‘Rhetorics or business as usual?’ A systematic review of the realities of Australian aid localisation efforts in the Pacific region

While Australia increasingly references aid localisation in its programming, implementation remains donor-driven and structurally resistant to local agency. Comprehensive reviews capturing these realities remain scarce. This study synthesises insights from 150 articles obtained from the Web of Science Database to address this gap. Findings reveal persistent donor-driven, hierarchical approaches that marginalise local voices and hinder locally led development. Skill deficits, inadequate information sharing, and underutilisation of local knowledge further undermine effectiveness. Political agendas, market-led narratives, and funding systems prioritising external contractors exacerbate dependency and power imbalances. Antithetically, meaningful local leadership and culturally tailored programs have aligned aid initiatives with community needs, ensuring greater sustainability. This paper offers the most comprehensive synthesis to date of Pacific-localised critiques of Australian aid. It exposes the systemic contradictions in donor rhetoric and practice, and advances localisation scholarship by identifying new leverage points for reform.