Development cooperation by the Red Cross – what is it like?

We focus on helping the most vulnerable people, such as children, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, elderly people and people with illnesses or disabilities. 

Development cooperation is closely linked to humanitarian aid in areas suffering from disasters, conflicts or other crises. We also promote the operations of the local Red Cross or Red Crescent society 

More than 60 per cent of our development cooperation is targeted to Africa and more than 30 per cent to Asia. 

Most important help comes from nearby 

The Finnish Red Cross always plans and implements development cooperation together with the local Red Cross or Red Crescent, whose volunteers know their country and culture the best. 

Depending on local needs, the development cooperation can involve a variety of activities. 

• we increase people’s awareness of hygiene and health 
• we improve the preparedness of communities and schools 
• we organise first aid training 
• we help communities prepare for the impacts of climate change 
• we provide people with food and other basics through cash aid 
• we promote access to clean water 
• we build proper toilet facilities and sewers 

Health for everyone 

We are involved in long-term, preventive health work among the most vulnerable people. We place special focus on mother and child health and the improvement of sexual and reproductive health. 

The local volunteers trained by the Red Cross play a key role in informing and training the members of their communities about health-related themes. 

The volunteers can also monitor the growth and development of children, help prevent malnutrition, diarrhoea and infectious diseases as well as guide people to health care and healthy ways of living. 

Preparedness for risks 

Disaster preparedness work strengthens the knowledge and skills of people and communities for identifying various risks and preparing for them as well as for alleviating the impacts of crises. 

Through development cooperation, we help communities prepare for disasters in several African and Asian countries. This work for preparedness may include actions such as: 

• reviewing hazards
• developing warning systems 
• training and raising awareness. 

The improvement of local preparedness is important, since the most valuable help is nearby. When disaster strikes, the first people on the scene are neighbours and regional helpers, such as Red Cross volunteers. 

The employees of the national Red Cross or Red Crescent Societies and international aid workers join the chain of aid as required. 

Learn more about the results of development cooperation funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland: Finnish Red Cross’s Development Cooperation Annual Report 2023 (Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland).

The Finnish Red Cross is a partner of the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO). EU Humanitarian Partnership Certificate 2021-2027 (PDF). 

The development cooperation of the Red Cross promotes the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. 

The development cooperation of the Finnish Red Cross is funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, the EU and private donors and company cooperation partners.