Mele Village Vanuatu post earthquake
NEED FOR THE DISASTER RESPONSE FUND TO REMAIN ‘TOPPED UP’
2024-27 RRFC David Anderson — February 4, 2025
Within a matter of hours of the December 2024 Vanuatu earthquake, Rotarians began to work with teams on the ground to assess the damage and the need. But when Rotarians began looking at accessing a Rotary Foundation Disaster Response Grant, applications for these grants had closed. There were insufficient funds in the account.
Article by 2024-27 RRFC David Anderson
Rotary and the Rotary Foundation are not relief organisations as such. We can and do work with other agencies to address immediate needs after disasters. But Rotary is not a relief organization. Our strength is the continued involvement of our clubs and districts in long-term recovery. In response to numerous disasters around the world, the Trustees of the Rotary Foundation set up a new fund, the Disaster Response Fund. This Fund allows Rotarians to respond swiftly and effectively, by bringing relief and hope to individuals and communities affected by disaster
But in December 2024, when the Vanuatu earthquake struck, the fund size had been significantly drawn upon as well as there being few natural disasters to keep the Fund in the forefront of Clubs and Rotarians. As the days passed, Rotary saw the size of the magnitude and funds began to flow into the account and with the involvement of RISPPO District Grants Officer Kym Schawrz, Philanthropy Manager Anke Timm, Austin Miller, the Disaster Grants Manager in Evanston and others they were soon following out again.
One of the first applications was from District 9910. Read their story elsewhere in this edition.
Applications for a Disaster Response Fund, of up to USD $25,000, need to be submitted to the Rotary Foundation within six months of the disaster occurring. Whilst a Club may have the on-ground knowledge of the disaster, it is a District that makes the submission to the Foundation. A District can have only one open Disaster Response Grant at a time.
Neither a District nor a Club is required to commit any funds to the project. But as this experience has shown, the Fund is utilised and accessed by Districts, it is imperative that the Fund is replenished though contributions from individuals, Clubs and Districts.
District grantsmay be used to support immediate disaster response projects as well. Districts may repurpose unspent district grant funding for previously approved district grants by notifying their grant officer.
