Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF)

The Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) is the quickest, most efficient and most transparent way of getting funding directly to local humanitarian actors—both before and immediately after a crisis hits.

About the DREF

Every year, small and medium-sized disasters occur in silence. Without media attention or international visibility, they can struggle to attract funding—putting affected communities at risk of being completely neglected.

To support these smaller disasters, or to provide initial funding before launching an Emergency Appeal, we rapidly channel funding to Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies through the DREF—enabling them to deliver fast and effective local humanitarian action.

The DREF in detail

disasters icon

How does it work?

The DREF is a central pot of money through which we can release funds rapidly to National Societies for early action and immediate disaster response.

How is it funded?

The IFRC runs an annual DREF appeal to maintain the balance of funds required to meet National Society demand.

Anticipatory Pillar

The Anticipatory Pillar of the DREF enables National Societies to take early action in advance of a hazard, saving lives and protecting livelihoods.

Watch: What is the DREF?

DREF Pledging Conference 2022

Donors from around the world attend the DREF Pledging Conference 2022 at the IFRC Headquarters, Geneva

Donors from around the world attend the DREF Pledging Conference 2022 at the IFRC Headquarters, Geneva

Photo: IFRC

On 4 November 2022, we hosted our second annual DREF Pledging Conference which aimed to grow DREF funding to reach our target of CHF 100 million per year by 2025.

The conference was co-hosted with the EU/European Commission (DG ECHO)—the IFRC’s largest donor and current co-chair of the IFRC’s Donor Advisory Group (DAG)

You can read more about the 2022 Pledging Conference in this article.

 

Live DREF data

Guidance and support for National Societies

Fiji Red Cross and IFRC teams in Fiji assemble to assess damage caused by Cyclone Yasa in December 2020

Fiji Red Cross and IFRC teams in Fiji assemble to assess damage caused by Cyclone Yasa in December 2020

Photo: IFRC/Ponipate

We want to make sure that each of our 191 National Societies knows how to request, has the capacity to process and knows how to report on DREF funding. We have therefore developed specific DREF guidelines for National Societies, as well as an introduction to DREF eLearning course available in English, French, Arabic and Spanish.

We are also developing a range of practical DREF tools and resources to promote a culture of operational learning across our global network. If you are from a National Society and would like to access these resources, please contact Marco Vargas (Delegate, DREF Capacity Strengthening).

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