World Food Programme hosts global localization event with Red Cross Movement
Meeting explores how National Societies can be empowered to lead humanitarian responses alongside their own governments
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) hosted a workshop in April on a National Society Capacity Strengthening Initiative launched in 2017 with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
More than 50 experts from Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies, IFRC and WFP offices around the world discussed how their organizations could work together to empower National Societies increasingly to lead national humanitarian responses alongside their own governments — with UN agencies playing an enabling a role.
WFP Assistant Executive Director Elisabeth Rasmusson spoke about her experience when she worked with the Colombian Red Cross as a Delegate of the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (ICRC).
Rasmusson highlighted the distinctive role that National Societies often occupy between their Governments and civil society, and the unique reach, presence, community trust and volunteer base of National Societies.
“My hope is that together these efforts will gradually make WFP a leader in the localization of humanitarian assistance”
“In WFP, we often highlight our deep field presence as one of our comparative advantages but I honestly think that our reach is exceeded by that of the National Societies. Together, our organizations can reach the furthest behind,’’ she said.
Rasmusson outlined her vision for WFP’s ‘Whole of Society Approach’ to ending hunger.
“At the global level, the partnership with the IFRC and National Societies is a flagship initiative. At country level, many WFP Country Offices are in the process of preparing five-year Country Strategic Plans so this a great opportunity for them to explore capacity strengthening opportunities with the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, government and civil society,” she said.
“My hope is that together these efforts will gradually make WFP a leader in the localization of humanitarian assistance,’’ Rasmusson added
Capacity strengthening pilots underway
The capacity strengthening initiative is being piloted in Burundi, Dominican Republic, Pakistan and Sudan, while additional pilots are under preparation in the Pacific region and Zimbabwe.
Recognizing the very diverse pilot countries, the meeting discussed how to ensure a coherent approach across pilots while at the same time making sure that investments in National Societies are context-specific and sustainable.
“This partnership will help us understand how these two big elephants of the humanitarian system — WFP and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement— can forge ahead together and ensure that grassroots communities benefit the most,’’ said Karikoga Kutadzaushe, Operations Director of the Zimbabwe Red Cross.
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a global humanitarian network of 80 million people that helps those facing disaster, conflict and health and social problems. It consists of the ICRC, IFRC and the 191 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
How best to strengthen National Societies
Participants discussed how to best strengthen Nationals Societies as holistic institutions rather than only strengthening their technical capacities such as cash-based transfers or supply chains.
Another topic was the alignment of the initiative with capacity strengthening activities of other UN agencies and other members of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
Partner National Societies such as the British Red Cross, Finnish Red Cross and Turkish Red Crescent took part in the workshop and have already started supporting the capacity strengthening activities at country-level.
Next phases of partnerships
Finally, participants exchanged ideas on how to mobilize support for the next phases of the partnership at the country, regional and global levels.
Thanks to flexible funding from donors, WFP provided US$1.1 million in seed funding for the initiative.
Many Governments and humanitarian organizations agreed to localize humanitarian action during the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016 and as part of the Grand Bargain.
But the workshop participants at the meeting in Rome agreed that his initiative is one of the few new, innovative partnerships so far seeking to build sustainable local and national humanitarian capacity.
