Programmatic Partnership / IFRC

The Programmatic Partnership is an innovative and ambitious three-year partnership between the IFRC, many of our member National Societies, and the European Union. Together, we support communities worldwide to reduce their risks and be better prepared for disasters and health emergencies.

About the partnership

This partnership between the IFRC network and the European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) is a new model for humanitarian action.

Our Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world already play an essential role in supporting local communities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. This partnership provides them with more strategic, flexible, longer-term and predictable funding, so they can in turn deliver more efficient and effective humanitarian support.

This is important because COVID-19, climate-related disasters and conflict are all leaving vulnerable people worldwide at even greater risk and displacing more people from their homes.

It's not enough to simply respond to these increasing crises. To best protect communities and help them withstand future shocks, we need to invest more in local preparedness—anticipating disasters, reducing people's risks and supporting people before an emergency happens.

By doing so, we can best protect people's lives, livelihoods and well-being long into the future.

The IFRC is excited to embark upon this partnership that recognizes our long history of principled, community-driven humanitarian work. Together with the EU, our local humanitarian action will have truly global reach.

Watch: IFRC and EU partnering for good

What does the partnership focus on?

Disaster preparedness and response

Investing in preparedness, reducing people's risks and anticipatory action are crucial to help communities cope before an emergency happens.

Epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response

The Programmatic Partnership supports community epidemic and pandemic preparedness efforts—because local volunteers and networks are best-placed to prevent, detect, and respond to disease outbreaks and other health risks.

Supporting people on the move

Through the Programmatic Partnership, we work to protect the safety, dignity and rights of people on the move and provide principled humanitarian assistance that meets their complex needs.

Cash and voucher assistance

People's dignity and choice are at the heart of this partnership. Cash and voucher assistance means the people we support can choose how to best support themselves and their families.

Risk communication, community engagement and accountability

We treat the people we support through the Programmatic Partnership as partners in our work. We listen to them carefully and act upon their needs and wishes every step of the way.

Zambian Red Cross volunteers register flood-affected families for support through the Programmatic Partnership following Zambia’s worst flooding in 50 years. Around 1,400 families were displaced and more than 25,000 households impacted nationwide due to climate change-induced flooding.

Photo: Zambian Red Cross

As part of the Programmatic Partnership, we support humanitarian action in 24 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America.

12 National Societies from the European Union also take part in the partnership: Austrian Red Cross, Belgian Red Cross, Danish Red Cross, French Red Cross, Finnish Red Cross, German Red Cross, Italian Red Cross, Luxembourg Red Cross, Netherlands Red Cross, Norwegian Red Cross, Spanish Red Cross and Swedish Red Cross.