Red Cross
in the Americas
www.ifrc.org Saving lives, changing minds.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
1
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network, with 190 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and around 17 million volunteers
Psychosocial support. Mike Bloem / Colombian Red Cross Cover photo: Marko Kokic/Canadian Red CrossÂ
Red Cross
Chilean Red Cross
Global overwiew
The IFRC works to strengthen and accompany National Societies so that they can better support vulnerable communities and people than 160 million people every year through life-saving and life-changing support. The IFRC, together with the 190 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Committee, form the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
IFRC
National Societies
ICRC
The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies coordinates and directs international assistance following natural and manmade disasters. The IFRC is comprised of the Secretariat and the 190 Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies.
Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies, of which there can be only one in a country,
The International Committee of the Red Cross provides humanitarian assistance
support the national public authorities as independent auxiliaries in the humanitarian
and violence.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
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The IFRC
Regional Context
The strength of the IFRC is based on three fundamental pillars: its volunteer network, its community-based expertise and its independence and neutrality. Guided by our seven fundamental principles (Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Character, Unity and Universality), we work to save lives and alleviate human suffering by improving humanitarian standards and persuading decision-makers in the countries to act always in the interests of vulnerable people. We strive to increase community resilience, reduce vulnerability and build a culture of non-violence and peace.
The Americas is a region of cultural, social and economic diversity and complexity; however, inequity, violence, uncontrolled urbanization, exposure to disasters and crises and health challenges are creating high levels of vulnerability.
Guided by our Strategy 2020 – a collective plan of action to tackle the major humanitarian and development challenges of this decade – the IFRC is committed to “saving lives and changing minds” and to “doing more, doing better and reaching further”.
Vision To inspire, encourage, facilitate and promote all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies, with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering, thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.
The Red Cross Movement in this region is represented by the following 35 National Societies: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, The Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela; moreover, it has more than 600,000 volunteers working in over 3,000 local committees or branches throughout the region, are dedicated to addressing these issues. The IFRC Secretariat is based in Geneva, Switzerland with five regional offices located throughout the world. Panama is home to the Regional Office for the Americas, with country cluster support team offices located in Argentina, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru and Trinidad and Tobago, which provide support to the National Societies of the region.
Regional Priorities
More than
The Houston Commitment and the Inter-American Framework for Action 2016-2020 were adopted in 2015 at the 20th Red Cross Inter-American Conference; at the conference, participants identified joint strategic priorities in the region that focus on disaster response, risk management, community resilience, promotion and organizational development.
38 million people reached with Red Cross services in the Americas 4
Red Cross in the Americas
Mexico City P. of Prince Tegucigalpa
Guatemala S. Salvador
S. Domingo Kingstown
Managua
IFRC’S PRESENCE IN AMERICA
Georgetown P. of Spain
S. Jose Panama
The Big Picture 50% of staff under international contract 50% of staff under national contract
Bogota
Country Mexico
Quito
No 47.63
0
1
0
20% of staff under international contract 80% of staff under national contract Country 14% of staff under international contract 86% of staff under national contract
Lima
Country
Guatemala
Yes 47.63
1
0
1
El Salvador
Yes 45.83
3
0
3
Honduras
Yes 50.04
2
0
2
Haiti
IP*
N/A
50
6
44
Dom. Rep.
Yes 53.25
1
0
1
Costa Rica
Yes 59.48
4
0
4
Jamaica
IP* 57.50
0
0
0
Panama
Yes 53.81
60
10
50
T&T
Yes 57.97
5
1
4
Barbados
No 81.15
3
0
3
20% of staff under international contract 80% of staff under national contract Country
Brasilia
Status Agreement (IP: In Progress*) Cost of Living (Consumer Price Index)
B. Aires
IFRC Presence International Staff National Staff
Argentina
Yes 62.12
2
1
1
Brazil
IP* 45.68
0
0
0
Colombia
IP* 33.22
1
0
1
Peru
Yes 41.55
9
1
8
Ecuador
No 46.18
0
0
0
Reference Center Warehouse Focal Points International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
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Strategic, Programmatic and Operational Approach STRATEGIC AIMS STRATEGY 2020
Save lives, protect livelihoods, and strengthen recovery from disasters and crisis
The operational and programmatic work of the IFRC Secretariat and the 35 National Societies of the Americas is organized into seven areas of focus and guided by four implementation strategies to achieve the established goals
STRATEGIES
FOR IMPLEMENTATION
Strengthen National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Disaster risk reduction Shelter
Ensure effective international disaster management Enable healthy and safe living
AREAS
OF FOCUS
Livelihoods Health Water and sanitation
Influence others as a leading strategic partner
Protection, Gender and Inclusion Migration
Promote social inclusion and a culture of non-violence and peace
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Red Cross in the Americas
Ensure a strong IFRC
Humanity Impartiality Neutrality Independence Voluntary service Unity Universality Humanité
Impartialité
Humanidad
Imparcialidad
Neutralité
Indépendance
Volontariat
Neutralidad
Independencia
Voluntariado
Unité
Universalité
Marko Kokic/Canadian Red Cross
Unidad
Universalidad
Contact information:
Walter Cotte Regional Director walter.cotte@ifrc.org Julie Hoare Head, Partnerships and Resource Development julie.hoare@ifrc.org
Š International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. 2017