Amplify Global Voices

AGV is a grassroots initiative aimed at supporting local NGOs in crisis affected areas. AGV is currently in it’s start up phase and is supporting one Local NGO in Gaza. Even though we are just 2 or 3 volunteers, we have managed to raise over $250k USD for a local NGO from funding that would normally have gone to an INGO who would have taken a portion of the costs before the money even reached Gaza. When a crisis hits, International NGOs are often the first people to respond, they bring funding from various governments around the world, expertise, and supplies. But the flip side of this is that local NGOs already based in crisis hit areas get pushed out. Even though they are in the best position to respond to an emergency/crisis, they are often seen as an afterthought. Most do not have the resources or staff levels to compete for funding like INGOs. The short-term impact sees funding that was meant for crisis affected people often stays in the global north, local NGOs see a ‘brain drain’ as their staff leave for well-funded and better paying INGOs, and local communities, those who are meant to be being helped, do not get as much support as they are due. The long-term impact of this is that crisis-affected areas lose a substantial part of their civil society as many are forced to close or massively reduce their work and staff numbers. AGV currently supports the Youth Vision Society, a small local NGO based in Gaza City. YVS has often relied on short-term staff and volunteers, even when there wasn’t an acute crisis. This has meant their ability to source funding for work has become extremely limited, even though they provide first-line support to the people around them. They have been feeding people, providing wells and water, providing mental health support, and even providing education classes to primary school-aged children, all on a shoestring budget.