In emergencies when people have lost their homes and belongings, Material Aid such as food, medicines, blankets, quilts, clothing, and health kits, are essential items for survival. Material Aid may be purchased locally, or, if not readily available or too expensive, may by ACT implementing member or partner be requested from ACT Material Aid donor agencies.

In the latter case, it may free up a budget line item amount for blankets / quilts etc., to use the cash coming in for the already covered needs for other essential emergency needs. At the same time it is important that Material Aid donations through lack of transparent and clear reporting cause problems for raising the necessary cash donations needed for the emergency operation (the value of Material Aid reported may result in an impression, wrongly, that an appeal is better funded than it in reality is).

In other cases, where implementing partners are prepared for emergency response and have stockpiled material resources for immediate distribution upon impact, the shipment of Material Aid , to replenish their warehouses for the next emergency, is an expedient, cost effective contribution.

The ACT Guidelines on Material Aid are available in English, French and Spanish.

GUIDELINES ON MATERIAL AID ENGLISH

GUIDELINES ON MATERIAL AID_FRENCH

GUIDELINES ON MATERIAL AID_SPANISH

(ACT Policies and guidelines)