Mali conflict: why local partnership is invaluable to humanitarian assistance

In times of crisis it can be difficult to reach those most in need, but building partnerships with affected communities can give unrivalled access
toureg soldiers
Tuareg Malian soldiers patrol the streets of Gao, northern Mali, Feb 16, 2013. Photograph: Jerome Delay/AP

During a humanitarian crisis, either whether man-made such as civil wars and rebellions, or natural such as earthquakes or tsunamis, it is often difficult for organisations to reach those most in need. Recent examples of how conflict can limit and even completely sever humanitarian access to civilians includes Somalia and Syria. In Mali, the recent crisis has been twofold: the long-term chronic food crisis that has recently been exacerbated by spiralling prices, has been compounded by a humanitarian emergency caused by sustained conflict and insecurity.

For more than three decades, Christian Aid has provided support and assistance to communities affected by different crises in Mali, including the Sahel drought and subsequent food emergency of 1973-74, the 2005 locust infestation that decimated crops and livelihoods on a monumental scale, and now, during one of the most challenging political and humanitarian crises in the recent history of west Africa.

During each crisis, Christian Aid has worked through both secular and faith-based local partners, representative of resident communities. These carefully selected organisations are always prominent members of local civil society who are committed to the sustainable development of their communities.

Whereas the favoured method of some international humanitarian organisations has been to deliver emergency relief via their own staff, our response is spearheaded by local partners with a detailed and longstanding knowledge of the situation on the ground and how things really work at a grass-roots level. While there are Christian Aid offices in most of the countries where we work, these are generally small units whose main role is to support and facilitate the work of our partners. We don't use marked cars and the majority of our offices do not display the Christian Aid logo.

The way our partnerships work varies, depending on the individual needs and challenges they are addressing, but each one is based on trust, transparency and mutual accountability. The relationship is formalised through the signing of a partnership agreement, and is consolidated not only through funding, but also through discussion, training, learning exchanges and long-term accompaniment. It is governed by shared commitments to international standards such as Sphere Project's humanitarian charter, and at its heart is a shared understanding of what is needed to tackle poverty and a commitment to do so.

This process roots us in the communities where our partners work, and our actions and policies are informed by a detailed understanding of the situation on the ground. This gives us authority when we undertake regional and national advocacy work addressing politically sensitive issues, such as challenging the indiscriminate targeting of Tuareg communities by Malian troops, simply because of their ethnicity and unsubstantiated rumours they were protecting the rebels.

Crucially, our partners' unique knowledge of the local political and cultural practices and sensitivities has allowed Christian Aid unrivalled access to areas where many international non-governmental organisations simply cannot operate.

For example, some of the food distributions in northern Mali were conducted at night by our partners, when the town was quieter and less dangerous. We were also able to provide essential food aid to the beleaguered town of Gao when it was off-limits to many other international NGOs due to our partners' local knowledge of covert transport networks and their long-standing relationships with community leaders.

The track record of Christian Aid in managing partnerships is also a motivation for many local NGOs to work with us. When the recent conflict began in the north of Mali, displacing many vulnerable people, Christian Aid was successful in targeting affected communities in the isolated district of Menaka and Konna, solely due to the unique relationship between our partners Norwegian Church Aid, Groupement d'Artisans Ruraux d'Intadeyneé and Groupe de Recherche et d'Applications Techniques, and local cereal traders. Emergency food distribution and cash transfer activities became a lifeline for many desperate women and children living in the newly-created conflict zones.

Of course, this does not mean that partner staff are expected to runs risks that Christian Aid staff would not. Security planning with partners is a vital part of programme design and recent emergency training of our partners in Mali has helped them to assess the need to evacuate some of their non-essential staff. However, the social and cultural dynamics of the conflict in Mali has meant that local partner staff have been able to operate safely in areas where it has been impossible for international staff to travel.

In the long-term, local partners can work effectively within communities to help build resilience both to man-made and natural disasters. In regions where crises are cyclical and reoccur often, like the Sahel, the impetus for preparing for and coping with emergencies needs to come from within communities themselves; helping farmers adapt to climate change, for example, has been a big feature of Christian Aid's work in the north of Mali for many years.

Finally, local partners have a key role to play in building the foundations for peace following a conflict. Their understanding of local community dynamics puts them in a unique position, enabling them to address underlying resentments and areas of tension. This will be crucial in northern Mali to help repair fissures in communities where there is already a risk of reprisals against Tuareg civilians.

Yacouba Kone is Christian Aid's country manager for Mali. Find Christian Aid on Twitter: @caid_newswire
