The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) says its network comprises 191 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which are the backbone of the Movement and have community-based volunteers and staff operating in countries around the world. National Societies are often among the first responders when disasters strike and can remain in affected communities long after other actors have left. Why localisation matters for AfricaFor African National Societies, localisation is not simply an international development concept. The emphasis reflects a broader recognition within the Movement that strong humanitarian organisations require more than emergency-response capacity. For the communities that rely on the Red Cross and Red Crescent in times of crisis, that is where the real test begins.