Guidance Note: Protocol of Engagement between Local Governments and Humanitarian Actors

The methodology of this paper comprised primary and secondary data collection and analysis. A desk review of recent literature was used with a particular focus on case studies, reports, frameworks, assessments and evaluations. We carried out 25 key informant interviews (KIIs) with a diversity of stakeholders, which included humanitarian actors from the United Nations system, Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, as well as national and international NGOs. Colleagues from the private sector, academia and built environment professionals were also interviewed. A series of focus group discussions (FGDs) was held with local authorities from around the world to identify and include their perspectives on the same questions and challenges. The first FGD was conducted at a regional consultation of the Global Alliance for Urban Crises (GAUC) in Geneva, Switzerland and subsequent sessions by the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) consultant at a series of international conferences in Spain and Morocco. A draft version of the protocol was presented to another GAUC regional consultation held in Beirut, Lebanon for a desktop-type review and testing by a number of experienced local authority and humanitarian representatives.