International Committee of the Red Cross – Institutional Support 2017-2019

This grant represents Canada’s institutional support to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). ICRC uses these funds along with other donors’ funding to achieve its mandate. The ICRC’s primary mission is to help protect the lives and dignity of people affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence. The ICRC seeks to provide affected people with assistance and prevent further suffering by promoting and strengthening international humanitarian law and universal humanitarian principles. With the support of GAC and other donors the ICRC's emergency operations respond to the needs of people affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence in some 80 countries. Activities include: (1) providing water sanitation basic medical care and other essential assistance services; (2) promoting neutral impartial and independent humanitarian principles with all stakeholders; and (3) engaging with all stakeholders to negotiate safe access to populations in need. Canada’s institutional support to ICRC represents a continuation of two decades of Canadian support to the organization. Continued support is essential to this critical humanitarian organization and is consistent with Canada’s upcoming role as Chair of the ICRC Donor Support Group as of June 2017.

The expected immediate outcomes for this project are: (1) improved access to humanitarian assistance and restored living conditions for people affected by armed conflict; (2) improved understanding of humanitarian principles by stakeholders; and (3) improved access to affected populations. The expected Intermediate outcome for this project is reduced vulnerability of crisis-affected people especially women and children.