The Grand Bargain initiative, launched during the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016, aimed to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian aid delivery. It involved commitments made by major donors and humanitarian organisations to reform the humanitarian system and enhance collaboration, transparency, and efficiency. WELL…. OUR TWO CENTS
Since its launch, the Grand Bargain has made progress in several areas, but its overall implementation and impact may vary across different contexts and organisations. Some key developments include:
- Simplified Reporting: Efforts have been made to harmonise and simplify reporting requirements, reducing the administrative burden on humanitarian organisations. Streamlining reporting processes can improve efficiency and enable organisations to focus more on delivering aid.
- Multi-Year Funding: Donors committed to providing more multi-year funding to support longer-term planning and programming. This shift from short-term to multi-year funding can enhance predictability and allow for more strategic and sustainable interventions.
- Localising Aid: The Grand Bargain emphasises strengthening local capacity and engaging local actors in humanitarian response. This recognition of the importance of local expertise and participation aims to improve the relevance and effectiveness of aid interventions.
- Cash Transfers: There has been a greater focus on using cash-based approaches as a means of assistance, providing affected populations with more choice and dignity in meeting their own needs. Cash transfers can also stimulate local markets and empower communities.
- Harmonised Indicators: Work has been undertaken to develop harmonised indicators for measuring progress and impact in humanitarian response. This can help improve accountability, transparency, and learning within the sector.
While progress has been made, challenges remain in fully implementing the commitments of the Grand Bargain. Some concerns include the slow pace of change, resistance to reform, and limited funding alignment with the commitments made. Additionally, contextual factors and diverse perspectives among stakeholders can impact the rollout and effectiveness of the initiative.
It is essential to stay updated with the latest information and assessments from humanitarian organisations, donors, and affected communities to gauge the current status and impact of the Grand Bargain initiative.