(Partner of the UN in most emergency contexts)
(1) Overview of activities
The IFRC is the largest international humanitarian organization in the world consisting of 182 Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies (NS) around the world and some 98 million volunteers. Its secretariat is in Geneva. National societies are auxiliaries to public authorities in the humanitarian field and provide services in disaster preparedness and response, health/social programs and humanitarian principals & values, ensuring assistance to those affected by natural disasters and war.The secretariat supports national societies and specifically coordinates the RC family’s international response to requests for assistance from disaster affected national societies.
(2) Role in emergency relief and reconstruction
National societies, are part of the national disaster plan, present through branch offices in communities and are usually the first responders at the disaster site. The IFRC secretariat has regional and country delegations that maintain close contact with the NS. Where the scope of the disaster exceeds the capacity of the authorities and the NS the IFRC provides assistance, mobilising both pre-positioned resources and assistance from other national societies and government donors through logistics, equipment and supplies,relief teams, field hospitals, clinics, water & sanitation, logistics telecommunication and other services to the disaster site. As in the recent Tsunami operation, post emergency recovery and reconstruction assessments start immediately leading to reconstruction of community services, clinics, schools, water systems, infrastructure repair, health & physcological support etc.
(3) Major opportunities for business support
Details on who we are, how & where the IFRC works can be found at www.ifrc.org. Areas for private sector support to the Red Cross.
> Direct, non-earmarked cash donation to appeals (this is the preferred method, specifically in the emergency phase.
> Engage core competancies, technical expertise and knowledge of a company.
> Opportunities for staff secondment/volunteering.
> Channelling of in-kind inputs of materials & services to affected communities
> Link national and local business networks and partners with RC/RC Societies.
(4) Contribution/Contact information
The Federation accepts cash and in-kind support through emergency and annual appeals via individual national societies, direct to the secretariat or via internet donation via web site above.
Contacts:
Alice Armanni Sequi
Operations Liaison, IFRC Permanent Observer to the UN.
+1.212.338.0161
alice.armannisequi@ifrc.org
Stephanie McDonough Birgitte Stalder-Olsen
Relationship Unit Head of Logistics Department
+41.22.730.4222 +41.22.730.4254
stephanie.mcdonough@ifrc.org birgitte.olsen@ifrc.org
(5) Examples of engagement with the private sector
Deutsche Post (DHL): 5 year global partnership encouraging international and local joint effort for disaster management. On the one hand, the partnership brings the core competencies of the DHL in logistic and transportation to Red Cross Red Crescent efforts for timely and effective delivery of assistance to vulnerable people. On the other, it draws on Red Cross Red Crescent local knowledge for staff training in good health practices.
Microsoft: 5 year partnership for Europe, Middle East and Africa for disaster management.The aim of the partnership is to improve real time communication and exchange within the Red Cross and Red Crescent as well as external actors ( governments, private sector), with particular focus on NS that have to date had limited opportunity to improve their IT infrastructures. An important characteristic of the relationship is that it allows staff engagement and volunteering.
Ericsson: Three year global/regional partnership for effective disaster response Partnership is focused on exchange of know-how and skills in telecommunication. Red Cross Red Crescent trains Ercisson staff in disaster response, and the Company seconds staff and provides equipment etc to be deployed to disaster sites.
Nestlé: Global partnership two year partnership focused health and community carePrimary focus is on nutrition, health and well-being – allows initiatives to be developed locally in response to the particularly needs of the community and capacity of the Red Cross/Red Crescent. Divers activities undertaken ranging from support for swimming classes, the development of a nutrition guide for people in Nigeria living with HIV/AIDS, peer education for youth and food distribution systems
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