Internal Audit Report: European migration operation, 2016

Internal Audit Report: South Sudan Country Office, 2016

Assurance review of our South Sudan Country Office, 2016.

Social welfare policy

The Red Cross and Red Crescent commitment to working to improve the situation of the most vulnerable people offers the International Federation a solid basis for its involvement in social welfare issues. Social welfare is a state of human well-being that exists when social problems are managed, when human needs are met and when social opportunities are maximized.

Seville Agreement

The Seville Agreement is an Agreement made in 1997 on the Organization of the International Activities of the Components of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. It is an agreement on cooperation and not merely on a division of labour, and it applies to all those international activities which, under the Movement's Statutes, the components are called upon to carry out in close collaboration. It establishes clear guidelines for the performance of tasks by Movement members, using the specific areas of competence and the complementary capacities of each to best effect.

Protection of National Societies' integrity policy

In a fast changing, fragmented and unpredictable environment, the humanitarian sector must adapt to the complexity of today’s challenges. National Societies are accountable to the people they serve and are committed to act ethically and promote a culture of accountability, transparency, and ethical behavior. They always have an obligation to deliver high quality services making use of resources in the most effective and efficient way in line with the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (the “Movement”).

Humanitarian diplomacy policy

What objectives will effective humanitarian diplomacy achieve? More frequent consideration by decision makers and opinion leaders of the interests of vulnerable people; Greater access to and influence with decision makers; Greater humanitarian access and space for National Societies and the International Federation; Strong visibility for and public understanding of Red Cross and Red Crescent activities; Stronger capacity to mobilise all relevant resources; and The facilitation of effective partnerships when responding to the needs of the vulnerable. It is only through the establishment of humanitarian diplomacy as an integral part of the day to day work of National Societies and the International Federation, with the necessary capacities in place, that the humanitarian objectives referred to above can be effectively realised. The fundamental aim of this policy is to establish humanitarian diplomacy as a permanent mindset across all National Societies and the International Federation. Humanitarian diplomacy includes advocacy, negotiation, communication, formal agreements and other measures.

Fundraising policy

As one of the world's largest humanitarian organizations, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is proud of the high regard in which it is held by both the recipients of its services and its supporters. This policy, and associated 'Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for Red Cross and Red Crescent Fundraisers' is intended to provide fundraisers of the International Movement with principles and guidelines for raising money from all sources.

Food security and nutrition policy

In recognition of the right to food, and the increased vulnerability of households to food insecurity as a result of disasters, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is involved in food security programming to improve the availability, access to and utilisation of food. Food security programmes span the relief to development continuum by reducing the risk of, mitigating against and where necessary, providing relief and recovery from disasters to the most vulnerable households.Food security programming can encompass many different interventions depending on the objective of the programme. Examples of food security interventions include water for irrigation, livestock or health, seeds distribution or seed bank development, cash or food for work projects and food aid.

Child Friendly Spaces in Emergencies - Lessons Learned Review

The purpose of this review on Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) is to: a) identify and promote key lessons to improve the quality, impact, and reach of CFS implemented by Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies in emergencies related programming; b) contribute to global learning and evidence on the implementation of CFS in emergencies; and to c) provide a basis for the development of tools to help translate the lessons learned into practical and concrete action by National Societies. A summary of this report is available to download below, as well as a report containing case studies of Child Friendly Spaces.

Independent Auditors’ Report, Consolidated Financial Statements 2016

Independent Auditors’ Report to the President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on the Consolidated Financial Statements 2016, conducted by KPMG.

Rights of Migrants in Action Leaflet

The Rights of Migrants in Action project, co-funded by theEuropean Union and the IFRC, was a global initiative aimed atpromoting and protecting the rights of migrants in targetedcountries, migration corridors and regions, through coordinatedcivil society action.

PASSA Youth Manual and Toolkit

PASSA stands for participatory approach for safe shelter and settlements awareness. It is the IFRC's participatory method of disaster risk reduction related to shelter and settlements safety. PASSA youth is a variation of this method. It aims to develop the capacity of young people to make positive changes in their communities in relation to safe shelter and habitat related risks. Download the PASSA Youth manual and related, complementary tools below.

Early detection and action stop a measles outbreak in Cameroon

“I was coughing. My eyes were red, and my nose was running. My skin had rashes.”7-year-old Djoubeda from Mayo-Oulo village in Cameroon’s North region was at home with her grandmother when she started showing worrying symptoms of measles.A highly contagious viral infection, measles spreads easily among the unvaccinated—with young children at highest risk. It’s a serious illness that can require hospital admission, cause permanent disability, and even kill if not treated properly. But thankfully help wasn’t far away. Local Cameroon Red Cross Society volunteer, Ramatou—affectionately known as Aunty Ramatou in the village—was called to come see little Djoubeda straight away.Ramatou had previously received training in how to recognize and prevent disease outbreaks, and how to quickly report any unusual health events to authorities, through the Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3).“I received training on detecting diseases in the population. When I visited Djoubeda, I deduced her symptoms resembled measles and that inaction could spread it,” she explains.Without hesitation, Ramatou notified local health authorities of the suspected measles case using a digital community-based surveillance tool set up through the CP3 programme, then took Djoubeda straight to the nearest health centre.Within three days, tests confirmed that Djoubeda did indeed have measles. During that time, Ramatou and fellow CP3 volunteers got to work educating the community in Mayo-Oulo about measles signs and symptoms, how to prevent it from spreading, and how to report if they noticed something was wrong.Upon confirmation of measles, local health authorities immediately launched a mass vaccination campaign in and around the village—calling upon Cameroon Red Cross volunteers for their support in sharing trusted health information about the vaccines and encouraging families to bring their children along to be immunized.“It’s you, the Red Cross, going around to sensitize us. It’s because of people going around the village talking about vaccination that I brought him,” explains Maya Sylvie, a mother from Mayo-Oulo village who was supported by the Cameroon Red Cross to vaccinate her baby boy.To achieve herd immunity against measles and prevent recurring outbreaks, at least 95% of the population must be fully vaccinated. This vaccination campaign was therefore a huge joint effort between local health authorities and Cameroon Red Cross volunteers, who mobilized as many community members as possible to bring their children for their jabs. Thankfully, since this outbreak, local health authorities haven’t recorded any further measles cases.“We vaccinated nearly 500 children. What if this epidemic had not been stopped? Measles is deadly. We could have recorded a lot of deaths. After the Ministry vaccinated all the children, we have not had any more cases of measles,” explains Dr Laboulaye, Head of the Mayo-Oulo Health Centre.“I want to say to the Red Cross: thank you. Thank you for your support, for all your disease prevention activities and help with the response,” she adds.For Ramatou, learning the skills to quickly detect and report outbreaks in Mayo-Oulo was exactly why she wanted to volunteer in the first place:“I’ve lived here for over 30 years, since I was 6 years old. I became a CP3 volunteer to help my community. As a volunteer, my motivation is to save lives, ease pain, help the sick, and prevent diseases from spreading. What pleases me is that people listen, volunteers work well, the past diseases are gone and the community values and appreciates our efforts.”And as for little Djoubeda, she happily made a full recovery from measles and is grateful to Ramatou for being there for her when she was sick.“I was injected and given medicine. I got better and went back home. Aunty Ramatou, who wears the uniform, does her job well,” she says.---The activities featured in this article were delivered as part of the multi-country Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3) which ran from 2018-2025. Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), CP3 supported communities, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and other partners to prepare for, prevent, detect and respond to disease threats. If you enjoyed this story and would like to learn more, sign up to the IFRC’s Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Newsletter.    

Red Cross and Red Crescent network supports the African Union and its Member States' commitment to eliminate cholera by 2030

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), in collaboration with its African National Society members, fully supports the African Union (AU) and its member states in their efforts to eliminate cholera across the continent. Forged during a high-level meeting of AU member states in June, this new commitment centers on strengthening community-based health services and epidemic preparedness, working closely with local communities to achieve lasting solutions.The IFRC commends the leadership and united commitment demonstrated by the Heads of State, Government, and Delegations, who gathered in June under the AU’s framework to advance a strong and coordinated response to the ongoing multi-country cholera outbreaks, which in 2025 are affecting approximately 20 Member States.The IFRC and its African National Society members, fully endorse the priorities outlined in the Call-to-Action to End Cholera and Achieve Elimination by 2030with particular emphasis on:• strengthening national and regional preparedness,• scaling up investments in sustainable water, sanitation and health (WASH) infrastructure,• placing communities and civil society at the heart of cholera elimination agenda.A deep community presenceAs auxiliary partners to public authorities in the humanitarian field, Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies in Africa bring unique value through their deep community presence, trusted local networks, and mandate to complement government action.With operations in all AU Member States, the IFRC and its African National Society members are uniquely positioned to deliver localised, people-centred responses that translate policy commitments into life-saving action.Recognising the cross-cutting impacts of cholera on already strained health systems—the Red Cross Red Crescent Network has scaled up its efforts to prevent, detect, and respond to outbreaks through high-impact, community-driven interventions such as:Community-based Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT): Delivered at the household level via Oral Rehydration Points (ORPs), ensuring timely access to lifesaving care. Emergency water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions: Implemented in affected households and surrounding areas to stop transmission. Support to Oral Cholera Vaccination (OCV) campaigns: Including community mobilization, social mobilization, and logistics assistance. Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE): Embedded across all pillars of response to promote behaviour change, drive surveillance, and enable early action. Cross-border collaboration facilitated to prevent, control and recover from cholera outbreaks at community level in collaboration with local authorities.In addition, the IFRC hosts the Country Support Platform (CSP), the operational arm of the Global Task Force on Cholera Control, which supports AU Member States in developing and implementing National Cholera Plans, accessing technical expertise, and mobilizing domestic and external resources.Aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Continental Framework for Cholera Elimination, IFRC is also investing in multi-hazard anticipatory action to prepare authorities, communities and other concerned stakeholders ahead of Cholera outbreaks.This is done in part through the development of Early Action Protocols, systems that trigger preparatory actions before a crisis hits. Such protocols empower African National Societies to act early by pre-positioning supplies, training volunteers, and accessing forecast-based financing enabling faster, more cost-effective responses before outbreaks escalate.With more than 3.8 million trained volunteers across Africa and a presence in every community, the Red Cross Red Crescent Network is well-positioned to bring life-saving interventions to those most at risk before, during and after outbreaks.Together, we can eliminate CholeraCholera is preventable, and together, we can eliminate it. Our volunteers are trusted members of the communities they serve. Through early action, health education, and emergency interventions, we are proud to contribute to this continental ambition to eliminate cholera and protect lives.Through these efforts, the IFRC and African National Societies reaffirm their unwavering commitment to support AU Member States in achieving national and continental targets for cholera control and elimination.The IFRC is dedicated to working hand-in-hand with the African Union Commission, Africa CDC, Member States, and other partners to build resilient health systems, empower communities, and end cholera as a threat to public health and development across the continent.Together, we can defeat cholera and ensure that no one is left behind.Learn more about the IFRC’s approach to disease prevention:IFRC’s approach to epidemic and pandemic preparednessLearn more about IFRC’s approach to emergency health

Community Engagement and Accountability Catalogue

Would you like to use CEA for your project, in an emergency or during institutionalisation processes? This catalogue provides a guide to help you determine which tools to use, how much time you will need, the level of experience required and the approximate budget. You will also find details of CEA training courses to help you specialise in this approach.