All that we do is guided by the seven fundamental principles of the Red Cross movement: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary service, Unity and Universality.

Furthermore, people are the fundamental asset of the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement. The way in which we recruit and develop people, the working environment we offer and the manner in which we readily embrace financial accountability are essential ingredients in the realization of our fundamental principles and humanitarian values. We aim to ensure that at all times the organisation has the right number of people with the relevant skills and behaviour to apply their knowledge in meeting the organisation’s goals.

Our main areas of work in the Caribbean and worldwide include: disaster management; health and care in the community; and humanitarian diplomacy. Transversal capacity building is a feature of all our programmes in order to enable us to be in a better position to meet the challenges of the times.


Disaster Management

Disaster management is central to the mission of IFRC and its member Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Together, it is the largest humanitarian provider of disaster assistance to the world’s most vulnerable people.

Through global, regional, national and community based programmes, IFRC provides disaster preparedness, response and recovery services. These activities aim to reduce disaster impact, alleviate immediate suffering and re-establish livelihoods.

In the Caribbean there is a five year strategic framework which sets out the key priorities. The framework focuses on building capacity within communities to enable them to prepare for and respond to disasters in their area as well as to help neighbouring communities when the need arises. The framework promotes greater coordination between the Red Cross societies, community based groups and national disaster offices in the aim of reducing the number of deaths, injuries, and impact from disasters and public health emergencies.

Disaster Management Information System (DMIS)

Pan American Disaster Response Unit (PADRU)

Community-based Disaster Management (CBDM)

• Community Disaster Response Teams (CDRT)


• National Intervention Team Training (NIT's)


• Regional Intervention Team (RIT's)


• Disaster Management Network

Climate Change

Shelter

Food Security





Case Studies

Better be Prepared Documents

World Disaster Report

Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCAs)



Health Programmes

Good health- the state of physical, mental and social well-being – enables us to enjoy our human rights in fuller measure. Our health programmes are intended to reduce individual and community vulnerability. Our specific priorities for action are guided, therefore, by locally prevalent health patterns, within an overall approach as follows:

• We seek to expand the access that people in under-served communities have to primary and public health services, including during emergencies.
• We support improved healthcare to enhance treatment benefits for the most vulnerable people through nutritional, educational and other complementary input as well as psychosocial support.
• We encourage action on the underlying social, behavioural and environmental factors that determine good health.

First Aid

HIV and AIDS

Pandemics

Blood Donations



Humanitarian Diplomacy

Adapting ways of living to a changing world also requires IFRC to advocate for supportive public policies, to influence social attitudes, and to reach out to support those marginalized by poverty, old age, migration, illness, disability and other vulnerabilities.

Humanitarian diplomacy seeks to focus the attention and action of decision-makers and opinion leaders on the needs of people and communities. This is a responsibility based on the access of National Societies as auxiliaries to public authorities. The objectives of this work are to secure greater humanitarian access to people in need, foster understanding of the neutral and independent role of Red Cross and Red Crescent action, expand and diversify resources, and facilitate external partnerships.

Seven Fundamental Principles



Organisational Development

IFRC supports member National Societies to grow stronger – to be better able respond to humanitarian needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people. Through the volunteer and staff networks of National Societies, IFRC strives to bolster civil societies. This work enables both families and individuals to cope better with recurrent or prolonged disasters and crises. As a result, communities are able to protect and build on any development gains they have made.

The Red Cross and Red Crescent contributes by supporting all members of the community to prevent or reduce risk where possible, allowing everyone to enjoy better health and safer living conditions – global threats like climate change make no distinction between rich and poor.

In the Caribbean, the Federation’s approach is to prioritise support to Red Cross societies primarily in the areas of health promotion, disease prevention and control, preparedness and firstaid. This involves the strengthening of community-based health programming, supporting advocacy on priority humanitarian issues, especially by promoting human dignity in fighting intolerance, stigma and discrimination, and working with partners to bolster efforts aimed at improving health in the region, with the main areas of focus being:

• Scaling up the response to HIV and AIDS in the region,
• Increasing the capacity and preparedness of communities to respond to health threats;
• Increasing the capacity of communities to mitigate against the impact of public health emergencies;
• Supporting Red Cross Societies to expand their first aid activities;

Policies

Our Pledge