ALGERIAN RED CRESCENT

ALGERIAN RED CRESCENT

Red Crescent was recognized by government decree in 1962; this decree was supplemented by an

executive decree in 1998. A law protecting the emblem has been proposed by the Algerian Red

Crescent and will shortly be submitted to a council of government and subsequently proposed to the

council of ministers, before being submitted for adoption by the national assembly.

its mission :

The society’s mission statement is outlined in its statutes and reflects the fundamental Principles of

the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement. The primarily mission of ARCS is to alleviate the suffering

of the most vulnerable.

The Algerian Red Crescent (ARC) reviews its mission and objectives at each session of the national

board. In 1963, the society defined its institutional and development strategy, reviewed every five

years. The ARC enjoys excellent relations with the Algerian government, which respects the

society’s mission and autonomy. The Algerian government has designated the ARC as the

humanitarian operational agency of the Algerian state.

Its services :

The ARC has a development plan and strategy with the following main goals: implementing a

modern and effective communications policy and strategy; establishing transparent financial

management instruments so as to ensure the society’s credibility and donor confidence;

implementing a programme of solidarity focused on vulnerable groups; developing micro-projects to

raise funds to finance humanitarian activities; promoting youth activities and strengthening first-aid

training; greater institutional development to enhance the society’s effectiveness and impact;

increased international relations with both the Red Cross Red Crescent network and the ICRC, and

with bodies involved in humanitarian activities; developing a major programme to teach and

disseminate humanitarian principles; encouraging and developing a large network of women with the

society; and establishing a partnership based on complementarity, transparency and mutual respect in

solidarity programmes with national and foreign organizations.

Relief: The ARC provides relief for people affected by natural disasters and for the victims of

conflict. Assistance is also given to refugees and displaced people such as the Western Saharan

population in Algeria. The ARC runs programmes to assist women and children affected by violence

in Algeria. There is a psychological rehabilitation programme for children traumatized by violence

complementing the programmes already established by the ministry of health and population and the

ministry of labour and social welfare. A programme also helps women, violated during the violence,

to be reintegrated into society. Both of these programmes are supported by the ICRC and several

sister NS.

Health: First-aid training is provided for young people, and first aid brigades are equipped and

organized. The society would like to expand its first-aid services in the community, and have more

involvement in health care and HIV/AIDS.

Social welfare: The ARC conducts regular programmes to help the neediest and the disabled.

Activities include gifts for the neediest, provision of equipment to the disabled and aid for elderly

people without support. There are annual programmes to provide school supplies to needy school

children, thus helping nearly 4.5 million children whose families do not have the necessary resources

for them to attend school. In addition, summer vacation camps are organized for 21,195 poor

children and children from families who are victims of violence. The society provides assistance in

training for the rehabilitation of under-age prisoners.

Solidarity and sharing: Programmes are conducted during the holy month of Ramadan. The

Algerian Red Crescent provides more than 4,300,000 meals during this month of fasting and visits

more than 10,000 children during the week of Aïd El Fitr festivities.

Women’s projects: Training is provided for girls in secretarial skills, sewing, knitting, weaving

and handicrafts. Sewing rooms are created and activities designed for the advancement of women in

rural areas and poorer districts in towns.

Communications/dissemination: The ICRC mobilizes funds for the society’s communication,

documentation and IHL dissemination programmes. IHL is disseminated in schools and universities

and among the public at large.

International activities; The ARC is responsible for all overseas aid and assistance missions as

established by the Algerian government. The society has participated in activities to resettle people

from Mali and Niger who have recently returned to their country.

its structure :

At present, the National Society covers all of the country’s 48 wilayas (districts). The society has one

female secretary general (member of the national board) and another member of the national board.

One-fifth of the national board and one eighth of the general assembly are women.

At the national level, the National Society is run by a management committee comprising 12 elected

members, presided over by the elected president of the ARC. This management committee meets

once a month to decide on what approach the society should take and entrusts the president with

implementing these decisions via its permanent national structures (directorates for finance and

resources, development, communications and operations).

The management committee is guided by a 65-member national board which meets once a year

between general assembly meetings. The general assembly comprises 171 delegates. At the district

(wilaya) level, programmes are managed by a wilaya committee elected at the wilaya general

assembly.

At headquarters, the ARC has five directors, seven assistants, 12 programme officers, four secretaries

and eight drivers and guards. In the wilaya committees, there are 91 permanent staff (secretaries and

drivers) and 63 unpaid volunteers (financial managers). The society encounters difficulties in

attracting qualified staff capable of rigorous management. The control of certain programmes is

entrusted to some of the volunteer members in light of their recognized skills.

The society’s income is CHF 6.5 million, of which 58 per cent is made up of the estimated value of

in-kind donations; 35 per cent comes from the Movement, UN agencies and other organizations; 6

per cent from subsidies for specific programmes; 0.5 per cent from cash gifts; and 0.5 per cent from

an annual government subsidy. As regards expenditure, 67 per cent relates to programme

implementation; 15 per cent to headquarters costs; 12 per cent to staff costs; and 6 per cent for

support to the wilaya committees. The finance department is run by a director and five financial

management professionals. An annual audit is conducted by the ARC national finance commission

and an accredited auditor controls and certifies the financial balance sheets. The general inspection

for finance controls public subsidies. The ARC intends to develop a range of resource development

activities, which are outlined in the society’s development plan below. a

volunteers and staff :

The Society can mobilize about 9,000 adults (6,500 men and 2,500 women) as well as 30,000 young

people (22,000 boys and 8,000 girls).

Its partners :

The society works in partnership, in a spirit of complementarity, with the Federation, ICRC and

sisters PNS as well with UN agencies (UNDP), Algerian NGOs on programmes of mutual interest

(psychological and social rehabilitation, assistance for prisoners, tobacco and drug abuse, first aid,

etc.).

The society actively participates in the International Federation’s statutory meetings and meetings of

the Mediterranean Conference, ACROFA and the Arab Organization of Red Crescent and Red Cross

Societies.

The ARC is interested in the development of cooperation and promotion of partnerships with the

international humanitarian  movement.