World: National Society Investment Alliance announces 2026 grants to 18 Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies | IFRC

Countries: World, Algeria, Benin, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Togo, Yemen Following a rigorous review process, the National Society Investment Alliance (NSIA) has allocated approximately 3. 6 million Swiss francs in 2026 to support the sustainable development of 18 Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies operating in complex emergencies, protracted crises, and fragile contexts. A joint pooled fund of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the NSIA provides flexible, multi-year funding to strengthen Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies that carry out critical humanitarian work in extremely challenging environments. Since 2019, its results have indicated that stronger local leaders mean stronger, more lasting humanitarian impact. The NSIA awards grants in two key funding categories: It can allocate up to 750, 000 Swiss francs of “accelerator” funding to National Societies over a maximum of five years, and it also awards “bridge grants” of up to 50, 000 Swiss francs over 12 months that aim to help National Societies lay the ground for future investment from the NSIA or from other National Society Development (NSD) initiatives. In 2026, the NSIA Office received 40 eligible proposals, 20 for accelerator funding and 20 for bridge grants. Demand rose sharply compared with previous years, and the NSIA team acknowledges the strong commitment of all applicant National Societies to the process. The National Societies selected for accelerator funding in 2026 are the following: Egyptian Red Crescent Society Ethiopian Red Cross Society Red Cross Society of Guinea Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran Iraqi Red Crescent Society Liberian Red Cross Society Yemen Red Crescent Society These National Societies will receive strategic funding to support their journey toward long-term organizational sustainability and impact. Six of them have previously received NSIA bridge grants, reflecting the NSIA pathway from readiness to scale. The Egyptian Red Crescent Society will bring a blood bank up to WHO standards and onto a cost-recovery basis, including through institutional service agreements, expanding access to safe blood and reducing reliance on international donors. The Ethiopian Red Cross Society will establish a first aid kit manufacturing plant as a social enterprise, supplying affordable, standardized kits nationwide through its branch network and generating income to reinvest in its humanitarian work. The Red Cross Society of Guinea will build a resource mobilization system, with a strong focus on commercial first aid, to increase locally generated income and reduce its dependence on external funding. The Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran will modernize the production line of its textile subsidiary, increasing emergency blanket output for preparedness stocks while generating income from sales. The Iraqi Red Crescent Society will turn its Baghdad vocational training centre into a platform for sustainable income, staff development, branch preparedness and digital learning, reducing its reliance on project-based funding. The Liberian Red Cross Society will rehabilitate a dormant facility and convert it into a health centre, expanding access to affordable care while generating income to cover a growing share of its core costs. The Yemen Red Crescent Society will build two primary health centres integrated with branch offices, strengthening branch presence and access to primary health care in underserved areas. Bridge grants awarded to eleven National Societies In addition to the accelerator grants, the NSIA has awarded bridge grants to 11 National Societies: Algerian Red Crescent, Red Cross of Benin, Red Crescent Society of Djibouti, Dominican Red Cross, Red Cross Society of Guinea-Bissau, Red Crescent Society of Kyrgyzstan, Libyan Red Crescent, Malagasy Red Cross Society, Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, Sudanese Red Crescent and Togolese Red Cross. 2026 bridge initiatives continue to strengthen the foundations of National Societies and set the stage for larger investments, by improving financial sustainability, governance, and institutional systems. Several initiatives, such as in Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau and Libya, will develop business models for commercial first aid, while the Togolese Red Cross will build its capacity to raise private funds from companies, individuals and the diaspora. Others will prepare income-generating facilities: training and resource centres in Sudan and Sri Lanka, a revenue-generating headquarters in Benin, a higher training institute in the Dominican Republic and an accessible training hall in Kyrgyzstan. The Algerian Red Crescent will modernize a warehouse to strengthen logistics preparedness, and the Malagasy Red Cross Society will turn its organizational diagnosis into an implementation plan and secure its assets as a basis for future income. Collectively, these initiatives reinforce the institutional backbone of National Societies and prepare them for future strategic investments, enabling more sustainable, accountable, and locally led humanitarian action. The NSIA continues to be a vital instrument for enabling National Societies to build sustainable institutions and lead effective humanitarian action as trusted local actors, at a time when humanitarian needs are increasing and funding is falling. As highlighted in the NSIA Annual Report 2025, evidence from completed initiatives shows that well-targeted investments deliver lasting returns, improve financial sustainability, reinforce governance and, in turn, enable more effective humanitarian services where needs are greatest. Ultimately, NSIA investments offer National Societies operating in the most complex contexts a transformative opportunity to advance their strategic priorities, strengthen their institutions and contribute to more resilient communities and lasting humanitarian impact. Meeting the growing demand from National Societies will require a broader base of partners committed to predictable, multi-year funding. For more information, visit the NSIA webpage here.

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