ACT Alliance demonstrates its value as the leading faith-based alliance in humanitarian response by working with faith and humanitarian actors at the global, regional, national, and community levels. ACT harnesses the combined strength of its members in delivering humanitarian response at scale and with considerable reach through joint programming approaches.
We commit to an effective ecumenical response that saves lives and maintains dignity, irrespective of race, gender, belief, nationality, ethnicity, or political persuasion. Humanitarian needs define our priorities and the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence guide our actions. We remain committed to strengthening the resilience of affected communities and to being accountable to people and communities affected by a crisis. The ACT Alliance Secretariat is certified against the Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability and is committed to the Sphere Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response.
Through its national, regional and sub-regional forums ACT Alliance provides humanitarian and emergency preparedness support to local communities helping them during a crisis and to become more resilient.
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The Rapid Response Fund is an innovative funding mechanism designed to put local communities at the centre of decision-making and is recognised as one of few such funding mechanisms across the sector. The RRF provides valuable opportunities to demonstrate the niche of faith actors in humanitarian response as we work closely with local ACT members and their community networks. On average, the RRF funds 20 emergencies annually and responses are implemented within six months.
The primary mechanism for large scale or global emergencies, including protracted crises: ACT Alliance raises an appeal to its membership with both requesting and funding members co-owning the process. Appeals are open for funding during their entire project period and accessible to both national and international ACT Alliance members.
Consortia represent a new funding mechanism for ACT Alliance. As part of Emergency Preparedness planning, consortiums are established before a disaster strikes and consortium members share a vision and strategic focus. Members self-organise and develop their own financial management models and programme strategies supported by the EPRP process and tools.
Emergency preparedness and response planning is integral to the strengthening of ACT Alliance’s capacity to respond effectively in emergencies through joint programming.
ACT national and regional forums develop emergency preparedness and response plans (EPRPs), working collaboratively to understand potential disaster risks and plan how to respond to emergencies quickly and effectively. Forum EPRPs are accessible by members through an online platform, which can be viewed by other members who may be interested to support them. ACT Forums use specific ACT guidelines and tools to support the process of developing an EPRP which is reviewed regularly.
As part of the holistic and integrated approach to humanitarian response, development and advocacy, ACT’s emergency preparedness and humanitarian response is supported by stronger humanitarian coordination and advocacy with stakeholders and duty bearers.
In the current strategic period our advocacy focuses on three banner commitments to the Grand Bargain at the World Humanitarian Summit where ACT has made significant investments and where member engagement is quite strong: the localisation agenda and the primary role of national/local members and local faith actors; demonstrating the important role of faith actors in humanitarian response; and strengthening of cash-based programming across the humanitarian sector.
Background
May 31st: tropical depression 2-e is reclassified as Tropical Storm Amanda. In 3 hours, 10% of the average annual rainfall had hit El Salvador. On Sunday the 1st of June, El Salvador’s government declared a Red Alert.
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On the morning of Thursday 12 to 14 March 2020, the country of Egypt was aggressively attacked by rainfall caused flooding in multiple populated areas (Eleven governorates in Egypt), causing massive property damages and loss of human life. ACT local national member BLESS response will be providing immediate relief through the cash distribution to 60 houses in (6) affected communities, accompanied with hygiene promotion and awareness raising of flood safety and environment. RRF03-Floods Emergency in Egypt
Floods and landslides in south Western Uganda have caused devastating effects. Heavy rains that saw major rivers burst their banks have displaced and affected an estimated 8,266 households who are sheltering at Schools and churches. The overall coordination of this action will be spearheaded by ACT member, Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC). The response will target Pregnant and lactating women, children under five, and the Elderly with food, non-food items and shelter support. Uganda_Floods Emergency RRF No. 04
In just eleven weeks from January through to mid-March 2020, the outbreak of COVID-19 has progressed from a discrete outbreak in one Chinese city, to clusters of cases in many countries, through to a pandemic with most countries reporting cases, and many countries experiencing significant outbreaks. The current context in many countries is such that urban agglomerations and informal settlements have grown tremendously (e.g. Delhi, Kolkata, Dhaka, Manila, Jakarta, Johannesburg, Sao Paolo), and mega-camps have been maintained to cope with massive and protracted displacements (e.g. Darfur, Dadaab, Zaatari, Cox’s Bazar). In addition, people on the move (e.g., Venezuela, Central America, Turkey-Greece border, Syria-Turkey border, Sahel, etc.) are a major vulnerable group, with infections expected to rise exponentially when COVID-19 hits small shelters and holding/detention centers. ACT Alliance Secretariat and members have established coordination mechanisms at the global, regional and national levels. ACT Forums/Forum Members are working on developing a Global Appeal that is largely grounded on the overall principles set out by the IASC in the Global Humanitarian Response Plan to respond to the emerging needs and aid the development and implementation of COVID-19 programs with a budget of USD 12,000,000. COVID-19 Global ACT Appeal - updated Annex 2 - Summary of Country Contexts and ACT Capacity Call for Proposals - ACT COVID-19 Appeal COVID 19 RRF Template Summary of Approved RRF Proposals Infographic of the appeal Two-page summary of the appeal Updated Call for Proposals - ACT COVID-19 Appeal COVID 19 Appeal Template COVID 19 Appeal Budget
Erratic and poorly distributed rainfall in Zimbabwe for two years has resulted in a severe drought affecting the Provinces of Matabeleland North and South. The same eastern region is yet to recover from unprecedented flooding from Cyclones Idai and Kenneth. Humanitarian needs include food assistance, emergency health and nutrition support, increased access to safe water and reviving the market system. Zimbabwe’s food security situation is growing ever more precarious as millions of Zimbabweans require food assistance. Five members from Zimbabwe ACT Forum members, Methodist Development and Relief Agency (MeDRA), Lutheran Development Services (LDS), DanChurchAid (DCA), Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) and Christian Aid (CA) have raised an appeal to respond to the drought in the sectors of Cash programs, Food assistance/Security, WASH, Climate Smart Agriculture, Emergency Preparedness and Protection. Zimbabwe_Drought Emergency.
Madagascar is a country particularly exposed to high impact weather phenomena and also one of the countries most impacted by cyclones in the world. This year, in January 2020 Madagascar’s West Coast has been struck by a large and long-lasting tropical depression characterized by heavy rains of up to 100 litres per m² within one hour, since the beginning of January 2020. The floods have caused massive damage and death and the government of Madagascar on 25th January 2020, declared the floods a national emergency. The Government of Madagascar launched an appeal on January 24th to all national actors and international partners, to call for assistance to support emergency aid activities, early recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction. In this response, the two ACT national members will target approximately 5,000 Households along the West Coast of Madagascar within the sectors of WASH, Livelihoods and unconditional cash response. Madagascar_Flood Emergency MDG201
Multiple disasters hit the Philippines in the past 4 months affecting about 5.8 million people across eight out of its 17 administrative regions. The consecutive disasters since October 2019 has overwhelmed the capacity of the government to support the affected population. From the typhoon and volcanic eruption in Luzon, followed by the strong typhoon in Visayas, and the series of earthquakes in Mindanao, the affected population had struggled to meet their basic needs such as food, restore their lost assets and much more, recover from the devastating impact of these disasters. The poorest households from marginalized and vulnerable sectors bear the heaviest brunt of these disasters. ACT Alliance members' National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) and World Renew (WR) will give assistance those most in need addressing food, WASH, shelter, and livelihood with an appeal budget of USD2,002,853 for one year. PHL 201 Multiple Disasters in the Philippines Appeal
The humanitarian crisis in Iraq remains one of the largest and most volatile in the world. The pace of displacement over the past four and a half years is nearly without precedent with more than 5.4 million people displaced since the rise of the Islamic State (IS). The 2019 Iraq Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) states 6.7 million people continue to be in need, and although 4.3 million people have returned to their place of origin, 1.7 million people remain internally displaced. At present 721,000 IDP’s and 241, 000 Syrian refugees reside within the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) many of whom have remained in prolonged displacement since the beginning of the Syrian conflict in 2011. In federal Iraq, Ninawa governate remains the most effected by the continued influx caused by the rise of IS. Furthermore, the current Turkish military intervention in North East Syria (NES) has caused further insecurity across the region. Critical high explosive contamination, severe infrastructure damage, psychological trauma among local populations and significant loss of livelihood opportunities continue to compound the traumatic effects of 8 years of brutal fighting. Act members: CA, DCA, HIA and LWF plan to support 38,964 beneficiaries directly affected by the Syrian Conflict and the rise of the Islamic state in Iraq addressing shelter/NFI, WASH, Protection/Psycho-social, Livelihood/Early Recovery, emergency preparedness and mine action sectors with a budget of USD 3,720,892. Appeal_ Iraq_Conflict-IRQ201
On the tenth year of this protracted conflict, the situation in Syria continues to drive the largest refugee crisis in the world. The past and present hostilities compounded with the continued massive displacement of populations, remain the main drivers of humanitarian needs , causing a UN declared level three humanitarian emergency. According to recent figures from the Humanitarian Response Plan Monitoring Report , the scale, severity, and complexity of needs across Syria remain overwhelming. Of the estimated 11.7 million people in need of multi-sectorial humanitarian assistance across Syria, 5 million people are experiencing acute needs, 6.2 million people are internally displaced, and many have been displaced multiple times. Children and youth comprise more than half of the displaced, as well as half of those in need of critical humanitarian assistance. Act members: DSPR, FCA, LWF and MECC plan to support 47,073 individual beneficiaries affected by the protracted crisis in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon addressing shelter/NFI, Food Security, WASH, Education, Protection/Psycho-social, Livelihood/Early Recovery, Health/Nutrition, and capacity building sectors with a budget of USD 4,182,603. Appeal Syria _Conflict - SYR201 SYR201 Syria Conflict - Rev_1
From October to December 2019, Kenya experienced one of the wettest rainy seasons on record, with rainfall totals ranging up to 400 percent on average. Floods and landslides in November caused the death of 132 people, displaced 17,000 people, and affected approximately 330,000 people according to relief web (Dec 2019). Livelihoods have been negatively affected due to the loss of livestock and submerged farms. School access is hampered and collapsed latrines have caused deterioration of WASH structures. Anglican Church of Kenya, Church World Service, World Renew, National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), and ICCO- Cooperation together have raised a concept note to provide life-saving assistance to households affected by the flood emergency and support them recover from the impact of floods. KEN201 Concept Note - Flood Emergency Response
Moderate to heavy continuous Deyr seasonal rains, which started in early October 2019 in many parts of Somalia, have continued to be received across the country causing flood emergencies. The flooding situation in Somalia has resulted in massive displacement affecting particularly children, mothers and the elderly who are now facing serious hunger, health and protection risks in an area already receiving little to no humanitarian assistance due to insecurity and conflict. Somali Water and Land Information Management (SWALIM) estimates that floods in Middle Shabelle have damaged more than 10,000 hectares of cropland in Jowhar and Mahaday Weyne. Assistance to the flood-affected populations is ongoing and gradually scaling up, UN clusters in Somalia have reported significant gaps regarding food assistance, emergency shelter, non-food items (NFI), safe drinking water and construction of latrines. ACT Somalia members DKH and NCA have submitted an appeal to respond to the flood emergency. SOM201 Emergency Response Project for Floods Affected Communities in Somalia
The northeast monsoon brought continuous heavy rain in the greater Jakarta area that caused flooding at the start of the new year. Recorded rainfall on 1 January reached 377 mm. The weather agency, Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika (BMKG) reported that rain may still continue for the next week. Extreme heavy rainfall may still continue until February. Based on BNPB data on January 4, 2020, there were 53 people died, and 1 person is still in a missing condition. By 3 January there were 173,064 people (39,627 families) that were evacuated and living in temporary shelters. The floods affected 103 subdistricts and 277 villages. ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) reported that a significant number of people have chosen to return to their homes but still require assistance. ACT Indonesia Forum member, Indonesia Christian Association for Health Services (PELKESI) has accessed ACT Alliance's Rapid Response Funds to support WASH, health, and psycho-social needs. RRFs 012020 Indonesia Jabodetabek Floods
On the morning of Tuesday the 14 March 2020, Egypt was aggressively attacked by heavy rainfall caused flooding in multiple populated areas, causing massive property damages. More than 1000 houses were totally/ partially demolished by the wild effect of the strong gush of water. Also, extensive areas of agricultural land were destroyed by the effect of the downpours. Means of livelihood and income were negatively impacted. The floods claimed more than 30 human lives including children. The ACT member (BLESS) is planning on submitting a Rapid Response Funding proposal to ensure that the floods affected persons’ basic needs are met with regards to Shelter/ NFI. Egypt_Floods_Emergency
In the afternoon of Saturday the 14 March 2020, the region of Sambava situated in the North East of Madagascar, was affected by a Cyclone (Herold). Only 8 weeks after the last devastating storm damaged the West Coast of Madagascar, the island was struck by cyclone Herold, on the North-Eastern coast. Cyclone Herold was accompanied by heavy rains causing fast-rising floods, landslides and large spread inundations. Both disasters have had fatal consequences, especially in remote areas, where houses and harvest were damaged and lost.” ACT Madagascar forum members are planning to provide 1 500 additional HH to the already existing ACT appeal MDG201 to ensure that the cyclone-affected persons’ basic needs are met with regards to improved access to safe water, provision of shelter and access to Food and Non-Food Items through distribution or most likely cash distribution. Alert_Madagascar_Cyclone
During the night of Tuesday the 18 February 2020, the province of Quispicanchis, Cusco and Huancané, Puno in Peru, was affected by hailstorm and heavy rains resulting in damage and loss of crops such as potatoes, corn, wheat, quinoa, fava beans, barley, edible plants that are the main sources of food and income. Additionally, houses and animal sheds have been affected in their roofs and walls, putting in danger the life and health of approximately 1,500 peasant families, especially the ones with children under five years-old and the elderly. This situation is continuing and has caused the collapse of some house walls and animal sheds, calamine's of the rooftop are broken allowing the downpour get into the houses and damaging mattresses and house stuff, and causing respiratory diseases in children and elderly people. Peru Floods Hailstorm and heavy rains in Cusco and Puno
On the morning of Monday 2 March 2020, the region of of Tumbes, Northern Lima, Ica, Junin, and San Martin in Peru, was notified with an increased endemic level of the Aedes aegypti, the main vector of the viruses Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya. The Epidemiology Offices of the Regional Health Directorates have reported the following number of confirmed cases per region: Ica, 27 cases; Northern Lima, 6 cases; Junín, 414 cases; Tumbes, 40 cases; San Martin, 664, cases. It should be noted that, in the first five weeks of 2020, there have been 12 deaths from dengue in and a total of 5,480 cases. Peru: Dengue outbreak
| On the morning of Tuesday, the 3rd March 2020 six out of nine regional states namely - Afar, Amhara, Oromia, Somali, Tigray and Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’, as well as the administrative city of Dire Dawa, were affected by a desert locust invasion. The desert locust invasion if not controlled could cause large scale-scale crop, pasture, and forest cover losses. The Ethiopian government Ministry of Agriculture has conducted aerial control operations and treated 22, 500 ha but the scale of the problem is unprecedented since so far, the locusts have only been intercepted in 1,033km2. As control operations need to be scaled up, Ethiopia national Disaster Risk Management together with Ethiopia Agriculture Task Force in collaboration with FAO has initiated an assessment of the impact of the locust invasion in Ethiopia and findings would be shared mid-March 2020. ACT Ethiopia Forum is monitoring the situation and emergency teams are ready/preparing to respond according to the results of a contextual analysis and rapid needs assessment. Ethiopia_Desert Locust Infestation Alert |
During the night of Sunday 26 January 2020, the district of Kilwa in Lindi region, Tanzania was hit by floods caused by heavy rainfalls which continued for three days from 23rd to 25th January 2020. According to the local District Commissioner’s office, at least 7 persons have lost their lives. Rescue teams are using boats to save lives by relocating affected families to temporary camps mostly in school buildings. Tanganyika Christian Refugees Service (TCRS) a national ACT member is monitoring the situation and emergency teams are ready/preparing to respond according to the results of contextual analysis. Tanzania_Flood Alert
The Government of Madagascar has declared the flooding situation in Madagascar a national Emergency after heavy rainfall and flooding caused by a tropical disturbance affected nearly 107,000 people, displaced more than 16,000, and caused at least 31 deaths in Madagascar since 20th January 2020. The situation has led to massive floods, including a rapid rise of rivers with enormous water flow, corresponding landslides and massive destruction of the surrounding infrastructure (roads and bridges) and agricultural areas. ACT Madagascar Forum Member FJKM (The Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar) which is the second-largest Christian denomination in Madagascar have mobilized their volunteer network and have started to respond. Madagascar_Flood Alert.
The Philippines has been seeing a succession of disasters since December 2019 that have so far affected about 5.7 million people across the country. Overall these have taken a significant toll on the capacities of the government and other actors to support the affected population. All three major island groups have been hit: typhoon and volcanic eruption in Luzon, typhoon in Visayas, and earthquake in Mindanao. Across these areas, it has been difficult for affected people to restore their assets particularly their homes and livelihoods. The government estimates that almost USD 2 million worth of agriculture have been affected and economic losses of more than USD60 million, and the situation is not expected to improve very soon. ACT Philippines Forum plans to submit a single Appeal for these disasters with NCCP as lead requesting member. The ACT Appeal will define a comprehensive and strategic approach for responding, considering the multiplicity of needs in a wide geographic location and mindful of the limited resources and capacities available within the ACT Forum. ALERT Philippines Multi Disasters
Continuous and heavy rainfall caused flooding in Jakarta and its surrounding cities for two days during new year. Poorly maintained rivers, lack of water infiltration and littering has resulted in the rise of the water levels at many points in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi (Jabodetabek). As of 4 January, there are about 173,000 people have been displaced in 207 sub-districts of Jabodetabek as reported by National Disaster Management Authority of Indonesia (BNPB) with 53 dead. About 409,000 have been affected by the floods. ACT Indonesia Forum have been coordinating. Jakarta-based Indonesian Christian Association for Health Services (ICAHS/PELKESI), in partnership with Salvation Army and Gereja Kristen Indonesia (GKI), has started its relief operations by providing medical services in selected Jakarta areas and have already served 158 people. They will continue their work in Bekasi in the coming days. PELKESI plans to access ACT Alliance’s Rapid Response Fund to continue their health services in flood-affected areas. ALERTS Indonesia Jakarta Flood
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that typhoon Phanfone (local name: Ursula) 600,142 families or 2,431,821 persons were affected in 2,702 barangays (villages) in MIMAROPA, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, and CARAGA regions. About 19,553 families or 77,989 individuals are still staying in government designated evacuation centers. Twelve municipalities in nine provinces have declared a State of Calamity. About 428,781 houses were damaged. In the afternoon of Tuesday the 24 December 2019, the province of Salcedo, Eastern Samar in the Philippines, Phanfone made its first landfall with sustained wind speeds of 120 kph and gusts of up to 150 kph. The storm brought heavy rain and violent winds as it traversed the Visayas region of Central Philippines, taking a similar path as typhoon Haiyan in 2013. It exited the landmass through Mindoro and Palawan provinces on December 28, making seven landfalls overall. ACT Philippines Forum, through National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) plans to raise an appeal. ALERT Philippines Typhoon Phanfone
The humanitarian crisis in Iraq remains one of the largest and most volatile in the world. The pace of displacement over the past four and a half years is nearly without precedent with more than 5.4 million people displaced since the rise of the Islamic State (IS). The 2019 Iraq Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) states 6.7 million people continue to be in need, and although 4.3 million people have returned to their place of origin, 1.7 million people remain internally displaced. At present 721,000 IDP’s and 241, 000 Syrian refugees reside within the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), many of whom have remained in prolonged displacement since the beginning of the Syrian conflict in 2011. Act Iraq forum is preparing an appeal to respond to the needs of the affected communities. Act members: CA, DCA, HIA and LWF are getting ready for a response in Iraq targeting Shelter/ NFI’s, WASH, Livelihoods, Protection and Mine action sectors. Call-4-Action_Iraq_Humanitarian_Crisis
The Syrian crisis is in entering its tenth year of protracted conflict causing a UN declared level three humanitarian emergency. The past and present hostilities compounded with the continued massive displacement of populations, remain the main drivers of humanitarian needs. As such the Syrian crisis remains the largest displacement crisis in the world, with over 5.6 million registered refugees and over 6 million people displaced within Syria. Jordan hosts 671,074 registered Syrian refugees. Lebanon hosts 1.5 million Syrian refugees along with 31,502 Palestine Refugees from Syria, and a pre-existing population of more than 175,000 Palestine Refugees. With this Lebanon is on street demonstration for over that 55 days demanding change in the government, which put the country on hold, with negative affect of the Lebanese population in general and more specific on the refugees mainly affected quality of life, purchase power, disrupted of social cohesion as well as economic investment, devaluation of local currency and ongoing sanction that affect food and health supply. North East Syria recent developments also worsen the situation, as the number of people living in camps in the northeast has almost tripled in 2019. Act JSL forum is preparing an appeal to respond to the needs of the affected communities. Act members: DSPR, FCA, LWF and MECC are getting ready for a response in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon targeting shelter/NFI, Food Security, WASH, Education, Protection/Psycho-social, Livelihood/Early Recovery, Health/Nutrition, and capacity building sectors. Call-4-Action_Syria_Humanitarian_Crisis
Head of Humanitarian Affairs
Global
niall.orourke@actalliance.org
Geneva, Switzerland
Regional Humanitarian Officer
Africa
Caroline.Njogu@actalliance.org
Nairobi, Kenya
Humanitarian Operations Manager
Global
Cyra.Bullecer@actalliance.org
Bangkok, Thailand
Humanitarian Programme Advisor
MENA
Amman, Jordan
