We kicked off NEAR’s first Town Hall of 2025 with 120+ members! NEAR’s Executive Director, Hibak Kalfan delivered grounding remarks – contextualizing our gathering within the broader geopolitical landscape and the tumultuousness of the aid sector. We reflected on the importance of coming together at a time when communities are experiencing such deep suffering across Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, D.R. Congo and elsewhere. It’s never been more critical for Global South leadership to shape and forge the way forward.
Power in the Collective
We celebrated wins – highlighting our members’ instrumental leadership and our collective accomplishments towards NEAR’s strategic plan which was formulated through the engagement of 300+ members. We emphasized the critical pivots undertaken to effectively respond to the challenges our community is facing.
NEAR Reach: 318 Members | 21 Partner Networks | 43 Countries | 4 Regions
As we move forward together, we’re focused on achieving sustainability and growing community Impact. Members are excited to build on the momentum of 16 NEAR Localization Labs in 14 countries, including 2 regional labs in Asia Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean. Members are building movements, leading workshops, launching financing solutions, advancing community philanthropy and resource mobilization.
“Local resource mobilization and using indigenous knowledge will be one of the methodologies to reduce local problems with local solutions.”
~NEAR member
Transformation – beyond reset + reform
Amidst the financial shocks to the sector, we’re observing some funders and INGOs protecting their own roles and stepping back from localization commitments, and we face the real risk of a recentralising of power. NEAR members asked critical questions about how we can shape our tactics and priorities to increase our effectiveness and influence. Global South leaders are ceasing and designing opportunities through these challenges, including, but certainly not limited to, UN and Global North led reset and reform initiatives We’re committed to working in a coordinated manner to dislodge the entrenched power dynamics that rule the sector. And, our approach is guided by a strong, learning-forward agenda.
“With NEAR, we can reflect with decision-makers on the ground. We have their trust and can react as per the community's needs. This is empowering and proves locals have knowledge. They just need to be given the trust.”
~NEAR Member and Change Fund Grantee
NEAR's Town Hall concluded with expressions of appreciation and solidarity. Leadership is tested and shaped by difficult moments. These Global South leaders demonstrate to an overwhelmed aid sector the importance of creating space to support and celebrate one another. This solidifies the foundation that propels our movement towards the systems transformation we envision.