Local humanitarian leadership is built upon the premise that humanitarian action should be led by local humanitarian actors whenever possible. When disasters strike, local people spring into action to save lives. They perform search-and rescue operations and first aid, and make sure there is food and shelter for their neighbors. They understand the languages, cultures, and geography of the disaster-affected areas.  They are the first to arrive and the last to leave. In many cases, their local and national governments are ready and willing to lead the way on evacuations and aid delivery, and to collaborate in reducing future risks. In other words, many local and national responders are well qualified to take charge in times of crisis. But there are inequities in the humanitarian system: the UN and major international aid agencies receive the lion’s share of international funding for disaster responses, and with it an inordinate amount of decision-making power during emergencies.