global agenda towards localization.

Paper long abstract:

Localisation is gaining attention as a common approach encompassing resilience building, anticipatory action, and the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus (HDP Nexus) in international humanitarian communities. While the need for localization seems to be agreed to ensure humanitarian access, cost-effectiveness, and accountability, there seems to be no universally agreed concept, allowing diverse interpretations and approaches among different actors engaged and in different contexts. Some in the North view localization as a process of “internationalization of the locals,” while many in the South prefer “locally-led” initiatives, demanding a more fundamental power shift, highlighting decoloniality. Furthermore, there are few studies on the understanding and practices of humanitarian communities in emerging (or “new”) donor countries positioned as middle powers, such as South Korea.

Against this backdrop, this study explores how South Korean humanitarian and development NGO communities (acting as relatively new donors) view localisation, and examines their challenges and values in reshaping policy and practices. We will discuss preliminary results from the qualitative content analysis of focus group interviews with NGO practitioners based in South Korea, who have been engaged in international development cooperation over the last ten years. Among them, we will discuss how the concept is understood, how new donors try to communicate and advance localization with local partners, if at all, any roles they perceive as promising and/or challenges they face, how they address them, etc. In doing so, we also try to delve into any particularities that are distinguishable from what is commonly understood in the West.