World: The case for prioritising national expertise in humanitarian work

Country: World Source: ODI – Humanitarian Practice Network Since 2020, the Global Nutrition Cluster (GNC) has taken steps to increase the proportion of locally sourced advisors: practitioners who deliver technical nutrition in emergencies (NiE) support on the GNC’s behalf from within the countries or regions where assistance is needed. This approach has resulted in several key benefits, notably the application of stronger contextual expertise when providing in-country support and reduced carbon emissions from international flights. This article explores the multifaceted added value of national expertise from the perspectives of those requesting, as well as those providing, GNC support. It also touches on some of the challenges to ensuring equitable and fair treatment among providers of support when they are from the country being supported. What is contextual expertise? Contextual expertise encompasses a comprehensive understanding of the environment, challenges, cultural nuances and systemic dynamics necessary to work effectively and appropriately within a specific context. This involves proficiency in local language(s) and deep cultural knowledge that enables heightened communication styles, including the ability to translate complex concepts for different audiences. It requires knowledge of the local, social, political and economic landscape, along with insights into community structures and historical contexts that shape current conditions. Understanding partnerships, including stakeholders, key actors, decision-makers, power dynamics and communication networks, allows practitioners to better identify allies and opportunities for collaboration through strong local connections and trust-based relationships that facilitate community engagement. Finally, contextual expertise demands the ability to apply theoretical knowledge to practical challenges while identifying and implementing best practices that are compatible with the specific context. Since 2020, the GNC has intentionally prioritised advisors from the country or region when providing in-country support, because these individuals offer strong technical as well as contextual expertise to provide in-depth technical nutrition support to countries of operation. This approach has intentionally challenged the misconception that local expertise is lacking in humanitarian settings and pushes back against biases about professional competency in the Global South. The inquiry The authors conducted an inquiry to gather feedback on the in-country support experience and added value of GNC support provided since 2020 to Myanmar, Somalia, India and Syria from six national advisors, three requestors of support, and six training participants that the authors were readily in contact with. Considering a GNC advisor to be ‘national’ was used as a proxy to mean possessing a high level of contextual expertise, although exceptions could exist, such as a national advisor who has spent limited time in a country where they hold nationality, or an international advisor who has lived many years in a country where they are a resident. Further, not all national advisors that provided GNC support since 2020 could be contacted, so the perspectives included in this article reflect the individuals that were available for the inquiry. To better understand the added value of national advisors, the authors followed up with requestors of support and participants of trainings led by the national advisors, as well as the national advisors themselves. Questions were asked by email or online survey about the added value and advantages of the support being led by a national advisor compared to an international advisor. The responses were reviewed, grouped by theme, and the most salient aspects are summarised in this article. The added value and advantages of national advisors The added value of national advisors came out strong across respondent type: Context: National advisors brought exceptional value through their intimate understanding of local contexts. They anchored learning in local realities, navigated cultural taboos, religious considerations and social hierarchies skilfully, using culturally appropriate examples, local proverbs and case studies that participants immediately recognised. They also effectively translated complex technical concepts into practical examples and proposed realistic, context-appropriate solutions that fit within existing social structures and resonated with participants’ daily work experiences. Materials that were developed by national advisors were not only relevant to the exact locality where the support took place but could also be easily transferred and adapted to the multiple contexts within the same country. ‘[The advisor’s] ability to bridge the gap between global frameworks and local realities made the training practical rather than purely theoretical. ’ – training participant Language: Language proficiency emerged as a critical advantage. Bilingual or multilingual advisors facilitated sessions in local languages, switching seamlessly to ensure clarity and inclusiveness. This linguistic flexibility was particularly important where participants had varying English proficiency or where nuanced explanation in local languages enhanced learning. ‘[The advisor] was able to develop the assessment tools and facilitate a training of the staff to use the tools in [the national] language, which would otherwise need to have been translated if the support was provided by someone from another country. ’ – support requestor ‘Using the local language was beneficial to ensure that the correct information reached the audience and gave them the space to express themselves and raise questions. ’ – national advisor Trust: National advisors established trust and rapport more quickly than external facilitators, often because of their lived experience with the social hierarchy and power dynamics in the country. Safe and participatory spaces were created where participants felt comfortable discussing sensitive topics and engaging openly with culturally delicate issues. This also applied to the wider stakeholder circle such as programme managers, operational teams and wider community. Their high standing in communities meant their guidance was trusted and respected, leaving lasting impressions and inspiring commitment to applying lessons learned. ‘Participants were more open in discussions and willing to share sensitive experiences, knowing that [the advisor] understood the cultural and social dynamics. ’ – training participant ‘Having a national expert lead such sessions not only enhances learning but also strengthens ownership among local actors. ’ – training participant Networks: In addition, national advisors were able to leverage their existing networks and connections, which proved invaluable, enabling rapid engagement with local practitioners while avoiding delays associated with bringing external experts into difficult-to-access areas. ‘Bringing on board professionals from [the country] presented little barriers to kick-starting the entire process, unlike needing an external expert who could have faced many barriers to starting early, building rapport, and communication networks with locals. ’ – requestor of support Onboarding: It was also shared that the process of onboarding a national advisor, getting them up to speed with the context, and getting them physically to the location of the support was streamlined by having an advisor who was from and based in the country. ‘Bringing someone from outside would have taken a long time and made the process more complicated. Having [the advisor], with strong capacity, made a real difference in terms of progress. ’ – requestor of support There was consensus across the national advisors that being nationals of the countries of support provided clear added advantages compared to international advisors, including deep knowledge of government systems, sociocultural dynamics, humanitarian operating realities, and conflict contexts, as well as the ability to use local or widely understood languages. These factors enhanced trust, encouraged openness from staff and communities, improved the contextualisation of technical content, and made the support more practical, relevant and effective than it would likely have been with an international advisor. Equal and fair treatment of national advisors When the GNC provides support, it can be through existing GNC or partner staff, or a dedicated advisor can be recruited for specific support. Advisors are hired through a transparent process that encourages candidates with appropriate profiles to apply, highlighting the desirability of applicants from the country or region with advantageous language skills. Daily rates need to fall within a standard bracket regardless of nationality or where applicants are based. On average, applicants from the country or region propose lower daily rates, often making them more competitive. The authors followed up with the national advisors to hear about how they were received and treated as nationals of the country when providing support on behalf of a global entity. The advisors reported generally feeling respected in their roles and, in most cases, adequately supported to accomplish their duties. Several national advisors reported strong institutional support, clear communication and effective technical backstopping, which enabled them to deliver training, assessments and guidance successfully. However, one national advisor noted insufficient support due to delayed input from a senior colleague, which constrained training preparation time. As national advisors, they consistently reported experiencing high levels of respect from country teams, partners and participants, with positive feedback on their expertise and facilitation. However, one advisor noted subtle assumptions that ‘external’ expertise carried more weight and a tendency to look to external actors for validation. Conclusion Since at least 2020, the GNC has worked from the assumption that advisors with high technical expertise as well as contextual expertise will provide better and more lasting nutrition in emergencies support to humanitarian settings. This article looked more deeply at the qualitative benefits of support from national advisors in Myanmar, Somalia, India and Syria, from the perspective of requestors of support, participants in trainings, and national advisors themselves. The results of this inquiry demonstrate the added value and advantages of providing support led by nationals of the country compared to international advisors. Further, this strategy not only supports climate goals and sustainability but also aligns with broader efforts to challenge racial bias in the humanitarian sector. Recommendations for donors and humanitarian organisations Acknowledge bias: Recognise that there is bias in what is considered expertise and whose expertise is valued, particularly along racial lines and towards practitioners from the Global South. Value contextual expertise: Embed an appreciation for contextual expertise (local language, cultural knowledge, networks, understanding of social and political dynamics) in your ways of working at all levels. Update recruitment criteria: Include contextual expertise as an important criterion when hiring for roles that will support humanitarian contexts, either in-person or remotely. Challenge assumptions: Push back against the notion that ‘there is no capacity in-country’ and actively seek out national experts with both technical and contextual knowledge. Ensure fair treatment: Provide adequate support, clear communication and equal respect to national advisors, avoiding assumptions that external expertise automatically carries more weight. Rita Abi Akar is a public health nutritionist with over 10 years’ experience, currently researching the links between nutrition and climate change and the importance of shifting power to local actors. She co-founded Shift Consultancies, a global women-owned consulting firm that applies anti-racist principles to the aid sector. Etel Godwill Fagbohoun is a Nutrition and Food Security specialist with more than 20 years of expertise both in operational and strategic areas in emergency, development and transition contexts. He also supports on intersectoral issues (health, WASH, protection, education) as well as cross-cutting matters. Alexandra Humphreys is a dedicated and results-driven localisation specialist with more than a decade of multilingual and multi-regional humanitarian experience. She is a co-founder of Shift Consultancies.

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