This report covers the period 01 January 2009 to 31 December 2009.
In brief
Programme purpose: The Latin Caribbean Regional Representation implements the strategy outlined in the Federation of the Future and supports the National Societies of Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic in their work towards the goals of the Federation's Global Agenda by scaling-up programmes, increasing Red Cross capacity and strengthening its role in civil society.
Programme summary:
During 2009, the Latin Caribbean Regional Representation continuously has focused on the prominence of the Red Cross as a leader in disaster management at the national and regional levels, paying particular attention to community preparedness and to addressing the impact of the HIV and AIDS pandemic in the region. The Latin Caribbean Regional Representation additionally has provided concerted organizational development support to the three National Societies to strengthen their abilities to implement tailored development strategies that include branch and volunteer development, resource mobilization and accountability performance.
In the case of Haiti, the Secretariat has made an effort to ensure the continuity of the coordination process with the different actors present in country. However, the conditions for an Operational Alliance of the Haitian National Red Cross Society (HNRCS) on disaster management are not yet in place. Nevertheless, through Movement partners' combined efforts around the National Society's strategic plan, investment coordination has been established. During the second half of 2009 focus was given to updating the strategic plan and defining future priorities. A decision was taken to keep a minimum Secretariat presence after the phase out of the emergency teams working in Haiti during the 2008 hurricane season. This programme management staff supported planning and reporting mechanisms and improved the National Society's organizational development skills with a focus on regional committees and local branches. The International Federation in Haiti continued to work towards creating an adequate working environment and conditions for strategic discussion to take place between HNRCS and its Movement partners.
The transition of emergency operations to the Latin Caribbean Regional Representation allowed the Secretariat to maintain an adequate long term focus on recovery activities. At the same time, the workload required for operations significantly affected the capacity to implement regular programming for the National Societies of Haiti and Cuba. Particularly in the case of Haiti, a large recovery programme was completed.
Financial situation: The total 2009 budget is 2,041,008 Swiss francs (1,760,450 US dollars or 1,439,780 euro), of which 1,718,928 Swiss francs (84 per cent) was covered during the reporting period (including opening balance). Overall expenditure during the reporting period was 1,613,958 Swiss francs (79 per cent) of the budget.
When first planned in 2008, the 2009 budget did not include the operational impact of the two major disasters that have affected Haiti and Cuba; as a result some of the forecasted activities have been revised to make sure that it was still achievable for the National Societies to complete their commitments. Funding for Disaster Management activities in disaster risk reduction has been less than expected, but partially covered by the influx of funds linked to the Emergency Appeals of the recovery programme. Furthermore, the funding for running costs of the Latin Caribbean Office has been below that projected, which has had a direct impact on the quantity and quality of monitoring and reporting on all National Societies' activities.
See also Hurricane Appeal reports: the emergency operations in Cuba and Haiti.
Number of people we have reached: The Regional Representation focuses on building the capacities of the National Societies of Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The direct beneficiaries of the Regional Representation's programmes are the National Societies including their staff at headquarters and branch levels, governance bodies and volunteers. In effect, the Regional Representation's indirect beneficiaries belong to civil society since it is through the strengthening of the National Societies' capacities and the technical support offered that methodologies, initiatives and activities can be carried out and implemented accordingly.
Our partners: In Haiti, six Partner National Societies (PNS)— the American Red Cross, the Canadian Red Cross, the French Red Cross, the German Red Cross, the Netherlands Red Cross, and the Spanish Red Cross— have a permanent presence in the country and offer bilateral support. The Dominican Red Cross continues to work with their programmatic partners in the Spanish Red Cross and the Netherlands Red Cross. In Cuba, the Norwegian Red Cross has one delegate focusing on bilateral activities with the Cuban Red Cross on disaster preparedness and community risk reduction. The following tables shows Movement Partners per country:
