SRC guidelines for using the funds collected

Having collected S$65 million in the "Tidal Waves Asia Fund", the Singapore Red Cross is putting out a set of guidelines on how it is to be spent for any NGO that wishes to apply--"to ensure that the Fund is used in the most effective and impactful way."

These guidelines are intended to facilitate and encourage agencies to propose projects that will both meet immediate and long-term needs, such as those of equipping locals with knowledge and skills to continue the work when the agencies leave.

The two principles underlying the guidelines are also clearly spelt out:

a) Projects to be considered by the Committee shall be projects to be carried out in the areas directly affected by the Indian Ocean Earthquake/Tsunami that would help restore normalcy to the affected areas and their populations.

b) Priority shall be accorded to meeting needs for community facilities destroyed or damaged by the earthquake/tsunami.

The SRC is requiring a fairly detailed write up for any proposal to use the funds: detailed budget, clear objectives and deliverables, implementation plan and time line (up to 6 months), exit plan. I like the emphasis on a need to illustrate the viability of the project in terms of a clear plan with feasible outcomes and deliverables, sustainability, exit strategy, and "favourable consideration to joint projects between Singapore agencies and responsible agencies of the affected country" (read the whole thing).

Like many things in Singapore, the plan is fairly well thought out--it has the right ideas. Let's just hope that things don't mess up in the execution.

Also from their website (Jan 25), the SRC teams in Meulaboh and Sri Lanka have returned. The press releases also contain details about their work in the disaster areas:

(from this):

Under the overall banner of the Singapore Red Cross (SRC), 65 volunteers from various VWOs and NGOs set sail on the Republic of Singapore Navy LST RSS Endeavour for Singapore on Saturday, 22 January 2005. They arrived today at the Changi Naval Base at 12 noon...

In Meulaboh, the team which included logisticians, medical personnel, as well as emergency behavioural counsellors from SRC, Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), Mercy Relief, Touch Community Services and the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) worked closely with the Indonesian Red Cross Society and the medical facilities established by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). The members were split into 3 teams to assist in food distributions and onsite relief support, work with the medical teams in the hospitals and provision of other logistical support. Additionally, the teams also brought along over 100 tonnes of medical supplies, water, emergency packs, batteries, face masks, blankets, field tents as well as two lorries for the affected victims in Meulaboh.

The Singapore Red Cross coordinated this volunteer relief mission with the SAF, the Ministry of Community Development, Youth & Sports (MCYS) and the NVPC.

(from this):

The second Singapore Red Cross (SRC) medical relief team has just returned from Trincomalee, Sri Lanka today.

Comprising of doctors and nurses from the two hospital clusters - National Healthcare Group and SingHealth - as well as SRC volunteers, all 14 members departed from Colombo at 1.30 a.m. Sri Lanka time on flight SQ 401, and arrived in Singapore at 7.30 a.m. this morning. Following on the footsteps of the first team who came back on 16 January, they continued to provide immediate outpatient care to the tsunami victims in the mobile clinic.

This medical mission was organised with close collaboration with the Sri Lankan Red Cross and the Rotary Club of Trincomalee.