Asia-Pacific Localisation Lab
Established in 2020 and spearheaded by NEAR, the Asia-Pacific Localisation Lab (APLL) is a coalition of local humanitarian actors and civil society organisations from across Asia and the Pacific. Our core mission is to shift power, resources, and decision-making to the frontline.
Through years of collaboration, the establishment of Localisation Labs, and the AASHA Funds, we have built the trust, systems, and expertise to act as a cohesive and agile force. This initiative is backed by the institutional strength of the NEAR Network and the Asia-Pacific Localisation Lab representing South Asia, South east asia, Pacific and the Regional Hub at the Pujiono Centre in Indonesia, ensuring robust coordination and support.
Read our most up to date publications
STATEMENT: ASIA PACIFIC LOCAL LEADERS SOUTH ASIA DISASTER RESPONSE 2025 - 4 September 2025
BLOG: Reflections from the Asia-Pacific Local Leaders Summit in Nepal - 1 September 2025
BLOG: Locally managed funds: Rethinking humanitarian financing by Muhammad Amad - 26 August 2025
BLOG: The Time for Change is Now: Asia-Pacific Local Leaders Voice in NEAR’s Regional Summit by the APLL - 21 August 2025
PRESS RELEASE: Asia-Pacific Leaders Launch Kathmandu Covenant, declaring a New Era for Locally Led Humanitarian Aid - 19 August 2025
The Kathmandu Covenant: A Commitment to Resilience, Inclusion, Solidarity & Empowerment, adopted at the Nepal Humanitarian Conference (NHC) and the Asia Pacific Local Leaders Summit of the NEAR network in Kathmandu,- Nepal - 19 August 2025
AASHA Fund
APLL is not just a network; it is an incubator for the future we are building now.
Established in 2025 by the Asia-Pacific Local Leaders of NEAR, the AASHA Fund is a regionally governed, community-led and people-centred pooled fund created to empower local humanitarian actors. Meaning ‘hope’ in many Asian languages, AASHA Fund mobilises financial resources to support local organisations in delivering dignified, timely, and effective responses to crises while building resilience, reducing risks, and promoting innovation.
Unique and distinct, as the first community-centred, regionally governed pooled fund in Asia-Pacific, AASHA Fund is intentionally designed to shift power and resources directly to local civil society across the region. AASHA is agile, inclusive, and able to reach grassroots and local organisations often overlooked. Operating across multiple countries and addressing challenges that transcend national borders, the Fund focusses on integrating humanitarian action with sustainable development, ensuring that local insights guide funding decisions. And by enabling anticipatory action and resilience building, the AASHA Fund ensures communities have the financial autonomy and capacity to respond effectively – before, during and after crises.
The AASHA Fund is a blueprint for a decentralized, resilient, and locally-owned humanitarian ecosystem. It is distinguished by key features:
Decentralized and agile: The fund responds to the „everyday disasters“ overlooked by global agencies. Its 72-hour disbursement capability is built on trust, not paralyzing risk assessments.
Participatory governance: Governed by its seventeen founding organizations, the fund’s management ensures authentic co-ownership. Accountability is primarily to affected communities, not distant donors.
Context-driven solutions: The fund operates through three integrated streams: emergency response (40 per cent), resilience building (30 per cent) supporting local early warning systems and women’s cooperatives, and locally-led innovation (30 per cent) for solutions like community seed banks.
National Labs in the Asia-Pacific Region:
Afghanistan Localisation Lab
Pakistan Localisation Lab
Philippines Localisation Lab
Indonesia Localisation Lab
Nepal Localisation Lab