Attachments
Foreword
The auxiliary role provides essential space for dialogue and mutually beneficial relations between National Societies and public authorities. This Guide to the Auxiliary Role is designed to help external actors, particularly public authorities, develop their understanding of the auxiliary role and strategies to enhance their partnerships with National Societies.
This document provides clear and simple information to showcase the auxiliary role as a tool to clarify roles and responsibilities in the humanitarian field within the framework of the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. A strong auxiliary relationship between a Red Cross or Red Crescent Society and the public authorities can make humanitarian and development action more effective and efficient.
The Guide shows practical examples from this region of how the auxiliary role creates a space for dialogue and partnership. While there is no ‘one fit’ approach for a successful auxiliary relationship, there are countless opportunities for the auxiliary role to assist both governments and Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies in achieving their humanitarian goals and activities. The auxiliary role is a reflection of the context in which it exists. There can be many viewpoints of what a successful auxiliary role should look like.
Therefore, the Guide is not meant to be prescriptive but to illustrate the breadth of what can come under the umbrella of the auxiliary role to assist states and National Societies in achieving their humanitarian and development goals. This Guide may be used also in conjunction with the previously published Guide to Parliamentarians, available on our public website at ifrc.org.
We hope that this document will serve to strengthen relations between National Societies and public authorities and will initiate many valuable exchanges between them.
Yours sincerely,
Walter COTTE
Regional Director, Americas
International Federation of Red Cross and
Red Crescent Societies