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Guinea-Bissau

Guinea-Bissau 2023 IFRC network country plan (MAAGW002)

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NATIONAL SOCIETY PROFILE

The Red Cross Society of Guinea-Bissau was officially established by decree in 1977 as a voluntary relief society. It was created to assist the public authorities in the humanitarian field and admitted to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in 1986. It has its own legal personality and administrative and financial autonomy.

The National Society was created with the aim of preventing and alleviating, with absolute impartiality, the suffering of vulnerable people, without discrimination based on nationality, race, sex, class, religion or political opinion. It strives to promote and strengthen universal humanitarian law and principles.

In its 45 years of existence, the Red Cross Society of Guinea-Bissau has helped strengthen the capacity of communities to deal with crises and disasters, supporting the most vulnerable people to access shelters, livelihoods, water and sanitation. With its 11 regional committees, 56 local committees and 3,000 volunteers in communities, the National Society has been able to provide timely support to the most at-risk groups. This has enabled them to mitigate and respond to emergencies and disaster outbreaks, and support people with rehabilitating their lives and livelihoods afterwards. These interventions build on recognition of the National Society as an auxiliary to the Government, and as a support system for communities and vulnerable people.