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Maldives

Maldives: Appeal No. MAAMV001, 2009-2010 - Programme Update No. 2

Attachments

This report covers the period 1 July to 31 December 2009.

The vision of the International Federation is to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies, with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering, and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.

In brief

Programme purpose: Following the institutional establishment of the Maldivian Red Crescent on 16 August 2009, the purpose of the programmes was adjusted to support the development of the new National Society's institutional capacity. Such support is meant to enable the Maldivian Red Crescent to provide humanitarian services to vulnerable people, function independently as an auxiliary to the government in providing those services, and gain recognition by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as well as become a member of the International Federation, with all rights and obligations.

Programme summary: During the early part of the reporting period, community engagements were minimal as activities implemented were mostly process-oriented. The first General Assembly of the Maldivian Red Crescent was held on 16 August 2009; in addition to electing a governing board, it adopted an interim development plan 2009-2010 as the basis upon which the new National Society is to be developed over a neyear period.

Immediately after the General Assembly, focus turned to implementation of the plan. Firstly, the National Society's governing board recruited a secretary-general who started work during September. The secretarygeneral then initiated the process of hiring key management and programme staff. Secondly, an induction of the National Society's governing board, management team, national advisory council members and programme staff was organized by the International Federation as part of their competence building. Thirdly, establishment of island units and atoll branches followed. The units and branches are now being enabled to develop services supported by appropriate structures, systems and capacity. Volunteers will be recruited from the units and branches to be directly involved in service delivery.

No. of people we help: The total budget for 2009 has been revised downwards from CHF 2,873,500 (USD xxx or EUR xxx), to CHF 996,193 (USD xxx or EUR xxx) in line with a realistic implementation rate. Coverage is 110 per cent while expenditure from January to October 2009 was 77.6 per cent of the total 2009 budget Maldives

The first General Assembly of the Maldivian Red Crescent was held on 16 August 2009. In this picture, centre, is the newly elected President of the National Society. International Federation. (see attached financial report). The financial report from January to December 2009 will be issued with the 2009 annual report by April 2010. With the Maldivian Red Crescent now operational, expenditure during 2010 will increase significantly. As such, additional financial and in-kind contributions to the 2010-2011 plan, in support of the new National Society, are welcome and much needed.

The major contributors to this plan, to date, are the Canadian Red Cross and the Hong Kong branch of the Red Cross Society of China. On behalf of the Maldivian Red Crescent, the International Federation would like to thank the contributors for their response to this appeal.

No. of people we help: During the period under review, the focus of the programme was not on delivering services at the community level, but rather on developing structures and systems. Direct beneficiaries of this process were 30 staff members, 10 governing board members and national advisory council members. Even so, at least 90 people were reached with first aid trainings.

Our partners: Ministry of Health and Family, Ministry of Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC), island authorities, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), American Red Cross, British Red Cross, Canadian Red Cross, French Red Cross, Hong Kong branch of the Red Cross Society of China and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).