Over the past few years, attention has been focused on the importance of increasing the participation, representation and leadership of local actors in response to efforts to deal with various humanitarian crises and to development interventions around the world, which only emphasizes the role of civil society organizations, at national and community levels, in local humanitarian responses, in view of their proximity to communities, and their understanding of the cultural and linguistic context as trusted partners in their communities.
With this in mind, the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD) and Jordan NGOs Forum (JONAF) launched the “Al Nahda Localization Award”, which, this year, was bestowed on UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Jordan Anders Pedersen in recognition of his outstanding contribution to strengthening localization of humanitarian work in Jordan.
The award was launched to recognize the great efforts made by distinguished individuals and/or organizations to promote and advocate for the localization of humanitarian work, and their role in the advancement and strengthening of civil society organizations and local actors.
Pedersen said: “Jordan is able to provide humanitarian work in an appropriate way. During the corona pandemic, there was clear harmony among institutions and organizations working in the field of providing social services to the least vulnerable groups.”
Member of JONAF management committee and the first advisor in Durrat Al-Manal Sawsan Al-Majali commended the great efforts made by the United Nations in supporting the Jordanian government and civil society. She also said that the continuous support lent by JONAF over the past four years, the mobilization of resources to support local actors, and the call on the international community to adopt the main principles and commitments in the field of the localization “was a great motivator for us, and encouraging other humanitarian actors in the region to do more to strengthen the localization of humanitarian work”.
“As head of the Jordan country team, Pedersen was able to direct the collective leadership of the UN team in Jordan to provide more coherent, effective and accountable support by working with stakeholders and partners in Jordan,” said ARDD Executive Director Samar Muhareb.
ARDD and JONAF’s localization award acknowledges the efforts of those actors (individuals or organizations) who have made an exceptional and meaningful contribution to strengthening localization at national and regional levels. The criteria take into account a combination of distinguished courage and creativity to advance localization, the power to inspire others, the ability to lead as well as work as part of a larger community of practice, and highest levels of integrity in critical contexts.
The award may be given anyone who works for or is part of any humanitarian and development community, including local NGOs/INGOs staff and volunteers, suppliers of the sector, community organizations and/or government organizations and donors.
