As part of the efforts to make the Humanitarian Action Localization Initiative in Yemen realistic and not just a passing idea, a virtual meeting, included many networks and coalitions representing civil society in a number of Arab countries, was held today.

During the meeting, sponsored by NEAR Network, contributions and ideas were reviewed between the Coordinator of the Humanitarian Action Localization Initiative in Yemen, Chairman of Tamdeen Youth Foundation, Hussein Al-Suhaili, the Regional Representative for MENA Assistance, Wejdan Jarrah, the Chairman of the Syrian Network League, Ashraf Al Muslim, the Lobbying Coordinator of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network, Mahmoud Hamada, and the Coordinator of Lebanon Humanitarian and Development NGOs Forum (LHDF), Ferjini, with the aim of working on network governance and listening to experiences to use in the Localization of Humanitarian Action in Yemen.

The fact that these coalitions and networks have been formed in countries that have suffered and still suffering from wars and crises similar to Yemen's, has been reflected in the growing lessons learned in the area of the Humanitarian Action Localization. The meeting discussed what has been achieved in those countries, to reflect on the localization of the humanitarian action in Yemen and start where previous efforts have come from.

The Humanitarian Action Localization Initiative was launched in Yemen last August, where Tamdeen Youth Foundation with 77 local civil society organizations, in collaboration with NEAR Network, launched the "Humanitarian Action Localization Initiativ in Yemen". This led to several meetings with governmental, international and United Nations bodies, including a meeting with the Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen, David Gresley, to discuss the framework of the localization initiative as a further step to activate and promote the role of local humanitarian actors in Yemen.