Why local organizations need a seat at the table

International NGOs have an important role to play in supporting smaller, local partners to take their rightful place at the table, according to Catholic Relief Services’ Daniel Mumuni and Haydee Diaz.
As the first Ghanaian to lead CRS in Ghana, Mumuni said that development workers who come from the community or country being served have distinct advantages, especially when it comes to access to communities and being able to advocate for policy changes. “You're able to make certain pushes … with the connections that you have, the governments that you work with,” he said.
For Diaz, who leads CRS’ work in Honduras and is originally from Cuba, working with local partners is critical for ensuring the success of a project or intervention in communities affected by high rates of violence. “The way we're able to work in those communities, with peace, where people feel comfortable coming to program activities, is because of the reputation and the credibility that our local partners have built up for years,” she explained.
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