Leading donors from around the world gathered in Geneva, Switzerland on 17 November to pledge new or renewed funding to the IFRC's Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF), moving the fund a significant step closer to its strategic ambition – growing to CHF 100 million by 2025.
Collectively, global cross-sector partners including governments and private-sector companies pledged over CHF 64 million in support of IFRC-DREF for 2023, beating last year’s total and previous record of CHF 43 million.
In addition, thanks to the insurance structure in place for 2023, up to additional CHF 15 million can be tapped in by IFRC-DREF subject to meeting the trigger for insurance payout.
This year’s Pledging Conference demonstrated purposeful commitments to help IFRC-DREF expand its capacity to respond quickly to humanitarian needs, particularly in the face of increasing demand, and increasingly complicated, climate-related disasters.
“This year has been unprecedented for IFRC-DREF, marked by an unparalleled scale and complexities of operations," said IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain. "In an increasingly climate-change-shaped world, the IFRC-DREF is uniquely positioned to respond immediately and effectively to those in need. It ensures aid is efficient, effective, and empowers local actors best positioned to understand and meet community needs. This underscores the critical need for strengthening tools like the IFRC-DREF to intensify our humanitarian efforts.”
Click the link below for a video recording of the full pledging conference live stream.
IFRC-DREF milestones
Every year, small and medium-sized disasters occur in silence. Without media attention or international visibility, they can struggle to attract funding. Despite this, IFRC-DREF has reached over 220 million people affected by disasters since it was launched in 1979.
IFRC-DREF stands out for its commitments to channel support directly to local actors: 82 percent of allocations go directly to National Societies, enabling Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to deliver fast and effective local humanitarian action. Globally, the average percentage of funding that goes to local actors stands at a mere 1.2 per cent.
In 2023, the IFRC also reinforced the fund’s capacity to respond quickly, effectively and transparently. In partnership with Aon, Lloyd’s Disaster Risk Facility and the Centre for Disaster Protection, it launched IFRC-DREF Insurance. By leveraging public aid budgets to mobilise private resources and make donor contributions go further, IFRC-DREF aims to assist six million more people.
More 2023 Pledging Conference results
This year’s Pledging Conference saw the return of long-standing global partners and supporters of IFRC-DREF, as well as new donors. The Conference was attended by over 70 participants representing 35 governments and the private sector.
In total, 23 pledging statements were made during the Conference. The IFRC highly appreciates the introduction of several new donors to the IFRC-DREF, namely the Saudi Red Crescent Authority and their government, the multi-year commitment by the government of the Republic of Korea, the first-time Lithuanian government contribution and the contribution from Nestle.
The IFRC would like to thank all participants and donors for their commitment to this critical tool for humanitarian response and community resilience. Please click here to read the Pledge Statements Sum-Up document for all details.
For more information about the IFRC-DREF or the 2023 pledging conference:
For more information, you can also contact:
- Florent Del Pinto (Manager, Emergency Operations Centre) [email protected]
- Ivana Mrdja (Manager, National Society and Government Partners) [email protected]