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NATIONAL SOCIETY PROFILE
The São Tomé and Príncipe Red Cross was created in 1976 and admitted to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in 1985. It has administrative and financial autonomy and is an auxiliary to public authorities for work in the social field, peace, and the prevention of diseases and disasters. It is present throughout the country and has five regional committees in the districts of Água Grande, Caué, Lembá, Cantagalo and the Autonomous Region of Príncipe.
With support from the IFRC Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF), the National Society has recently responded to the country’s worst flooding in a decade. It has also been responding to a worsening dengue outbreak since October 2022, and has been instrumental in the fight against COVID-19. With climatic shocks and other crises becoming more frequent and intense, the São Tomé and Príncipe Red Cross expects its auxiliary role to continue growing.
The São Tomé and Príncipe Red Cross Strategic Plan 2021-2025 confirms the National Society’s commitment to pursue and develop humanitarian assistance based on five strategic areas:
Institutional development: Strengthening the National Society’s technical and financial capacities, and improving the quality of the services it provides to the population. It will particularly focus on digitalizing its work, and gradually improving its functional social protection system.
Information and dissemination: Improving the visibility of the National Society and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and disseminating the basic concepts of international humanitarian law.
Health, social protection and women’s protection: Contributing to progressively and sustainably improving health conditions for vulnerable communities throughout São Tomé and Príncipe, while reducing domestic violence and empowering women.
Relief and disasters: Establishing a disaster response team and building its capacity to respond, and recruit and train new volunteers as emergency back-up.
Youth and culture of peace: Establishing and training youth structures in the districts of Água Grande, Lembá, Cantagalo, Caué and the Autonomous Region of Príncipe to carry out social and humanitarian activities within communities.