The IFRC Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) enters 2026 at a pivotal moment, building on reforms introduced in 2025 and marking the first year of the IFRC-DREF Strategic Ambition 2026–2030. In a context of rising humanitarian needs, climate-related shocks, complex crises and constrained global funding, IFRC-DREF will continue to focus on enabling fast, flexible and locally led humanitarian action. As this plan details, the emphasis in 2026 will be on strengthening localization, improving operational quality and accountability, scaling up anticipatory action, and better demonstrating impact, ensuring that National Societies can respond earlier, faster and more effectively to the needs of communities affected by disasters.