DFID invites applications from organizations to pre-qualify for the Rapid Response Facility (RRF). The pre-qualification ensures that during an emergency, it will have partners that will be committed to provide quality service. The first few hours of an emergency are quite crucial, and if good organizations are already pre-qualified to help, no time would be wasted in paperwork.
Rapid Response Facility was established by the Government of Britain, in response to Lord Ashdown’s review of the UK’s humanitarian emergency response. This facility is set-up to provide immediate funds to pre-qualified organizations within the first 72 hours of an emergency.
Through the applications, DFID will identify the organizations that meet the eligibility criteria to receive DFID funding for humanitarian emergencies, in case of the activation of RRF. Only the organizations that meet the eligibility criteria will be considered suitable to be pre-qualified.
In case of an emergency, DFID would identify the need for a humanitarian response. Then, the Secretary of State will decide whether to activate the RRF. RRF will only be activated in cases of large scale or complex emergencies.
The funds will be made available to the pre-qualified organization, only up to the first six weeks of a response. Within two hours of the activation of the RRF DFID will invite light-touch funding proposals from the pre-qualified organizations. The invitation will be based on the requirement, the essential technical expertise required and the geographic location of the emergency.
The pre-qualified organizations will have to respond within 12 hours of being notified. They would have clearly state their willingness and capability to respond, how they can help, how long would it take them to initiate help, and how much fund is required.
Responding to the invitation, the organizations will also have to provide the prospective results that it hopes to achieve.
After receiving funds from the RRF, the performance of each organization will be reviewed by DFID, which will include an assessment of organizations’ performance against their proposals.
Last date to receive the pre-qualification applications is 8 November 2011. More information at this link.
