How do we respond to crisis with humanitarian assistance?
Plan International Canada has been doing humanitarian assistance work since 2007 and it continues to be our fastest growing portfolio. We aim to be one of the first responders in the event of a crisis. Our Country, Regional and National Offices are equipped with staff and resources ready to be deployed in the event of an emergency. With a large and highly technical staff based out of the Plan International Canada office, we are uniquely positioned to provide operational support to our country teams with quick deployments and urgent fundraising capacity both with Global Affairs Canada and the Canadian public.
Depending on the stage of the crisis, Plan Canada’s Emergencies and Humanitarian Assistance team will develop and manage grants ranging between 4 months and 3 years. Often, once a short-term grant is completed, donors such as WFP, UNICEF, UNHCR, and Education Cannot Wait will issue follow on grants once the immediate emergency phase has ended, allowing our teams to support recovery efforts.
What do our humanitarian assistance projects focus on?
Plan International Canada works with our local office and UN agencies to focus on education, child protection, adolescent girls in crises, food security and livelihoods, and more to help with the recovery and transitional phase once immediate needs are met. Our programming is led by our country office with local experts and is designed to maintain the dignity of community members while helping them become more resilient. After the emergency aid is delivered, we work with and for children, especially girls, to ensure that their needs are met and that their rights are protected.
Child protection
Disasters, conflicts and other crises can have devastating effects on children’s lives. Structures and systems that protect children and support their positive development are often undermined or damaged.
As a result, children are exposed to new threats, such as loss of or separation from their families, sexual exploitation, trafficking, and recruitment into armed groups. Children may also be at higher risks of experiencing harmful labour and child marriage.
Plan International works with children, their families, communities and local authorities to prevent and respond to violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation against children with urgent, life-saving actions. Our programs ensure the protection needs of children are met, with particular attention paid to the unique risks faced by adolescent girls.