Canadian Red Cross Society West Africa Partnership Program

Results achieved as of the end of the project (March 2014) include: (i) vulnerability and capacity assessments conducted in 130 communities in Sierra Leone Liberia and Mali; (ii) 30 micro-projects with an emphasis on health and risk reduction implemented benefitting over 35 000 vulnerable people; (iii) over 2 500 staff and volunteers (52% of whom were women) from the Sierra Leone Liberia and Mali Red Cross Societies trained in at least one specific field (e.g. finance risk reduction gender mainstreaming leadership project management cycle); (iv) the image and status of the Red Cross Societies improved among national populations and with their respective governments by ensuring they are recognized as auxiliaries to public authorities in the humanitarian field as per the Geneva Conventions; (v) the advocacy and lobbying skills and knowledge of senior staff and Board members improved; (vi) the management of volunteers improved volunteer registers and databases established appropriate training in the areas of disaster management first aid and micro-project management provided which led to an increased number of volunteers; (vii) more than 2 000 school-based workshops on the effects of conflict on women and girls organised for high school and university students and teachers with 50 000 youth participating (53% of whom were women) ; and (viii) awareness raising sessions on children and youth affected by conflict organized in Canada with 24 800 people participating. These results are contributing to improving the ability of the Red Cross Societies in Mali Sierra Leone and Liberia to deliver community-based programs to reduce the vulnerability of local populations.