The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is committed to the localization agenda, in line with the World Humanitarian Summit and the Grand Bargain commitments, which aims to reform the humanitarian system for greater effectiveness and efficiency by empowering local actors and promoting their leadership in humanitarian responses. Between 2022 and 2023, the FAO Office for Emergencies and Resilience collaborated with various Country Offices, the FAO Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division and the Global Food Security Cluster on a localization project funded by the Swedish International Cooperation Development Agency (Sida). The project aimed to develop the capacities of local partners to implement anticipatory actions, respond to food security crises, and promote resilient livelihoods and disaster risk reduction. Knowledge generated from this project was captured through KORE, the FAO Knowledge Platform for Emergencies and Resilience, in collaboration with FAO Decentralized Offices in Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia and South Sudan.   

The experiences presented in this compendium have been identified and documented using a good practice template tailored around the localization criteria agreed by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), the highest-level humanitarian coordination platform of the United Nations System. This compendium serves as a guidance document, defining key terms, outlining commitments at IASC and FAO levels, and capturing promising practices. It aims to build the knowledge base necessary to operationalize localization commitments at various levels and foster a strategic, long-term approach with local and national partners. The solutions presented in this compendium illustrate the importance of enabling operational partners, civil society organizations, including community groups, and technical institutions at subnational level to make informed decisions and effectively and safely deliver interventions that address vulnerabilities, reduce risks and build resilience. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS
On inclusive stakeholder engagement and mapping: Programming should include in its initial stages comprehensive mapping and capacity assessments of local and national stakeholders, including women-led and informal organizations. This process helps build strategic partnerships, ensures diverse representation, and supports the development of responsive, context-specific interventions. 

On conflict-sensitive programming: All programming should be grounded in conflict-sensitive approaches, with context and conflict analyses integrated throughout the project cycle. In complex or insecure environments, shared risk management and co-accountability between partners are essential to ensure safe, effective, and non-harmful implementation. 

On gender equality and community engagement: Gender equality and women’s empowerment must be embedded in all activities. Inclusive models such as Dimitra Clubs should be promoted to ensure meaningful participation of women, men, girls, and boys. Community-based organizations, especially in remote areas, should be supported to lead local response and resilience efforts. 

On capacity development and long-term partnerships: Capacity development efforts should be based on thorough assessments and tailored to the specific needs of local actors. Moving from short-term engagements to long-term, strategic partnerships allow for deeper collaboration, joint programme design, and sustainable impact. Effective coordination with internal and external actors, including local governments, is vital for coherent responses. Developing country-level localization strategies and engaging government actors throughout the programme cycle ensures relevance, sustainability, and stronger local ownership. 

On knowledge management and learning: Strong systems for documenting and sharing good practices should be established to promote cross-country learning and evidence-based programming. This enhances adaptability and supports continuous improvement across diverse contexts.