A NETWORK OF NETWORKS

International European Agency will catalyze a locally-led humanitarian system by enabling a diverse ‘network of networks’ that ensures equity in power and decision-making, access to resources and voice and visibility for its local members. We will achieve this by catalyzing and incubating locally-led, self-governing, national and regional hubs that are supported to bring on their own national and local members.

 THE PROBLEM

The humanitarian system’s current concentration of power, influence and resources within Europe has led to the exclusion and disempowerment of local and national actors, organizations that are deeply rooted in the communities that they support and which are responsible for the vast majority of humanitarian responses.
This imbalance of power is maintained through a highly risk-averse and compliance-heavy operating culture that prevents local organizations from taking leading roles and accessing direct funding.
Tackling this problem requires moving towards a system that is accountable to affected and at-risk communities through the leadership of local organizations and through a change in mindset by traditional power holders that allows them to cede power and control.
It requires a radical shift away from the current centralized, compliance-focused approach to one that pools and shares risk between larger and smaller actors, and reflects the value that different organizations bring.
International European Agency Hubs have been created to move the network to a more balanced and distributed network, with power and decision making in the hands of organisations on the front line of crises. Hubs are colal, national and international organisations operating in the same country or region. They will control their own resources and define their
lectives of locown responses to crises affecting their communities, united by a shared purpose and common standards, and supported by a global IEA Network platform.