Attachments
Executive summary
The five countries of the Andean Region - Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela - are highly exposed to a combination of factors such as floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, droughts, health emergencies, densely populated urban areas, political instability and internal disturbances that exacerbate the vulnerabilities of large poor and marginalized populations. This situation, combined by high levels of inequity and lack of access to basic services, makes communities more vulnerable and sets a major humanitarian challenge, which is addressed by Red Cross National Societies in the region. While capacities are in place to respond to vulnerable people's needs, these must be strengthened in order for National Societies to fully contribute to the Federation's Global Agenda Goals and fulfil their humanitarian mission.
The Inter-American Plan 2007-2011 brings the Global Agenda and the Framework for Action to the continental level and focuses on creating "safer and healthier communities". The Americas Zone is concentrating on the development of a New Operating Model to support National Societies in a more efficient way to maximize existing Movement resources and achieve the Global Agenda Goals, while focusing on the provision of specific and relevant services to the member National Societies. The New Operating Model makes efficient use of existing resources of the Americas Zone Office, and the Pan American Disaster Response Unit (PADRU) (both based in Panama) and the two centres of reference located in Central America.
During 2008, the Secretariat in South America developed plans for 2009-2010 to support the strengthening of National Societies' capacities in priority areas, taking into consideration the result of a survey carried out with the Societies in April and May of 2008 with an aim to define their priorities and where the secretariat could best support them. Some of the common priorities in the Andean Region include: disaster risk reduction and vulnerability reduction, health in emergencies, leadership strengthening, empowerment of vulnerable communities and the prevention of violence.
Programme areas have based their 2009-2010 plans on the identified priorities to provide support to specific countries on key issues. Integrated and tailor-made support to National Societies will be ensured to each National Society through the new support structure with two regional representations in South America, one for the Andean Region (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela) and one for the Southern Cone (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay). The programme support to the key areas of Disaster Management, Health and Care and Principles and Values will continue to be provided from Lima for both offices. By the end of this period, National Societies will have a stronger organisational structure and will be better prepared to respond to vulnerabilities in the strategic areas of Disaster Response and Disaster Risk Reduction, Health and Care, and Principles and Values in line with the four Global Agenda Goals.
The total 2009-2010 budget for the Andean Region, South America is CHF 3,728,176 (EUR 2,374,634 or USD 3,407,839).