Annual report

Annual Overview 
| About the IFRC 
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strengthening, disaster response operations, 
resource management, representation as well 
as in formulating regional strategies in IFRC’s 
strategic priorities. 
Each Regional Office provides leadership in 
IFRC’s operational, National Society develop-
ment, humanitarian diplomacy, and strategic 
coordination support to its member National 
Societies. The functions include strengthening 
National Societies through capacity building 
activities; supporting disaster response oper-
ations and assisting and/or providing surge 
capacity where needed; resource management; 
development of country and regional strategies; 
coordination of National Societies in the region; 
and representation of the IFRC at regional level 
and at country level, where required.
The country and country cluster delegations 
allow the IFRC to provide individually-tailored 
support to National Societies – strengthening 
their capacities, ensuring strategic and oper-
ational coordination, promoting their integrity, 
and positioning them as strong and effective 
local actors in line with the IFRC’s support of 
greater localization in resilience building and 
humanitarian response.
The Heads of the country and cluster delega-
tions lead the IFRC’s support for National Society 
development, humanitarian diplomacy, account-
ability, resource development and all other work 
to enhance the capacities and services in each 
National Society’s domestic context. 
Heads of delegations also act as ambassadors 
for the IFRC, representing the organization within 
the country/cluster, and in dialogues with internal 
and external partners. Each one promotes a 
“One IFRC” approach designed to link strategic 
and operational objectives at country level, while 
promoting and reinforcing the National Society’s 
role as auxiliary to its government.
The IFRC’s presence at the country level allows it 
to support National Societies in their continuous 
development, in their long-term work, and in 
their local action when disasters and crises affect 
their country. By maintaining a country-level 
presence, the IFRC is able to provide leadership 
in coordinating technical assistance to National 
Societies; facilitate front-line surge capacity in 
emergency response operations, and act as the 
organization’s primary communication link with 
National Societies.
In addition, IFRC network reference centres, 
hosted by member National Societies and the 
IFRC around the world, contribute expertise and 
support in their specialized areas of humanitar-
ian work (see relevant section for full details).
The Secretary General has constituted manage-
ment teams at four different levels to ensure 
effective and efficient management of the IFRC 
secretariat.
The