This document is a brief summary of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) global agenda for years 2006 to 2010. For over 85 years the IFRC has been working to prevent and alleviate human suffering. Today, the IFRC fully supports the objectives of the World Conference on Disaster Reduction and continues to work through its member National Societies and in partnership with the United Nations, national governments, donors, and civil society to meet the objectives of the Hyogo Framework for Action. To promote disaster preparedness and mitigation, the IFRC is launching various advocacy, alliance-building, awareness-raising, and knowledge-sharing initiatives. The International Federation has three main strategies for addressing disaster risks: (1) strengthening the preparedness capacities of communities so they are in better position to respond when disaster occurs; (2) promoting activities and actions that mitigate the adverse effects of hazards; and (3) protecting development projects from the impact of disasters. The document provides examples of the IFRC’s work in Nepal, Indonesia, and the XVII Inter-American Conference, integrating vulnerability and disaster risk assessments into its programs, mainstreaming disaster risk reduction (DRR) into its policies and practices, and promoting the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA). The IFRC’s broader global agenda consists of four main goals: (1) reducing the adverse effects of disasters; (2) reducing the impact of diseases; (3) empowering local communities, civil society, and Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies; and (4) reducing discrimination and social exclusion in order to effectively deal with serious vulnerabilities. It seeks to achieve these goals by scaling up its response capacity where the needs are greatest.
General Risk Reduction