Kampala, Uganda – November 27, 2024


The Charter for Change (C4C) Working Group Uganda concluded a landmark two-day series of events at Hotel Africana, Kampala, focusing on advancing the localization agenda and amplifying women’s leadership in Uganda’s humanitarian and development sectors.

 

The events brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including government representatives, donors, international organizations, local NGOs, UN agencies, women-led organizations, and private sector leaders. These dialogues highlighted critical steps toward sustainable, locally-led humanitarian and development responses and showcased the invaluable contributions of women leaders.

On November 26, 2024, the Women in Humanitarian Leadership Summit (WHLS) opened the series with the theme: “Galvanizing Women’s Leadership in the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus and Influencing Decision-Making Spaces.” Organized by the C4C Working Group Uganda and supported by nine key signatories—CARE International Uganda, DCA Uganda, CRS Uganda, Oxfam International Uganda, Plan International Uganda, World Vision Uganda, Save the Children Uganda, Street Child Uganda, and Finn Church Aid Uganda—the summit amplified the critical role of women in humanitarian response.



Participants included women-led humanitarian organizations, government officials, donor agencies, and members of the diplomatic community. Key sessions explored disaster preparedness, anticipatory action, and integration of humanitarian and development initiatives. A mentorship program paired experienced leaders with young women to strengthen their capacity for leadership and decision-making.

The summit also served as a platform for women-led organizations to share best practices and build collaborations. A keynote address by a renowned humanitarian leader emphasized the pivotal role of women as first responders, resource mobilizers, and agents of change in their communities.


The event was a resounding success, reinforcing the importance of gender equality and the collective responsibility to empower women in leadership roles for more effective and sustainable humanitarian responses.

Annual Dialogue on Localization in Uganda

On November 27, 2024, the Annual Dialogue on Localization in Uganda focused on advancing the localization agenda amidst the country’s pressing humanitarian and development challenges, including managing an influx of over 1.5 million refugees.

 

This event addressed key themes such as policy and institutional frameworks, capacity strengthening, partnership development, and resource mobilization. Panel discussions, keynote speeches, and experience-sharing sessions explored actionable steps to strengthen local capacities and foster sustainable partnerships.

 

According to a spokesperson for the C4C Working Group Uganda:
“Localization ensures that humanitarian and development responses are more effective, relevant, and sustainable. This dialogue provides a platform for stakeholders to share experiences and commit to advancing local capacities and partnerships.”

 

The event yielded several important outcomes:

  • Increased commitment among stakeholders to advance the localization agenda.
  • Concrete actions identified to strengthen local capacities and create an enabling environment for localization.
  • Renewed pledges from donors to allocate resources for locally-led initiatives and capacity-building efforts.