Shared Aid Fund for Emergency Response to provide quick, localized assistance to disaster-stricken communities

MANILA, Philippines—The country’s first locally led fundraising mechanism for disaster response and relief, Shared Aid Fund for Emergency Response (SAFER), was launched and introduced to the sector’s key actors and stakeholders today, May 15, at the PETA Theater Center in Quezon City.

SAFER combines the network and capabilities of Caucus of Development NGOs (CODE-NGO), Humanitarian Response Consortium (HRC), and CBCP NASSA/Caritas Philippines to address the gaps in financing local disaster relief efforts.

Through SAFER’s efforts and the geographical spread of its three founding networks, aid will be localized from end to end. From fund collection to providing aid, SAFER is able to identify the needs of the affected households and communities on the ground and provide assistance in the quickest manner.

Member organizations of CODE-NGO, HRC, and CBCP NASSA/Caritas Philippines have a shared history, often converging in disaster-stricken areas such Leyte after Typhoon Yolanda in 2013, and Marawi after the ISIS-inspired rebellion in 2017. The three networks have member NGOs across the country, which they tap in times of crisis.

Instead of competing for resources, the networks in the consortium will be able to strengthen and expand their reach through a fund that is readily accessible to local organizations that directly provide aid to those affected by disasters. All regions of the Philippines are covered by SAFER, due to the long experience and wide reach of its member networks.

In his opening remarks at today’s launch, SAFER Chairperson Fr. Edwin Gariguez spoke about the vision of the consortium. “We all share in the goal of building better lives and thriving communities after every disaster, and we do this by igniting the bayanihan spirit among Filipinos through public fundraising,” he said. “Our agenda is to strengthen and expand our networks rather than compete for resources.”

Leaders of international and Philippine aid NGOs expressed optimism and support for SAFER’s goals. One such organization is Christian Aid Philippines, the Philippine arm of the official relief and development agency of 41 British and Irish churches that work to support sustainable development, stop poverty, support civil society and provide disaster relief in South America, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia. Christian Aid Philippines Country Head Alan Vera talked about Christian Aid’s struggle during the Marawi conflict. “After seeing the destruction in Marawi and the plight of the IDPs (internally displaced persons), “I expressed regret at the insufficiency of the funds” Christian Aid was able to provide our local partners,” he said.

Vera added: “The Filipino identity of SAFER will be felt by affected communities, by local responders, and by concerned international agencies. SAFER’s defining characteristics of downward accountability, humanitarian action and collaboration, and the connectedness of humanitarian-development-advocacy work will be imbued by time-tested Filipino values.”

The importance of localizing aid was echoed by United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Philippines Head of Office Mark Bidder. “Two years ago, the global aid community gathered in Istanbul for the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit. One of the most resonant themes to emerge was shifting the balance towards the greater localization of aid, making the most of national knowledge and capacity.”

Bidder expressed his support for SAFER, and added, “SAFER is a ground-breaking national funding mechanism dedicated to linking local funding to local action. It is a truly remarkable achievement and one that fully embodies the Filipino spirit of bayanihan, the essence of helping one’s neighbor and working together to overcome adversity and build community resilience.”

The Disasters Emergency Committee UK (DEC) expressed support for SAFER as well. DEC is an umbrella group of UK-based charities that coordinates and launches collective appeals to raise funds for emergency aid and rapid relief to people caught up in disasters and humanitarian crises around the world. DEC CEO Saleh Saeed said: “Around the world, organizations engaged in humanitarian fundraising are discovering that it is more effective to work together than to compete. There is a growing movement towards sharing resources and creating networks which can raise and distribute more money, faster than individual NGOs can on their own,” he said.

“This is a positive and progressive reaction to the reduced international funding currently available for the Philippines and points towards an empowered and sustainable future.”

With the strong support coming from the local arms of international organizations, SAFER already has a strong network and wealth of experience from its members and governance committee to fully achieve its goals. However, SAFER hopes to find fundraising partners in like-minded institutions that share their vision of providing quick and appropriate aid for Filipinos affected by disasters.

About SAFER

Shared Aid Fund for Emergency Response (SAFER) is the result of the combined network and capabilities of CODE-NGO, HRC, and NASSA/Caritas Philippines to address the gaps in local disaster relief efforts. SAFER fuels the efforts of partner NGOs through a Quick Response Fund that supports and finances their on-ground disaster relief activities.

For more information contact us at:

(02) 920 25 95 or through saferphilippines@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/saferpinas

safer.org.ph