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This working paper assesses the interaction between local and international peacebuilding actors. Previous research has usually either focused on the international or local side of this interaction. The authors who focus on the international side often inherently define peacebuilding as being conducted by international actors. Thereby, they do not consider local peacebuilding actors as distinct units of analysis. If local peacebuilding actors are considered as subjects in their own right, the analysis of interaction between them and international peacebuilding actors is often reduced to an assessment of how the latter can support the former. Although the introduction of concepts such as local ownership or hybridity have led to a stronger focus on the interaction between the local and international level, they often oppose the international ‘liberal peace’ to local actors in general, subsuming under the category ‘local’ a whole array of different actors ranging from local communities to local peacebuilding actors, national elites and governmental actors. Virtually the only publications that have provided insights on how local and international peacebuilding actors interact are policy-related reports. They often explain the lack of cooperation as due to a power asymmetry based on the unequal resources of local and international peacebuilding actors. Based on the case study of the northeastern district of Ituri in the Democratic Republic of Congo, this working paper seeks to provide an alternative explanation, focusing on the perceptions that each set of actors has of resources, capacities and legitimacy. This allows insights for a more balanced and ultimately more relevant approach for both, international and local peacebuilding actors.