IFRC Recovery programming guidance 2012

Recovery programming for the IFRC refers to an approach of how people are supported following a disaster, and starts early, alongside relief. It borrows ways of working from longer-term sustainable development and adapts them to a humanitarian context. As individual and community needs are diverse, a recovery programme should cover a range of different responses and sectoral areas. A well-integrated recovery programming approach works in a participative, inclusive, accountable way that does no harm.

These guidelines help to describe the main elements of a recovery programming approach required to deliver high-quality, timely and accountable humanitarian assistance. They were developed under the guidance of a steering group comprised of IFRC management and technical staff and key National Societies, as well as with substantial consultation from the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and the wider humanitarian sector. An accompanying training package can be found on the recovery page of the Federation's Disaster Management Information System (DMIS). The comprehensive training package has been designed with the goal of providing disaster management practitioners with skills and confidence to facilitate a better common understanding of what a recovery programming approach means for the IFRC.

The intention is to update the guidelines every two to four years or as necessary on the basis of user feedback. Therefore we would request that IFRC staff and volunteers who use these guidelines note what was helpful, what was not, and any additional material that should be included in future editions. Your feedback is welcome via the recovery page of the DMIS or directly to the Senior Officer Recovery, Disaster and Crisis Management department. We look forward to hearing from you and trust that you will find these guidelines relevant to improving our work with vulnerable and disaster-affected populations.