Executive summary
The North Africa region, made up of Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia, is economically diverse with rich, resource-abundant economies like Algeria and Libya and countries that are resource-scarce relative to their population size such as Egypt and Morocco. These five middle income countries are generally on track to achieving the health Millennium Development Goals (MDG) target by 2015, but still face significant rural and urban disparities and gaps in coverage.
Like other regions, North Africa faces two major challenges. The financial and economic crisis is increasing vulnerability and poverty at both a macro and a household level, representing both development and humanitarian difficulties for vulnerable communities and marginalized groups. The second challenge is climate change. In recent years, the North African Red Crescent Societies have responded to significantly more weather related disasters. These are frequently poorly predicted, and underline the imperative of early warning and early action. Both these challenges pose a significant humanitarian impact. From the obvious higher numbers of deaths, injuries and exposure to diseases and loss of property and possessions through to increased food insecurity and potential migration.
A wide-ranging consultation process has been undertaken this past year with the Red Crescent Societies of North Africa to identify priorities and operationalise the commitments taken through various regional and global meetings. The regional plan laid out in the following pages outlines the support the International Federation will continue to provide in developing stronger, integrated community based programmes, as well as adapting current disaster response and preparedness strategies to emerging challenges. These include climate change, population movement and migration. However, the fruits of the consultation will lead to a review of this plan in early 2011, making the support provided relevant and utilizing available resources in an accountable manner.
The revised plan will certainly articulate the new emphasis on humanitarian diplomacy that Strategy 2020 brings, to enable National Societies and the International Federation to more effectively engage in the humanitarian debate. Engaging in more robust humanitarian diplomacy with a range of external factors will foster greater understanding of the role the Red Crescent plays in development contexts, and the values that underpin its work.
