The Kathmandu Covenant

 
 

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

The Asia–Pacific Localisation movement—comprising leaders from the Network of Empowered Aid Response (NEAR), our partners, and participants of the Nepal Humanitarian Conference (NHC) 2025, the Asia-Pacific Local Leaders Summit, and a vibrant Local Solutions Festival—gathered beneath the majestic Himalayas. Coinciding with World Humanitarian Day, this marked a decade of recovery and resilience for the Nepalese people since the Gorkha earthquake

From this occasion, we affirm that the spirit of localisation is rooted in the lived realities of our peoples. Our strength lies in our diversity, yet our challenges are shared. Earthquakes in Nepal and cyclones across the Pacific remind us that crises—occurring amid grave armed conflicts, blatant human rights violations, and a collapsing global aid system—demand the same commitment: locally-led leadership, inclusive decision-making, and climate resilience.

This Kathmandu Covenant is our commitment to reclaim our agency. We envision a just world where aid is an act of solidarity, not charity, and power is shared, not imposed. We believe that those closest to crisis-affected communities are best positioned to lead and therefore reject systems that disempower them. As one Asia–Pacific community, we commit to uphold equity, amplify local voices, and bridge humanitarian and development efforts in ways that are accountable to our people and respectful of our cultures.

Our Commitments

By endorsing this Covenant, we commit to:

  • Champion Local Leadership: Ensure local actors are recognized, resourced, and respected as leaders in any crisis, from initial response to long-term resilience.

  • Forge Equitable Partnerships & Demand Just Funding: Move beyond sub-contracting to build genuine, equitable partnerships and secure direct, quality funding for local organizations.

  • Amplify Community Voices & Strengthen Collective Power: Place affected communities at the center of decision-making, ensuring our actions are accountable and culturally respectful. We will build a unified regional movement through South-to-South collaboration.

  • Uphold Humanity: Unequivocally condemn all violations of international law and demand the protection of all civilians.

A Call for a United Path

This covenant is a living commitment and an open invitation. We call on our partners—donors, governments, international NGOs, private sector, and multilateral institutions—to join this transformation. Shift power, reform funding, and respect the expertise within our communities.

Holding ourselves accountable, we will build a future where local expertise lights the way and aid truly empowers.

 
 

Follow our journey.