The Global Rapid Response Fund (GRRF) is an annual funding appeal administered by the ACT Alliance secretariat. The fund prioritizes ACT local and national members in line with our commitment to locally led response and in recognition of the distinct advantage these members have in providing timely, high quality, emergency response interventions. Funds for the RRF are provided by ACT Alliance members and non-members.

We are requesting USD 2,321,807 carrying over USD 678,193 from GRRF24, to replenish the fund for 2025 with the intention that the 2026 GRRF appeal will reflect the start of the fund expansion. The  RRF expansion is one of our commitments from the approved collective action on locally led response during the 2024 ACT Alliance General Assembly.

This appeal will aid communities impacted by humanitarian crises in up to approved proposals of 20 local member organizations responding to the needs of the communities affected by a crisis. The budget has been established based on historical data where roughly 17 member proposals are submitted annually. We expect an increased number of requests from climate induced disasters this year as we have seen a worsening trend in recent years.

GRRF25 Appeal

The ongoing fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo has left thousands dead and hundreds of thousands displaced, deepening the country’s already catastrophic humanitarian crisis over the past decade (UN Peacekeeping). Armed conflicts have resumed more intensely, over the past three years, between the regular army and its allies; the Wazalendo and M23 groups.

The most recent fighting that occurred in January and February 2025, was extremely violent, and resulted in the capture of the towns of Goma (North Kivu) and Bukavu (South Kivu) respectively. This recent fighting resulted in thousands of deaths and injuries, especially during the capture of the town of Goma according to Relief Web sources.

The 1st Revision of CEA 241 appeal reflects the current evolving needs in context within DRC, Uganda and Tanzania after partners updated their information through need assessments.

The revision 1 budget and results framework are updated slightly and slight changes incorporated like interventions changed from distributing Non-food items to distributing multi-purpose cash and cash for seeds since some IDPs in DRC returned to their homesteads.

CEA 241 Emergency Response to DRC Conflict Revision 1

MEN251 Triple HDP Nexus Approach

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) began issuing heatwave advisories starting April 7, with subsequent alerts on April 15 and April 25, warning of upcoming heatwave spells across various parts of the country. These advisories highlight the likelihood of dry and unusually hot weather conditions, with temperatures projected to be 6 to 8 degrees Celsius above normal.
In its 2025 Heatwave Management SOPs, PDMA highlights that Sindh has witnessed a substantial rise in temperatures over the past decade, with increasing frequency and severity of heatwaves. The effects of climate change, coupled with urbanization and deforestation, have exacerbated extreme temperature conditions across the region.

Community World Services Asia (CWSA) through the RRF is planning to establish three facilitation centers which will be operated for two months during the peak summer period (May-July). Each center will offer clean, cold drinking water and juice, and shaded rest areas for affected individuals. To ensure continuity of care and run the operations, each center will be staffed by two trained volunteers.
The centers will be fully equipped with pedestal fans, generators, basic medical supplies (such as ORS, cold sponging kits, Thermometer, BP apparatus etc ) and essential furniture to accommodate patients in distress.

Each of the three heatwave centers is expected to serve an average of 350 individuals per day, providing cold drinking water, juice, ORS, cold sponging and basic medical support. Over a two-month period (approximately 50 days), this translates to a direct service reach of around 52,500 individuals (i.e.,350 people × 3 centers × 50 days).

RRF 052025 Heatwave Response 2025 Pakistan (CWSA)

Karonga District in the Northern Region of Malawi received heavy rains in the month of March 2025 which led to flash floods. Most rivers in the district burst their banks,  damaging crops and destroying infrastructure (homes and sanitary facilities).
Unfortunately, majority of the damaged crops were at their maturity stage and this puts affected households at risk to loss of harvest resulting to poor access to food and income sources.
The displaced persons are living in camps (schools and public structures) while others have integrated within host communities.
The situation is likely to worsen due to heavy rains which have continued within the district.

ACT Malawi Forum member the Evangelical Lutheran Development Services plans to respond with Rapid Response Funding.

Karonga Floods Response Malawi

On March 28th, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, with a significant impact on the country. The earthquake’s epicenter was located approximately 20 km northeast of Mandalay at a depth of 10 km, followed by a second aftershock of 6.4-magnitude. In response, Myanmar’s military junta declared a state of emergency in several affected regions, including Sagaing, Mandalay, Magway, northeastern Shan State, the Naypyitaw Council Area, and Bago.

The ACT Alliance forum in Myanmar consider this earthquake as a major crisis in the country. With the current ongoing security situation and conflicts, the current earthquake aggravated the overall situation. According to UN and government reports in Myanmar the current official death count is at least 1600 people have been killed, and many injured. The US Geological Survey estimated that the death toll could top 10,000. Efforts have been hampered by the shortages of heavy machinery. From the figures Mandalay state is one of the worst affected state in Myanmar with a population of around 1.2 million people. According to media and government sources, almost all the  state has been badly affected.

The earthquake caused extensive damage across multiple sectors. Healthcare facilities are overwhelmed, with hospitals in the affected regions suffering structural damage and struggling to accommodate the growing number of casualties. Transportation infrastructure has also been disrupted, with significant damage reported to roads, bridges, and key transport routes, which has hampered rescue and relief efforts.

Despite the continuously evolving crisis on the ground and communication challenges affecting needs assessments from the humanitarian community, several needs can already be underlined from rapid needs assessments conducted by the consortium’s local partners as well as the wider humanitarian community.

The rapid need assessments conducted by the ACT Alliance revealed that Food, NFIs, Shelter, Mental Health, WASH, livelihood are the main needs of the affected population.

ACT Alliance members Christian AID, Finn Church Aid and Swiss Church Aid (HEK/EPER) together with their local implementing partners have developed this appeal to address the urgent needs of around 60,000 affected people. The appeal is designed for a period of 12 months with a focus on providing Cash Assistance, shelters support, Food & NFIs distribution, WASH services, Education and Psycho-social support to the traumatized people. The total amount requested in the appeal is 5 million USD.

Myanmar Earthquake Appeal – MMR 251

On March 7, 2025, a hydrometeorological event in Bahía Blanca, located in the southern region of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, triggered severe flooding, with nearly 350 millimeters of rainfall recorded in just a few hours. According to the municipal mayor, the resulting water mass affected over 70% of the territory.

Approximately 2 million hectares of agricultural and livestock land are now underwater, with significant losses expected for rural producers. The Bahía Blanca district, which includes the localities of Bahía Blanca, General Cerri, Coronel Rosales, Punta Alta, and Ingeniero White, has a total population of 334,505. It is estimated that nearly 70% of the population—approximately 234,154 people—has been affected by the flooding, with around 90,000 homes directly impacted by rising waters.

The floodwaters have also caused extensive damage to infrastructure, destroying multiple bridges and inundating fields, homes, businesses, churches, and enterprises, even reaching the city center. The agricultural and livestock sector, local commerce, and industries have all been severely affected.

As Argentina enters the autumn season, falling temperatures and the potential for additional winter rainfall raise concerns about an increase in respiratory illnesses. Given the country’s complex economic situation, the risk of heightened social tensions, mental health challenges, and rising conflict among the affected population is growing.

The economic impact on local livelihoods is expected to significantly disrupt daily life and further strain the local economy. Protection risks related to gender-based violence and limited healthcare access for migrants—an issue highlighted by the director of the city’s main hospital—require close monitoring. Additionally, due to difficulties in cooking, the price of gas cylinders has risen, driven by speculation among local vendors. Food prices have also surged, and access to the city remains difficult due to disruptions on peripheral roads. If the situation persists, shortages of essential goods and raw materials could occur, further driving up prices.

Through the Rapid Response Fund (RRF), CREAS will provide humanitarian assistance to communities affected by the flooding in Bahía Blanca, with a primary focus on the most impacted areas—General Cerri and Ingeniero White. Key needs include psychosocial support (including GBV prevention) and WASH interventions (distribution of hygiene and cleaning kits), complementing donations received from the general public across the country. The project will run for two months, supporting 300 families (1,500 people) with household hygiene kits and providing psychosocial support to 100 individuals.

RRF 03 2025 Argentina Floods

As Ukraine enters its fourth year of full-scale war and the eleventh year of conflict, the humanitarian crisis remains severe and prolonged. The latter half of 2024 saw intensified hostilities, mass displacement, and worsening access constraints, leaving 12.7 million people in urgent need of assistance and  3.6 million internally displaced, having lost their homes and livelihoods. 9 million people projected to remain below the poverty line. The ongoing conflict, compounded by displacement, infrastructure damage, and restricted access to essential services, demands a sustained and adaptive humanitarian response.

Women, children, older persons, and persons with disabilities disproportionately impacted. Women-headed households face heightened economic insecurity, while 1.5 million children are at risk of PTSD and other mental health conditions. It is projected that early 10 million people in Ukraine will develop a mental health condition. Older persons, particularly those in high-risk areas, struggle with isolation and limited medical care, while persons with disabilities face severe access barriers to basic services. Gender-based violence remains a serious concern, as women and girls are at heightened risk of exploitation and abuse, exacerbated by their increased caregiving responsibilities.

Six members of the ACT Ukraine Forum (ChristianAid, CWS, Diakonia CRD, HEKS/EPER, HIA and LWF) are actively responding with an appeal to raise USD 17.576.268 over two years to addresse the humanitarian situation in Ukraine thgrough activities that balance emergency aid with early recovery.

UKR251 Appeal

UKR251 – Results Framework

The Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak presents significant challenges to the health systems in the Kagera Region and potentially neighbouring areas. Healthcare facilities, including faith-based institutions that constitute a vital component of the region’s healthcare delivery, face limited resources, inadequate preparedness, and the urgent need for surge capacity to manage the disease effectively. At the community level, widespread myths, misconceptions, and stigma further exacerbate the crisis, impeding early detection, prevention, and treatment efforts. For example, many communities associate the disease with witchcraft, which discourages individuals from seeking timely medical care and complicates containment measures. Vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, pregnant women, and individuals with pre-existing conditions, are at heightened risk, making a comprehensive and inclusive response essential.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) proposes targeted interventions to strengthen the health system and engage communities effectively. ELCT’s previous experience underscores the importance of leveraging faith-based networks, delivering accurate health messaging, and fostering community involvement to build resilience against outbreaks.

RRF 02 2025 Tanzania Marburg Outbreak

Since December 2024, armed violence between two Non-State Armed Groups (NSAGs) has intensified in the Catatumbo subregion, particularly in the municipalities of Tibú, Ábrego, Hacarí, Convención, Teorama, El Tarra, and San Calixto. The escalation of the conflict has resulted in a sharp increase in forced displacement and confinement, disproportionately affecting women, children, adolescents, social leaders, signatories of the peace agreement, and indigenous communities from the Barí and Yukpa peoples. The first clashes between these NSAGs were reported on January 16, 2025. Since then, hostilities have expanded across multiple municipalities, leading to displacement, movement restrictions, and heightened risks related to contamination from improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

As a result, over 50,000 people have been forcibly displaced, primarily seeking refuge in the urban centers of Cúcuta, Tibú, and Ocaña. The scale of displacement has surpassed the response capacity of municipal administrations, prompting requests for support from departmental and national authorities. Approximately 57% of the department’s municipalities have been affected, with the highest number of displaced persons arriving in Cúcuta (23,066), Tibú (13,541), and Ocaña (10,285).

The ongoing conflict between NSAGs is spreading to other regions of the country, as armed actors continue to contest territorial control. Additionally, the humanitarian impact of the violence in Catatumbo extends beyond the region, both due to the large influx of displaced persons into urban areas and the strategic movements of NSAGs across different territories.

In response, the Iglesia Evangélica Luterana de Colombia (IELCO) is seeking to provide humanitarian assistance to displaced persons in Cúcuta and Ocaña over a five-month period. This response, implemented through the Rapid Response Fund (RRF) mechanism, aims to reach 2,500 individuals through four key interventions: (i) Protection services and advisory support; (ii) capacity-building on gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and child protection; (iiii) Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA); and, (iv) psychosocial support.

RRF 01 2025 Colombia Catatumbo Crisis