Strengthening of the Venezuelan Red Cross Society
This proposal seeks to support IFRC in strengthening the institutional capacities of the Venezuelan Red Cross and its 41 branches after the restructuring process, continuing with an emphasis on organisational, programmatic and financial aspects. This will be achieved through electoral processes in each branch, a new Red Cross law, strategic planning and policy development, training, fundraising strategies for sustainability, and protection and climate change programmes over a three-year period in a national level.
| Paese/Regione | Tema | Periodo | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Venezuela |
Aiuto d'emergenza e protezione Governance nothemedefined
Efficacia umanitaria
Elezioni Protezione, accesso & sicurezza |
15.06.2025
- 30.06.2028 |
CHF 1’210’000
|
- The VRC is strengthening its organizational development by adopting a regulatory framework, renewing branch authorities and governance training, improving planning, developing volunteerism and promoting a safe and healthy environment for its members.
- The VRC is consolidating its policies and programme strategies to meet the needs of the population in unfavourable living conditions, especially in terms of protection, prevention and response to climate change.
- The VRC has financial sustainability strategies appropriate to its mission and principles.
- The processes of drafting and adoption of regulations have been successfully implemented.
- Branch authorities are democratically and transparently elected and those elected are trained in governance (Presidency and Red Cross Governing board at branch level).
- Integrity mechanisms are effectively implemented in all branches, ensuring communication, training and monitoring of compliance. (The Swiss Red Cross ensures the expertise in this)
- Institutional capacity in protection is strengthened through the establishment of a network of focal points, training in protection and safeguarding, and awareness-raising at the national level.
- Organisational and community preparedness and development to meet environmental and climate challenges are optimised.
- The National Society and branches have updated and standardised administrative regulations and procedures.
- VRC develops a national resource mobilisation strategy.
- Establishment of a new Governing Board through a democratic, participatory and transparent process, elected by more than 3’271 people at the national level.
- Creation, approval and implementation of new statutes and legal framework of the VRC , through a broad consultation process at the national level.
- Beginning of the process of reviewing and drafting a new VRC Law.
- Strengthening processes through training and support especially in the priority areas of finance and integrity.
- Creation of technological tools such as the official website of the Venezuelan Red Cross.
- Support for the improvement of the hospital services of the VRC at its central office.
- International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
- Settore privato straniero Sud/Est
-
Settore in base alle categorie del Comitato di Aiuto allo sviluppo (DAC) dell'OCSE EMERGENCY RESPONSE
GOVERNO E SOCIETÀ CIVILE
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Sotto-Settore in base alle categorie del Comitato di Aiuto allo sviluppo (DAC) dell'OCSE Relief co-ordination; protection and support services
Elezione
Assistenza materiale e servizi d'emergenza
Temi trasversali Il progetto sostiene in via prioritaria miglioramenti nell'organizzazione partner
Tipo di aiuto Mandato senza fondo fiduciario
Contributo al progetto e al programma
Numero del progetto 7F11227
| Contesto | The Venezuelan Red Cross (VRC), as a National Society assisting public authorities in the humanitarian field, is undergoing a key moment of its institutional transformation. Since August 2023, it has been engaged in a restructuring process focused primarily on protecting and safeguarding volunteers, re-establishing its internal legitimacy within a new institutional framework, improving its management mechanisms and restoring its capacity to act neutrally and impartially throughout the country. However, despite the progress made over the last two years, structural, technical and financial gaps remain, and the sustainability requires continued and strategic investment. The VRC does not yet have a national strategic plan or an institutional baseline that would enable it to guide its action with evidence-based criteria. The human and technical resources available remain limited. Although key reforms have been initiated, regulations, internal control policies and operational mechanisms to ensure transparency and accountability at all levels still need to be consolidated. Volunteering, an operational pillar of the organisation, requires a formal strategy to guide its development, retain volunteers and align it with the new institutional framework. Only the headquarters and the Caracas branch have begun standardisation of financial processes, with a national strategy for unification and financial strengthening in the other 41 branches still pending. Risk and disaster management is also a priority for the VRC. Although it has a emergency response team, the structure is being reformulated to incorporate a more comprehensive vision that also includes prevention, community preparedness and recovery. In this context, the present project becomes fundamental for consolidating institutional strengthening, closing critical gaps and ensuring that the VRC can fulfil its humanitarian mandate in a sustainable, cohesive and effective manner. |
| Obiettivi | Support the process of strengthening the Venezuelan Red Cross in collaboration with partners and allies to ensure the continuity of its operations and the fulfilment of its humanitarian mandate at the national level. |
| Gruppi target |
Direct beneficiaries: 2’624 staff and volunteers of the VRC Indirect beneficiaries: 5’228 people from communities close to VRC branches |
| Effetti a medio termine |
|
| Risultati |
Risultati principali attesi: Outcome 1 Outcome 2 Outcome 3 Risultati fasi precedenti: SDC has been providing support to the IFRC since 2018. Previous project had three phases, focused on Venezuelan migration crisis. In 2023, following the intervention of the Supreme Court, the SDC decided to develop a new project with a first phase of CHF 540’000 to focus on the the restructuring process. Key results of this previous phase are: |
| Direzione/Ufficio responsabile |
DSC |
| Partner del progetto |
Partner contrattuale ONG internazionale o straniera Economia privata |
| Coordinamento con altri progetti e attori | The ICRC, other National Societies (especially the Swiss Red Cross), Branches and the Volunteering of the VRC, share common values and interests as part of the Red Cross Movement. As a ‘moral body of public law’ and in line with its auxiliary role, the VRC maintains close coordination with the Venezuelan authorities. Similarly, as part of the humanitarian response structure in the country, there is collaboration with other actors of the humanitarian architecture. There are also synergies with other areas addressed by SDC (disaster risk reduction and protection), and with other SDC projects under Outcome 2, which focuses on strengthening local and national actors. |
| Budget | Fase in corso Budget Svizzera CHF 1’210’000 Budget svizzero attualmente già speso CHF 0 Budget inclusi partner del progetto CHF 2’342’800 Progetto totale dalla prima fase Budget Svizzera CHF 540’000 Budget inclusi partner del progetto CHF 1’750’000 |
| Fasi del progetto | Fase 2 15.06.2025 - 30.06.2028 (Fase in corso) Fase 1 01.12.2023 - 31.12.2024 (Completed) |
