International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Tore Svenning International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies The Federation and Shelter

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Why, and why now? -Long history and recent experience -National Society involvement -Operational and co-ordination gaps -Think we can do something useful by sharing our collective and individual experience and expertise

IFRC and Shelter: Where we are coming from …over time …geographically …volume International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

IFRC and Shelter: Recent Pakistan Tsunami Caribbean Hurricanes International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

IFRC and Shelter: Pakistan International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies families Tents Blankets Sleeping Bags Tarpaulins Shelter Repair Kits

IFRC and Shelter: Tsunami International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Indonesia: planning more than permanent housing units Sri Lanka: nearly houses Maldives: 600 houses on Green Island

IFRC and Shelter: Hurricane Ivan (2004) International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies families in Grenada; in Jamaica; in Cayman Islands and 3000 in Cuba: Plastic Sheeting, Tarpaulins, Blankets, galvanized sheets, WatSan… Complex multi-country operation, and an opportunity to strengthen disaster preparedness Adaptability to local circumstances: National Society the key

IFRC and Shelter: What are we talking about? International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies 183 members – at least 183 opinions… –Tents and Tarpaulins (many Societies) –Host families –Evacuation shelter – schools, etc (American Red Cross, Cuban Red Cross) –Cyclone Shelters (Bangladesh Red Crescent, Indian Red Cross) –Temporary shelter –Reconstruction and construction of permanent housing

IFRC: Organisational Framework National Societies International Federation Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

A little about National Societies: –In terms of day-to-day activities and organisation not very different from many other organisations –National organisations: based on domestic legislation, recognised by their own governments, legally guaranteed independence, auxiliaries to the public authorities –Often, but not always, a clear mandate from the government giving it ability to act, but sometimes constraining the range of activities. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

A little more about National Societies: –Primarily responsible for responding to needs among their own population –Ability to reach out to support a Sister Society In agreement with the “host” and under a set of recognised rules and often, but not always, co- ordinated by the Federation or the ICRC (depending on the situation) International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

IFRC and Shelter: Involvement Organised in several ways: -National Societies acting at home -National Societies acting internationally -Secretariat Co-ordination -Secretariat Operation -And combinations -And in co-operation with ICRC International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

IFRC: Holding it all together Elements: -Fundamental Principles -Shared policies and approaches -Shared capacities -Adaptability to local circumstances International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Fundamental Principles Humanity Impartiality Neutrality Independence Voluntary service Unity Universality International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

IFRC: Shared Policies Shared policies and approaches: Disaster Management Framework Post-emergency rehabilitation policy Principles and Rules for Disaster Relief Code of Conduct, Sphere –etc International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

IFRC and Policies: The example of standard setting Seen from the point of view of, e.g., Iranian Red Crescent the question is – whose standards? –Federation? –Movement? –“International” –Iranian National? If different – whose will be applied? International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

IFRC: Capacities -Shared Capacities: -National Society domestic capacities -FACT -ERU -DMIS -DREF -Need to develop shared capacities also related to shelter International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

IFRC and Shelter: Objectives Address shelter needs in natural disasters through Scaling up collective capacity Working with other organisations and supporting co-ordination International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

IFRC and Shelter: Issues Who is the primary actor in disaster response: –The National Society – at home – “auxiliary” –The role and responsibility of “foreign” National Societies –Relationship between operational response and co-ordination role –Working with others Alliances and partnerships The dreaded cluster… International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

“IFRC and Clusters” The “cluster” approach is a UN led systematic approach to ensure predictability The Federation works with the “clusters” but does not lead one Federation takes action under its own mandate and accountability, with its own resources, and according to its own assessment of needs and offer the resulting capacity to the humanitarian community International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

IFRC and Shelter: Where next? International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Build shared capacity in Shelter Shelter Department Hosting office of the Shelter Centre Building Co-ordination capacity Developing a policy framework linked to existing policies in fields such as disaster preparedness, water and sanitation, health and a new recovery policy Develop training Structured and ad hoc alliances and partnerships

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies THANK YOU!