Promoting gender equality through localized development strategies: leveraging identification

Abstract The humanitarian discourse has recently shifted towards bolstering the intervention capacities of affected countries and communities through “localization.” However, the implementation of this approach has encountered challenges and disappointments, partly due to conventional short-term interventions driven by external organizations rather than beneficiaries. Empowering women in developing nations is vital for gender equality and women’s rights, given the barriers they face such as unequal access to resources and underrepresentation in governance. Malawi”s context, marked by poverty, limited access to education and healthcare, and cultural norms posing barriers to gender equity, complicates efforts to address inequalities against women. This article explores how localization, particularly through local NGOs, can advance women’s rights in Malawi by challenging gender norms. While recognizing its potential, caution is advised to avoid reinforcing past exclusions. This research investigates how aid localization, leveraging identification, affects gender equality and women’s rights in disaster management and humanitarian efforts. Through field research in Malawi, including 33 interviews with NGO members and beneficiaries, it underscores the role of localization in promoting gender equality and women’s rights, advocating for a more equitable and locally responsive approach to humanitarian action.