Approximately 300 million people are affected by humanitarian crises each year. The past decade has witnessed a steady increase in the incidence and severity of “natural” and “man-made” disasters, the effects of which are felt most acutely in poor countries and among poor communities.

In 2008, Irish Aid provided over €108 million  to over 40 countries to meet the humanitarian needs of some of the world’s most vulnerable populations. Humanitarian funding is distributed through our UN partners, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

NGOs play a valuable role in the implementation of Irish Aid’s humanitarian programmes. Ireland has a close and dynamic relationship with Irish and international NGOs in the area of humanitarian assistance. We view this co-operation as crucial especially during and in the aftermath of humanitarian crises. The Emergency Humanitarian Assistance Fund (EHAF) and the Emergency Preparedness and Post-Emergency Recovery Fund (EPPR) are two key resource windows which enable such co-operation. Funding available from EHAF and EPPR is further complemented by support for humanitarian capacity development which is available from the Rapid Response Initiative (RRI).

The specific goal of the EHAF is to save and protect lives in acute crisis situations. It can be used to finance activities that provide protection for civilians, the delivery of clean safe water, sanitation services, food, shelter, healthcare, or other forms of assistance necessary to sustain life.

It is Irish Aid policy to consider some elements of early recovery and some aspects of preparedness from EHAF – where they form an integral part of a larger acute needs response.  Interventions that are primarily designed to assist vulnerable people in post-emergency contexts to re-establish their lives and livelihoods are supported from the EPPR budget line. Typically EPPR funded programmes require mid- to long-term and integrated forms of engagement such as food production, community capacity building, permanent housing, infrastructure reconstruction, social protection.

The EPPR fund is also designed to support distinct disaster risk prevention, mitigation or reduction activities where they cannot be incorporated into longer term development programmes.
In attempting to forge greater linkages between relief and development approaches, Irish Aid provides funding for recovery and preparedness type interventions to selected agencies from within its Multi-Annual Programme Scheme (MAPS). See http://www.irishaid.gov.ie/grants_maps.asp

The RRI has three pillars: 
• stockpiling of relief materials in UN depots;
• a corps of humanitarian professionals available for deployment to partner agencies;
• building the emergency response capacities of UN agencies, the Red Cross, and NGOs. 
Under this third pillar partners can apply for funding to strengthen the skills, systems and/or equipment necessary for fast and effective humanitarian response.

The application and reporting formats for EHAF/EPPR and RRI funding are available via the links below.
EHAF is available to all Irish and International NGOs
EPPR is available to all Irish and International NGOs with the exception of Irish Aid MAPS funded organisations.
Pillar Three of the RRI is available to all Irish and International NGOs

Applications can be submitted at any time to eandr@dfa.ie

Applications and reports can be submitted electronically. It is not necessary to send additional hard copies.

Irish Aid undertakes to acknowledge receipt of applications and reports within 10 days of receipt.

The application and reporting formats for Emergency and Recovery funding are considered working drafts. They will be piloted over the course of 2009 and revised and updated as part of an on-going review process.