Deutsche Version

Despite international commitments to locally-led development and the localization of humanitarian assistance, projects are still mainly controlled by agents and donors from the Global North, who hold power over (financial) resources, decision-making, objectives, knowledge, and representation. As a result, the ability of local organizations to shape the policies and programmes that directly affect their communities often remains limited.

Through our project Partnerships on Equal Terms, we aim to transform power relationships, fostering equitable and participatory partnerships between local organizations, especially in the Republic of Moldova, and Austrian actors (Shifting the Power). We ensure that local voices are heard and that local civil society organizations have the capacities and the agency to take a leading role in shaping development and humanitarian action.

What it takes:

  1. A shared understanding of what locally-led development and localization mean in different contexts.
  2. Political frameworks that enable and support localization approaches.
  3. The willingness of all stakeholders to share power and resources equitably with actors in project countries, and to contribute to an informed public that supports global cohesion in the course of Global Citizenship Education.

Specifically, this means the following …

  • in the Republic of Moldova: We create spaces for dialogue and co-creation, organize workshops and trainings to strengthen the capacities of Moldovan NGOs, conduct research and develop policy recommendations, and engage in discussions with national and international decision-makers to advance localization and equitable partnerships.
  • in Austria: We advance the localization agenda by developing policy papers on Shifting the Power, discussing them at roundtable events with political decision-makers and NGOs and ensuring that the perspectives from partner countries are represented in national and European political debates. At the same time, we strengthen the capacities of Austrian NGOs so that they can strategically realign their partnerships – towards a locally driven development and humanitarian practice, as well as their capacities in the field of Global Citizenship Education.

This leads to …

  • recommendations for locally-led development and humanitarian assistance in the Moldovan context.
  • impulses for Austrian development policy that promote localization and equitable partnerships.
  • capacity-building for NGOs in Austria and the Republic of Moldova.
  • greater public awareness in Austria of global challenges and just solutions.

With this project, we are collaboratively, equitably, and sustainably shaping the future of international partnerships, humanitarian assistance, and Global Citizenship Education. In Austria, in the Republic of Moldova, and beyond.

Project partners:

This project is part of