Annual report

Enabling Functions
| National Society development 
153

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Our approach
The IFRC understands that locally led organiza-
tions are best placed to understand a context, 
its stressors and its opportunities, and be able 
to anticipate and respond to emerging and 
fast-changing local and global needs.
However, the scale, quality and effectiveness of 
Red Cross and Red Crescent work are depend-
ent on the ability of National Societies and their 
branch networks to stay fit for purpose. To this 
end, the IFRC provides continuous support to 
help ensure they carry out their mandates in 
line with humanitarian principles and values, and 
carry out their rights and duties as members of 
the IFRC, including actions to strengthen integ-
rity and compliance.
This is the essence of the IFRC’s work in National 
Society development, which is defined as “the 
continuous effort of each National Society to 
achieve and maintain an accountable and sus-
tainable organization that delivers – through 
volunteers and staff – relevant services to 
address needs, reduce vulnerabilities and build 
resilience in a changing environment”.
It encompasses all aspects of the life of a 
National Society and includes what is referred to 
as organizational (core) development, and also 
capacity strengthening or enhancement.
Organizational development focuses on fun-
damental issues such as a National Society’s 
identity, legal base, strategic directions, its rela-
tionship with its environment, auxiliary role etc.
Capacity strengthening/enhancing aims to 
improve a National Society’s existing services 
and capacities. It covers both the development of 
its programmes and its underpinning processes.
In parallel to this direct support, the IFRC also 
plays a central role in supporting the coordina-
tion of National Society development support, 
maximizing partner contributions to avoid dupli-
cation and enhance impact.
The organization also works to ensure the 
engagement, wellbeing and safety of Red Cross 
and Red Crescent volunteers, inspire youth and 
bring their ideas and solutions to fruition, and 
encourage diversity in volunteer leadership 
across the network.
The IFRC promotes peer-to-peer exchanges, 
learning and support across a National 
Society to allow for collective action and 
joint problem-solving. This includes National 
Societies’ engagements in regional networks 
and communities of practice and regional net-
works around National Society development to 
enhance the co-design and co-development of 
innovative approaches.