A BRIEF presentation
WHO WE ARE The Danish Refugee Council (DRC), founded in 1956, is Denmark s largest and one of the world s largest independent NGOs advocating for and securing sustainable solutions for refugees and displaced and their affected surroundings globally. DRC has been ranked among the five best NGOs in the world for the last five consecutive years by the independent organisation NGO Advisor. Denmark s largest NGO One of the world s leading refugee NGOs DRC is CHS certified. This means that our work has been certified as being of the highest quality standards according to the Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability.
WHAT WE WANT DRC s Vision: A dignified life for all displaced DRC s Mission: We assist refugees and displaced, protect their rights and empower them towards a better future DRC s Values: Humanitarian, respect, independence and neutrality, inclusion, honesty and transparency
NUMBER OF... REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS GLOBALLY 68,500,000 COUNTRIES WITH DRC PRESENCE 40 EMPLOYEES 8,500 VOLUNTEERS 8,000 TURNOVER DKK 3 billion EUR 400 million USD 460 million
Geneva Denmark Serbia Kosovo Ukraine Georgia Bangladesh Myanmar Vietnam Afghanistan Turkey Syria Lebanon Jordan Iraq Iran Guinea Burkina Faso Mali Tunisia Libya Central African Republic DR Congo Sudan Niger South Sudan Kenya Ethiopia Somalia Yemen Djibouti Uganda Burundi Colombia Macedonia Bosnia and Herzegovina Greece Algeria Nigeria Cameroon Tanzania Brussels WHERE WE ARE
HOW WE WORK Displacement The Complete Circle by DRC Fleeing Safety DRC is one of very few organisations covering the complete circle of displacement globally. This means we assist displaced persons in every aspect of their lives. From the very beginning of an acute crisis we are assisting people when they are forced to leave their homes. We also assist displaced persons in the homes where they often stay for years. While the displaced person waits for a durable solution in refugee camps or host communities, we assist them with protection, legal advice, education, income generation among many other things. We stay with the displaced person advocating sustainable solutions until a durable solution has been secured and we can assist the displaced in returning home or beginning a new permanent life elsewhere. Integration Return
WHAT WE DO KEY SeCTORS / GLOBAL 30% 17% 15% 12% 8% 5% 4% 4% 3% 2% Protection Income generation Food security Shelter & non-food services Coordination & operational services Water, sanitation & hygiene Community infrastructure & services Mine action Education Armed violence reduction
PATRON HRH CROWN PRINCESS MARY OF DENMARK As patron of the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), I have visited several camps for refugees and internally displaced persons. Through the years I have observed how camps have gone from being temporary to becoming permanent places of residence where the inhabitants have few or no prospects of creating a future for themselves. DRC has learned how to adjust its efforts to this regrettable trend, and today the organisation is one of the UN s preferred partners in ensuring aid and long-term solutions for displaced persons. This shows the professionalism and efficiency of the DRC. I am proud to be the patron of DRC and of its efforts to ensure that refugees and displaced persons not only survive but survive with their dignity and hopes intact.
CASES A Syrian boy receives emergency aid in the heavily bombed city of Aleppo, where DRC hands out basic necesseties food, blankets, kitchen utensils, and hygiene items for thousands of internally displaced persons. Violence, instability, and protracted displacements have affected many parts of the Middle East for a long time. The Danish Refugee Council has played a leading role in providing emergency aid and protecting displaced persons within the region. Only a few international organisations are permitted to offer emergency relief within the borders of Syria. DRC is one of them. As well as distributing emergency kits in Syria and neighbouring countries, we provide shelter and immediate protection, often in the form of identification papers and support for persons who are especially vulnerable.
CASES In East Africa, millions of people are forced to flee war or conflict in their own countries, and sometimes they have to cross borders to find safety in a neighbouring country. Additionally, poverty, corruption, and drought are major problems that affect refugees, internally displaced persons, and local communities. Our mentor programme for especially vulnerable women such as Gloria is one of a number of projects that help refugees and members of host communities create a livelihood. We also provide help with conflict resolution and infrastructure. In doing so we support sustainable development of local communities. 17-year-old Gloria fled South Sudan when her uncle was killed. Gloria and her two siblings, aged 4 and 12, walked for two months until they found safety in the neighbouring country Uganda. Gloria now receives help from the Danish Refugee Council so she can make herself a living as a tailor.
Safeguarding The DRC Code of Conduct holds the values and rules that DRC and its staff shall act by. We shall commit to safeguard and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct. DRC s Code of Conduct is the cornerstone in all our activities. The Code-of-Conduct Reporting Mechanism ensures that beneficiaries, staff and partners can complain about suspected misconduct such as fraud, corruption, sexual exploitation or abuse. All complaints about serious misconduct are investigated promptly and actions taken. We are fully transparent about the number and types of complaints with the Code of Conduct dashboard and the annual reports at our Open DRC website. Here we are at the forefront amongst international organisations. Open DRC: https://drc.ngo/about-drc/open-drc
The Sustainable Development Goals UN Sustainable Development Goals The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a global call for a sustainable future economically, environmentally and not least socially. The goals build on the commitment of all countries to leave no one behind. This global, inclusive pledge corresponds closely with the mission of the Danish Refugee Council (DRC). Refugees and displaced persons are today among those furthest behind the curve when it comes to meeting the SDG targets and aspirations. DRC will work to narrow this gap moving towards 2030 through concrete actions, advocacy efforts and engagement in strategic partnerships. Without addressing the plight of the displaced and securing sustainable improvements for conflict affected states, we will not achieve the SDGs for everyone.
Primary SDGs The impact of our work spans almost the entire SDG framework. HOWEVER, the highest positive impacts lie within five goals: Refugees and displaced persons are behind on access to basic human rights. If rule of law, peace and strong institutions were present everywhere, there would be no displacement. The roots to displacement are violence, conflict, weak institutions and fragile and dysfunctional societies. Therefore, DRC works to inform refugees and displaced persons of their rights, build up the capacity of local authorities and reduce conflict, violence and access to weapons. Only if we progress on goal 16, we ll find durable solutions to displacement.
Primary SDGs Refugees and displaced persons are left behind economically, when losing their jobs, livelihoods, assets and land. The longer displacement continues, the greater the risk that displaced persons lose the ability to be self-sufficient, and instead become vulnerable to economic exploitation and dependent on aid. DRC works to decrease this gap by offering emergency aid and long-term solutions such as income generation and ensuring equal access to social rights. Refugees and displaced persons are behind the education curve. Every second refugee is a child below the age of 18. Losing their access to education and being met by language barriers and, at times, discrimination in new school systems establish a great risk of a lost generation. DRC offers education and support integration in host communities, so that no generation is left behind.
Primary SDGs Displaced women are an especially vulnerable group left behind. They experience greater risks of physical and sexual assaults, and face discrimination when trying to access a range of basic rights on which their future depend. DRC works to protect women and other vulnerable groups by providing physical and psychosocial support, protection in refugee camps and including gender-specific concerns in all aspects of our work. Refugees and displaced persons are far behind on the labour market as the effect of displacement leaves them with a natural disadvantage compared to the host population. Reducing this gap will result in displaced persons more quickly becoming a resource in their new environments with the ability to build a better future for themselves, their families and society as a whole. DRC works to secure equal access to the labour market, and create sustainable, decent jobs for displaced and host community members. This is done in close collaboration with private sector partners.
A PARTNER CASE EXAMPLE Objective: To better understand the driving forces behind mixed migration, to be able to respond better both operationally in the short term as well as to provide more medium/longer term strategic policy guidance to a wide range of stakeholders. HOW: 18,000 interviews with displaced persons conducted by DRC worldwide. Wide range of data sources such as The World Bank, UN, WHO, etc. IBM forecasting software. Results: Tool that can forecast migration developed by IBM and DRC through a comprehensive, analytical and predictive model explaining the dynamics, driving forces and future patterns of mixed migration.
A PARTNER CASE EXAMPLE Objective: To co-develop and implement sustainable and efficient water provision systems in refugee settings. HOW: Setting up the Humanitarian-Business Partnership Lab. Bringing in research partner (the Danish Technical University) to study life cycle costs of different water provision systems. Act on evidence and pioneer testing of innovative systems such as Water-ATMs in refugee settlements. Results: Solar-driven systems have been installed in Uganda, resulting in improved access to clean drinking water for refugees and concrete cost savings for donors. Now seeking to scale up results also in other refugee contexts.
BENEFITS FROM CO-OPS WITH DRC QUALITY Ranked as one of the world s five best NGOs for the last five consecutive years (#3 in 2018 by NGO Advisor) COVERAGE Ability to deliver The Complete Circle by being engaged in all stages of displacement SUSTAINABLE ACCESS Track record of long presence in countries of operation counting on solid relationship with local stakeholders DIRECT DELIVERY Activities are implemented directly by DRC staff and with the systems to control all phases of a project cycle EXPERIENCE 60+ years of knowledge of working specifically with displaced persons and solutions to their plight including support to hosting environment
JOIN US There are more forcibly displaced persons than ever before since the Second World War. This is sign of a world with significant challenges. But it is important to remember that in many ways the world is actually improving day by day. And we can still save the world and find solutions to the challenges if we think outside the box and cooperate in new ways. We can no longer lean back and expect the politicians and diplomats to do it on their own. Dynamic partnerships, in the spirit of the Sustainable Development Goals, between non-governmental organisations and private foundations and companies can and will become an important part of the solution. Together we can change the world for the better. DRC Secretary General, Christian Friis Bach