This report covers the period of 01/01/2006 to 31/12/2007 of a two-year planning and appeal process.
In brief
Programme summary: The National Societies of central Europe, as part of their health and care activities, set the prevention of HIV and TB as high priorities. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies supported the transfer of skills and knowledge by ensuring that professional medical experts, health institutions, Red Cross volunteers and targeted direct beneficiaries were involved in all phases of the project planning, implementation and monitoring. This approach also had a positive impact on attracting new Red Cross volunteers. Fighting stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV and TB has also been a priority area, addressed by numerous public campaigns.
An important achievement is the progress made towards developing the regional contingency plan. The electronic disaster management database - which is an integral part of the plan - gives information on the capacity within the region, and helps the National Societies to achieve better cooperation between neighbouring countries in case of disaster.
Serious flooding and landslides in April 2006 across parts of Romania and Serbia once again called the regional disaster response team (RDRT) into action. In June and November 2007, minor flooding also occurred in Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia (including Kosovo) and Montenegro as a result of heavy rains. RDRT members were deployed further afield to assist in Romania, Pakistan (earthquake) and Moldova (drought).
The population movement programme in Croatia has continued to assist the most vulnerable returnees in rebuilding their lives and helping them in the social reintegration.
Other noteworthy landmarks of the past two years has seen a more diversified funding base achieved in the Albanian and Macedonian Red Cross Societies through increased governmental funding and income-generating activities such as commercial first aid. The National Societies of Croatia and Bulgaria have achieved financial sustainability and become donor National Societies. These successes can be seen as the fruits of a lot of hard work from the National Societies themselves, and targeted support from the International Federation's regional representation.
As of November 2007, the regional representation covers the three Caucasus National Societies of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia that are also supported by the International Federation's country representations in these countries. To reflect these important changes, the new name is the regional representation for Central Europe and Southern Caucasus.
Goal: The focus of the work with the Red Cross Societies of the central European region was on:
- Strengthening their role and capacity in health and care and disaster management programmes to reduce the number of deaths, illnesses and impact from diseases and disasters as viable partners of their governments.
- Achieving a stronger and more responsive organization that can better respond to the needs of vulnerable communities and groups through its organizational development programme, and in empowering local vulnerable communities by means of participatory community action through its participatory community development (PCD) programme.
- Reducing intolerance, social exclusion and promoting respect for diversity and human dignity.
Needs: Total 2006-2007 budget was 4,073,677 Swiss francs (USD 3,643,718 or EUR 2,468,895), out of which 78 per cent covered. The main donors were the Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish Red Cross Societies, the International Federation's Capacity Building Fund and the UK's Department for International Development (DFID).
No. of people we help:
| Programme area |
Direct Beneficiaries(1)
|
Indirect Beneficiaries
|
| Health and Care |
100,100
|
NA
|
| Disaster Management |
1,003
|
42,000
|
| Organizational Development |
250
|
400
|
| Participatory Community Development |
10,800
|
300
|
| Population Movement |
2,960
|
200
|
| Total |
115,113
|
42,900
|
Notes:
(1) Direct beneficiaries receive support or gain something directly from the programmes, whereas indirect beneficiaries are people who are affected, even if not targeted, by the programmes.
For further information on this Appeal, contact:
Central Europe and Southern Caucasus Regional Representation: Elias Ghanem, Regional Representative, Budapest; phone: +36 1 248 33 00, fax: +36 1 248 33 22, email: elias.ghanem@ifrc.org
Europe Zone Office: Leon Prop, Deputy Head, Budapest, phone: +361 248 33 00; fax: +361 248 33 22; email: leon.prop@ifrc.org