Blog by Shivangi Chavdaa, GNDR’s Head of Programmes. This blog was first published by ALNAP.
What does it take to translate the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) nexus into meaningful action on the ground?
From where GNDR stands – working alongside hundreds of civil society organisations (CSOs) across crisis-affected regions – the answer is clear: collaboration.
Time and again, we’ve seen that the most transformative and lasting outcomes emerge when local communities, CSOs and local governments come together – not as parallel actors, but as co-creators of solutions. When they co-own decisions, build trust and lead from the front, the results are not only effective, but sustainable, inclusive and deeply rooted in local realities.
In fragile and disaster-prone settings, the most impactful HDP responses are those grounded in local leadership and cooperation. It’s not about imposing frameworks from the top down. It’s about recognising the expertise that already exists at the grassroots and enabling it to flourish through strong, equitable partnerships.
Why this matters now
We are living in an era of overlapping crises. Climate shocks, conflict, displacement and economic instability are not isolated events. They’re interwoven and our response systems need to reflect that complexity.
The good news? The HDP nexus offers a path forward, if we localise it. That means putting flexible funding in the hands of frontline actors. It means letting communities co-lead the design and delivery of programmes. It means breaking down silos between humanitarian, development and peace actors at the local level – not just globally or nationally.
What’s working on the ground?
Community ownership is game changing
In Bangladesh, we supported a civil engagement platform that brought together displaced populations, host communities and local government officials. This inclusive dialogue led to joint risk reduction plans and greater acceptance of community leadership. The result? More resilient communities who are not just surviving but shaping their own futures.
Context-based, long-term solutions
Locally-led approaches go beyond short-term aid. Because they’re rooted in local knowledge and culture, the solutions they produce are more durable and relevant.
In Niger’s Diffa region, where climate shocks and conflict have displaced thousands, GNDR member DEMI-E adopted a context-based, long-term approach through our Making Displacement Safer project. Using urban living labs, communities prioritised access to basic services, legal identity, and inclusion in disaster planning. DEMI-E partnered with authorities to issue civil status documents to 3,000 displaced people, prioritising women and children. Their advocacy influenced national policy, embedding displaced voices into humanitarian and disaster response strategies.
Building local systems, not bypassing them
In Mali, GNDR’s member organisation Association de Formation er d’Appui au Developpement worked with youth groups and community leaders to co-create conflict prevention strategies. These not only reduced recruitment into anti-social networks, but also strengthened social cohesion. By investing in local governance systems and empowering community-driven responses, the initiative built resilience, not just short-term relief.
These approaches work because they are led by those who live the crisis every day. They leverage existing networks, reduce duplication, increase trust and gradually shift power to where it belongs: the frontline.
So, why locally-led HDP nexus approaches?
Because they work.
● They’re sustainable – anchored in local systems and knowledge.
● They’re efficient – minimising duplication and enhancing coordination.
● They’re legitimate – community driven, culturally grounded and far more likely to succeed.
Most importantly, they shift power, from externally driven aid models to local leadership and agency. This is not just about inclusion, it’s about effectiveness.
The role of political will
None of this can succeed without one crucial ingredient: political will. Local leadership thrives when it is backed – not blocked – by national and international systems. Governments must go beyond rhetoric to recognise the value of community-led responses, integrate them into national strategies and allocate funding that reaches local actors.
We need policies that remove bureaucratic barriers, foster enabling environments and trust communities to lead. Political leaders must show courage – not just technical coordination – to ensure locally-led solutions are not sidelined but scaled.
The HDP nexus demands more than alignment on paper. It calls for a fundamental power shift, and that begins with the political will to let those closest to the risks lead the way.
If we want the HDP nexus to move from theory to impact, we must stop asking communities to fit into our frameworks and instead build frameworks around them. The time to act is now.
—
ALNAP are a global network for advancing humanitarian learning. Their goal is for all humanitarians to benefit from our sector’s collective experience.