DIHAD launches a billion-dollar initiative to empower 10 million humanitarian workers by 2030

Sustainable DIHAD has announced the launch of a US$1 billion initiative to support the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, with the aim of training and empowering 10 million members of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and humanitarian staff by 2030.

This announcement, which came during the Fund’s 2025 pledging conference in Geneva, embodies Sustainable DIHAD’s firm commitment to strengthening local humanitarian capacities and building effective and sustainable community-led responses.

The Sustainable DIHAD organization stressed, in its official statement during the conference, that education and capacity building represent a fundamental pillar of sustainable development, noting that the initiative includes programs dedicated to empowering workers on the front lines, enhancing communities’ readiness and resilience, and supporting local economies within this initiative, which is worth one billion dollars.

The head of the Sustainable DIHAD organization and the head of DISAP, the Ambassador of the Mediterranean Parliament to the Gulf Cooperation Council region, Ambassador Dr. Abdul Salam Al-Madani, said that the Emergency Fund for Disaster Response of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is today one of the most efficient and reliable humanitarian financing tools, as it allows a rapid and local response that contributes to saving lives in the critical moments following the occurrence of a disaster, especially when needs exceed the capabilities of resources available at the national level, indicating that this fund embodies the values of Readiness, solidarity, and partnership, which are the principles that we believe in in the Sustainable DIHAD organization, and we work to consolidate them through our initiatives.

He added that education and capacity building remain at the core of DIHAD’s sustainable mission to support the process of sustainable development, and through these initiatives, we aim to empower communities, enhance their readiness and ability to withstand, and activate the role of local cadres to lead humanitarian work wherever the need arises.

In line with the vision of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to enhance global awareness of first aid, the Sustainable DIHAD organization announced a strategic partnership with the International Federation, within the framework of which the first session of the First Aid World Cup will be organized during the twenty-second session of the Dubai International Relief and Development Exhibition and Conference (DIHAD), which is scheduled to be held in Dubai during the period from 5 to 7 May 2026.

This initiative aims to enhance first aid skills, save lives, spread humanitarian values, and enhance international cooperation in the humanitarian field.

The “Sustainable DIHAD” organization, in cooperation with the International Federation, will also host the first Gulf Conference for Humanitarian Pledges, on the sidelines of the “DIHAD 2026” exhibition and conference in Dubai, to enhance regional solidarity and shared responsibility, as this event will bring together actors in humanitarian work from the Gulf Cooperation Council and Arab countries to unite efforts and expand commitment towards a more sustainable humanitarian future.

This year’s pledging conference for the Fund focused on a strategic topic entitled “Shaping the Future of the International Federation’s Emergency Disaster Response Fund.”

The event is a major platform for formulating a joint strategic vision for the Fund over the next five years, enhancing its ability to provide rapid, innovative and effective humanitarian support.

The 2025 session of the pledging conference aims to collect 100 million Swiss francs in pledges allocated for the years 2025 and 2026, confirming the Fund’s position as one of the most important joint financing mechanisms to support local humanitarian work and proactive response.

The conference witnessed high-level participation from representatives of governments, the private sector and national societies, in the presence of many ministers, directors-general and chief executives, where the discussions emphasized the importance of adopting innovative financing models and enhancing proactive action as essential tools for enhancing preparedness and accelerating the humanitarian response around the world.

Secretary-General and CEO of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Jagan Chapagain, stressed that the 2025 Pledging Conference represents a turning point for the Fund, as it brings together governments, the private sector, and National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, to shape the future of humanitarian work in the coming years.

He explained that the goal is to enhance the Fund’s role as a leading, reliable financing mechanism that stimulates innovation, cooperation, and proactive work, enabling societies to prepare for and respond to crises with greater efficiency and flexibility.