The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has signed a five-year agreement with Z Zurich Foundation (Foundation) of Zurich Financial Services Group (Zurich). This partnership will enable sustained support to both emergency response operations and long-term risk reduction programmes, especially in tackling the humanitarian impact of climate change.
The partnership with the Foundation includes a financial contribution of 2.5 million Swiss francs over the next five years. Half the money will go to the IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund, which allows the immediate release of funds to a Red Cross or a Red Crescent Society to support an emergency operation in the field.
In addition, the Foundation will support the IFRC’s work in mitigating the impact of natural disasters through contributions to the IFRC’s Global Alliance for Disaster Risk Reduction, which aims to build safer and more resilient communities. Some 160 Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are committed to implementing and scaling up community-based disaster risk reduction programmes, which include information and awareness-raising, training in first aid and conducting assessments, pre-positioning relief items and contingency planning.
It is estimated that the IFRC brings assistance through its disaster preparedness and response activities to around 30 million people annually, from refugees to people affected by natural disasters.
The IFRC is strongly advocating for the building of a strong “culture of prevention” with all its partners - governments, the private sector and other humanitarian organizations. In other words, disaster preparedness should be included in the conception and implementation of humanitarian programmes, in order to “ build real resilience within communities against the ravaging effects of disasters,” says IFRC Secretary General Bekele Geleta.
“Disaster response on its own is never enough. We also have an obligation to significantly develop the highest levels of preventive action. Our network of Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers, is an impressive force that can effectively contribute to improving safety and reducing loss of life. The Federation has 90 years of experience in disaster preparedness and risk reduction as well as in disaster response,” underlined Bekele Geleta.
The aim of the partnership is to conceive and implement innovative and sustainable solutions, combining Zurich’s global experience and risk management capabilities with the Federation’s privileged access to local communities and long-term development expertise.
“We believe it’s critical to our long-term business success to play our part in delivering sustainable, long lasting solutions to important and relevant economic, social and environmental challenges. Especially in these times of financial turmoil, it is important to underpin our commitment to corporate responsibility and sustainability,” says Martin Senn, Zurich’s Chief Investment Officer and Chairman of the Foundation’s Board.
The Foundation’s mission is to equip people with the knowledge and resources to better manage change and risk in their lives and in the world around them. It will develop long-term partnerships with selected non-profit organizations. This partnership model goes beyond financial support to working together in areas of common interest to Zurich and the non-profit partner.
Martin Senn adds: “We are very pleased having found partners among non-profit organisations who share our commitment to sustainable, long-term solutions. Through these partnerships we will work together to find solutions for the pressing interlinked challenges of climate change, water scarcity and food security.”
The number, severity and impact of disasters are increasing because of factors such as climate change, unplanned mass urbanization, rapid population growth and environmental degradation - and Zurich and the IFRC are determined to cooperate and work together to address this challenge.
N.B. - Zurich Financial Services Group (Zurich) is an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in North America and Europe as well as in Asia Pacific, Latin America and other markets. Founded in 1872, the Group is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. It employs approximately 60,000 people serving customers in more than 170 countries. www.zurich.com