The Rapid Response Fund (RRF) is a global fund of the ACT Alliance administered by the ACT secretariat. Funds for the RRF are provided by ACT Alliance members and non-members as part of an annual appeal. The fund is designed  to prioritise ACT national members in line with our localisation commitments and in recognition of the distinct advantage these members have in being at the forefront of emergency response in their local contexts.

The RRF is a unique tool for empowering national members and local partners as frontline and first responders at the onset of an emergency. ACT Alliance through its national members has been at the forefront of supporting local responses, often in contexts that may not always attract the attention of the media and donors. In such contexts, the impact of disasters at community level can be profound, and it is in such instances where the relevance and effectiveness of local and national actors and faith-based organisations, as well as ACT Alliance’s reach, is clearly demonstrated.

With the Governing Board’s approval of the new Humanitarian Policy (May 2021), roll-out preparations to operationalise the policy have commenced.   The request for funding for GRRF21 is for USD 2,500,000, with the intention that the 2022 GRRF appeal will be issued in December of this year, as the revised Humanitarian Policy comes into effect in January 2022.  Programme Quality, member capacity and emergency preparedness will be central to our reformed humanitarian mechanism.  The Secretariat proposes to utilise five percent of RRF funds to resource the roll-out of the new Humanitarian Policy and its mechanisms which strengthen the RRF.

GRRF21 Appeal

India’s coronavirus cases continue to rapidly increase despite several states imposing localised lockdowns, curfews, and curbs on movement. Within a month, since the second wave broke out in late March, Covid-19 cases have reached unprecedented levels, with over 400,000 cases per day.

The risk of getting infected with the mutated variant that spreads easily is very high while hospitals are already overwhelmed with overworked staff and low supply of equipment and medicines. In effect, people with mild and asymptomatic cases are often treated and quarantined at home. Attention is focused on urban areas where cases are increasing rapidly that rural areas have been neglected and mostly uninformed about protection and prevention. Migrant communities are still insecure about their jobs where most are still wanting to move back to their home villages.

ACT India Forum is responding to the crisis supporting 16,500 households and 10 hospitals with a budget of USD1,656,781. They will provide cash support and personal protection kits to households; oxygen supplies and paramedical training to hospitals; and raising awareness on gender issues, Covid-19 prevention and mitigation to the communities working with local faith leaders.

IND211 India Covid Crisis

Tropical cyclone Seroja carried heavy rains and strong winds that triggered flash floods and landslides in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) on Sunday, 4th April 2021. The Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) reported 138 people died, 61 missing, and up to 1,114 destroyed or damaged houses. Residents lost their homes due to being submerged by water, mud, and soil as well as public facilities and infrastructure damaged by the disaster, such as bridges, roads, and airports being submerged by water. Areas affected were East Flores, Malacca, Lembata, Ngada, Alor, East Sumba, Sabu Raijua, Rote Ndao, Timor Tengah Selatan, Ende, and Kupang City. Access and communication to affected areas have been difficult as roads and communication facilities were damaged.

The response with a budget of USD60,966, will be led by PELKESI, will give assistance to 3,500 affected people (700 households) providing health services, food, shelter materials, and household items. The forum is planning to respond in East Sumba District , Kupang City and Malaka District that were directly affected by the disaster. It also aims to build the capacities of two local churches for humanitarian response.

RRF 08 2021 Indonesia NTT Flash Floods

As the Syria crisis entered its tenth year, civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict with an estimated 6.1 million internally displaced person and 1.4 million returnees.

The impact of the conflict which is large and growing pushed millions of people into unemployment and poverty. The international sanctions especially the Caesar Act that took effect on 17 June 2020 are tightening the stranglehold on Syria’s economy and increasing the suffering among the Syrian people first and foremost and making the plight of ordinary Syrians even more desperate.

On top of all these, the COVID-19 pandemic still poses serious public health risks and caused  more loss of the Syrian  economy, worsening the impoverished situation of the most vulnerable people.

Syria ACT forum members LWF and MECC  will respond to the humanitarian crisis with an appeal to raise USD 2,991,360 to build the resilience of the affected communities and continue addressing the most pressing multi sectorial basic needs in Syria.

SYR211 Appeal -Syria Crisis

A magnitude 6.2 earthquake hit the districts of Majene, Mamuju, and Polewali Mandar in West Sulawesi, Indonesia on 15 January.  This was preceded by a 5.9 magnitude earthquake in the same area a day earlier with several aftershocks.  The earthquake left more than 30,353 persons in the affected districts living in temporary shelters.  The earthquake has also resulted in the disruption of electricity, communication, water supply, transportation access (by air, sea, land), and there is also security issue like road blockage due to landslides and looting of relief aids in some locations.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also put the disaster in a complicated situation. The Indonesian government has started to deploy rescue teams and assistances to the affected areas. Based on the results of a quick assessment from BNPB, the governor of West Sulawesi Province has declared the state of emergency in the province.

ACT Indonesia Forum through Pelkesi and Yakkum Emergency Unit (YEU) will be supporting about 5,000 households with food, shelter materials, medical services, and drinking water, with funds from ACT Alliance’s Rapid Response Fund.

Indonesia West Sulawesi Earthquake RRF 032021