Millions of people around the world are in need of humanitarian assistance. They face a variety of life-threatening challenges – including hunger, malnutrition, lack of access to safe water, protection challenges, poor housing, outbreak of diseases, lack of healthcare and severe poverty.

The situation of these people is often aggravated by violence, family separation and the social breakdown of communities.

New responses are required to meet the challenges these populations face – and the Dutch Relief Alliance is uniquely positioned to make a difference in the lives of these most vulnerable people.

Integrated programmes

The Dutch Relief Alliance (DRA) is a coalition of 16 Dutch aid organisations funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA). The structure of the DRA enables participating NGOs to respond to major international crises in a timely and effective manner.

We are committed to saving lives and improving the health and wellbeing of the most affected adults and children in the world. That is why we quickly and efficiently design and implement responses to acute and protracted humanitarian crises. The combined expertise of our member organisations results in effective programmes with integrated interventions.

Flexibility

The evaluation of the Dutch Relief Alliance’s humanitarian aid responses in the period 2015-2017 made it clear that flexibility is one of the key strengths of our relationship with MoFA – we fill gaps and meet needs in joint responses as quickly as possible, without lengthy approval processes.

The Dutch Relief Alliance works to ensure fast turnaround times, selection of member organisations and programme approvals in rapid-onset disasters, taking into consideration that the best placed member organisations will respond.

More than 3.5 million reached

I am extremely proud of what we’ve achieved so far. The work of the Dutch Relief Alliance has proven successful. Since our inception we have launched almost 50 Joint Responses to meet urgent needs – with a budget of €60 million per year.

Together we have more impact. An impact report shows that in 2017 we reached more than 3.5 million adults and children in eleven different countries to support them to meet basic needs such as food, safe water, sanitation, protection, shelter and healthcare.

Thanks to the sustained multi-annual funding from MoFA, the Dutch Relief Alliance will continue its collaborative work, and, in the years to come, millions more people will receive vital humanitarian assistance.

Read the AidEx blog

Nok van de Langenberg, Chair Dutch Relief Alliance and Head of Humanitarian Action and Safety & Security Coordinator at CARE Nederland