Answers for National Societies, and answers for partners.
For National Societies
Are we eligible?
Any of the 191 National Societies can request. There is no minimum size and no minimum maturity. The Centre prioritises on vulnerability. IFRC and ICRC offices, and Partner National Societies, can request on a National Society's behalf with that National Society's consent.
What will it cost us?
Most National Societies pay nothing for standard service delivery. Prioritised and lower-income National Societies are fully subsidised; middle-income National Societies contribute a minority share and high-income a majority share. The bands are on what it costs you.
How long does a request take to be answered?
Triage assesses eligibility, risk and priority against demand. If the request cannot be scheduled this cycle it is held rather than closed, and you are told which cycle it is held for.
What does the Centre not do?
It does not implement on your behalf, contract your software vendors, or sign for systems. Advisers coach and your staff shadow every adviser. Implementation stays with the National Society, which is what makes the change survive the adviser leaving.
Who owns the recommendations?
You do. The National Society sets the objectives, co-designs the plan and approves recommendations through its own leadership and board. Support proceeds only where you have requested it or formally endorsed it.
What happens to our data?
Requests are processed by the Centre's triage team and the specialist covering your region. Engagement material carrying your National Society's name is never published. The privacy policy names the Norwegian Red Cross as controller.
Can we ask in a language other than English?
Yes. The Centre works in English, French, Spanish and Arabic. Write in whichever of them suits you.
For partners
How is the Centre governed?
It is an IFRC Centre hosted by the Norwegian Red Cross, with shared Norwegian Red Cross and IFRC governance, operationally separate from the host's domestic programmes while running on the host's corporate systems. The governance bodies take up their mandates when the Centre opens at the IFRC General Assembly in late 2026. See governance.
How does this align with IFRC?
The Centre puts the Global Service Delivery Model into practice: specialist support organised once for the whole network rather than built country by country. Where IFRC, ICRC or another partner is already engaged in a country, the Centre coordinates rather than duplicates.
Is this a northern initiative delivering to the south?
Ownership sits at country level. Support proceeds only on a National Society's request or formal endorsement. The National Society sets the objectives, co-designs the plan, approves every recommendation before anything is implemented, and at country level leads or chairs its own finance development committee. Globally the Centre is co-led by the Norwegian Red Cross and the IFRC, with National Societies holding seats on the Steering Committee, the Advisory Committee and the Regional Oversight Committees, on rotating terms with regional balance.
What does an unrestricted contribution actually fund?
Specialist capacity across five regions, peer review of every output, the full service catalogue, and regional presence. See partner with us.
How is the Centre financed?
Core funding from the Norwegian Red Cross as host and from strategic members, plus cost recovery on the services it delivers. The contribution bands are published. See partner with us.
Who contracts with whom on a sponsored engagement?
The sponsor signs with the Centre, whichever cost it carries: the Centre's delivery cost, the in-country cost, or both.
Can we see the detailed cost model?
The partner pack carries the detailed financing model, including the core cost base and cost recovery. Ask for it and it is sent by email.
Still not answered?
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