HACT40020

Learning Outcomes:

Following successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
• Locate the concept of ‘localisation’ in humanitarian discourse and describe the contextual factors that influence its application in humanitarian response;
Analyse the concept of ‘localisation’ to appraise its relevance in disparate humanitarian contexts and for diverse humanitarian interventions;
• Distinguish the ‘localisation’ challenges for the strategic management processes for a range of human actors;
• Critically analyse the localisation strategies for a range of humanitarian interventions and propose actions for their enhancement; and
• Develop a framework to appraise the ‘localisation strategy’ of a humanitarian organisation.

Indicative Module Content:

The four components and their constituent parts are outlined below:
•Understanding the Humanitarian System:
o Evolution in the humanitarian system – key milestones
o The humanitarian stakeholder mix and their characteristics – BBR
o The State of the Humanitarian System – issues and challenges
•Localisation – a conceptual analysis:
o Concept analysis methodology
o Localisation defined and its key attributes
o Establishing a localisation conceptual framework
•Localisation – governance and management:
o Respecting contextual differences
o Governing humanitarian action at different societal levels
o Localising humanitarian management – issues and challenges
•Operationalising localisation:
o Theory of Change and Logical Framework Analysis compared
o Analysis of localisation agenda for contemporary humanitarian interventions
o Localisation innovations at different societal levels – option for consideration

Student Effort Hours:

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:

Educational triangulation, learner-centred teaching and active learning best describe the teaching and learning approach employed in this module. This is evident in the module design, delivery and participant mix, and embedded in the expert seminars, real-life, case-based teaching activities, brainstorming, working groups and other interactive teaching methods envisaged for this module to help students develop their knowledge and critical thinking. The curriculum builds on established guidelines, policies and practices, while serving to challenge contemporary thinking through the learning process, and supporting students in understanding contemporary 'localisation' issues and strategies, and seeking out new ways of working to tackle the ever growing global humanitarian challenges.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.

Module Requisites and Incompatibles

Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy

 

Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Individual feedback will be provided via Brightspace for the quizzes/short exercises and the individual assignment. In Week 4, feedback to individual and group assignment will be provided and discussed further in class, and enriched through peer review.

4. Course material
All lectures are available on Brightspace together with essential readings for each lecture. A list of background readings and educational materials for each component of the module are provided below for those students who wish to prepare for this module.
Understanding the Humanitarian System:
• ALNAP (2018), The State of the Humanitarian System: Summary, ALNAP/ ODI
• ALNAP (2021), The State of the Humanitarian System, inception report, https://www.alnap.org/help-library/the-state-of-the-humanitarian-system-fifth-edition-accessed 19/1/2021
• IASC (2020), About the Grand Bargain, https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/about-the-grand-bargain, assessed 19/1/2021
• Charter4Change
• Wall, I, & K. Hedlund 2016: Localisation and Locally led Crisis Response. A literature review. Local to Global Protection & Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation https://www.local2global.info/research/global/localisation-and-locally-led-crisis-response
Localisation – a conceptual analysis:
• Nuopponen, A, (2010), Methods of Concept Analysis – a comparative study, LSP Journal, Vol.1, No.1 / http://lsp.cbs.dk
• Brabelet, V (2018), As local as possible as international as necessary: understanding capacity and complementarity in humanitarian action, Humanitarian Policy Group, ODI, London
• Monique Hennink , Ndunge Kiiti , Mara Pillinger & Ravi Jayakaran (2012) Defining empowerment: perspectives from international development organisations, Development in Practice, 22:2, 202-215, DOI: 10.1080/09614524.2012.640987
• Caroline Harper, ODI, Keiko Nowacka, OECD, Hanna Alder, ODI; Gaëlle Ferrant, OECD (2014) Measuring women’s empowerment and social transformation in the post-2015 agenda, ODI, London
• Tan, A. and von Schreeb, J. (2015), Humanitarian Assistance and Accountability: What are we really talking about?' Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, 30(3), pp. 264-270
• Max Stephenson, Jr, (2005) Making humanitarian relief networks more effective: operational coordination, trust and sense making, Disasters, 29(4): 337−350. Overseas Development Institute, London
• Brown, D., Donini, A. and Knox Clarke, P. (2014) Engagement of crisis-affected people in humanitarian action, ALNAP’s 29th Annual Meeting, 11 – 12 March 2014, Addis Ababa, London: ALNAP/ODI
• IASC 2018: Definitions Paper. Humanitarian Financing Task Team. Localisation marker Working Group - https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/system/files/hftt_localisation_marker_definition s_paper_24_january_2018.pdf.
Localisation – governance and management:
• Sjoerd Beugelsdijk and Chris Welzel (2018) Dimensions and Dynamics of National Culture: Synthesizing Hofstede With Inglehart, Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology 2018, Vol. 49(10) 1469 –1505 - https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022118798505
• Gerard Prinsen & Saskia Nijhof (2015) Between logframes and theory of change: reviewing debates and a practical experience, Development in Practice, 25:2, 234-246, DOI: 10.1080/09614524.2015.1003532.
• Palladan, A and Adamu, A. (2018). An Overview of Strategic Management Practices. Austin Journal of Business Administration and Management, 2(3), 1-4.
• Athapaththu, H. (2016). An Overview of Strategic Management: An analysis of the concepts and the importance of strategic management. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 6(2), 124-127.
• Tapera, J. (2014), The Importance of Strategic Management to Business Organisations. Research Journal of Social Sciences and Management, 3(11), 122-131.
• Gibbons, P.; Otieku-Boadu, C.; Dijkzeul D. 2nd edition (in press)Strategic Management in Humanitarian Action: an introduction in International Humanitarian Action NOHA Textbook, Springer, Gewerbestrasse, Switzerland


Operationalising localisation:
• Bennett, C. 2016: Time to Let Go. Remaking humanitarian action for the modern era. London, ODI, Humanitarian Policy Group https://www.odi.org/publications/10381-time-let-go-remaking-humanitarian-actionmodern-era.
• Accelerating Localisation through Partnerships October 2019: Pathways to Localisation: A framework towards locally led humanitarian response in partnership-based action. C. Schmalenbach with Christian Aid, CARE, Tearfund, ActionAid, CAFOD, Oxfam https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Pathways%20to%20Localisation_re .
• Els, C. 2017 (?): On the Road to 2020. Grand Bargain commitment to support national and local responders. Dublin, Tròcaire https://www.trocaire.org/sites/default/files/resources/policy/on-the-road-to-2020- localisation-the-grand-bargain.pdf.
Students MUST register and complete the online course – Building a Better Response (https://www.buildingabetterresponse.org/login/index.php) - to reflect on the International Humanitarian System and to consider the challenges to coordinate this disparate grouping in delivering principled humanitarian action.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.