- Africa
- Ecuador
Flood
Financing anticipatory actions in Ecuador and Kenya through the IFRC's Imminent DREF
The Ecuadorian Red Cross and the Kenya Red Cross Society both recently acted to support communities at risk from floods. In each case, the actions were financed through an Imminent DREF allocation, which is one of the ways in which the IFRC provides anticipatory financing.
Financing anticipatory actions in Ecuador and Kenya through the IFRC's Imminent DREF
The Ecuadorian Red Cross and the Kenya Red Cross Society both recently acted to support communities at risk from floods. In each case, the actions were financed through an Imminent DREF allocation, which is one of the ways in which the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) can provide anticipatory financing from its Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF).
What is an Imminent DREF allocation?
The Imminent DREF was designed for situations where a National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society does not have a pre-approved early action protocol (EAP) or simplified EAP to cover a particular hazard and geographical area, but in which it has the opportunity to implement actions in advance of a sudden-onset hazard that is on the horizon.
Read more in the IFRC’s DREF guidelines.
Anticipating floods in Ecuador
As El Niño strengthens, it is causing exceptional rainfall, flooding and landslides in Ecuador, particularly in the city of Esmeraldas. With the greatest impacts from these hazards forecast to hit between November 2026 and March 2027, the Ecuadorian Red Cross received an Imminent DREF allocation worth 90,800 Swiss francs (around 110,000 US dollars/98,600 euros) to support ongoing response and anticipatory measures in Esmeraldas, Guayas, Los Ríos and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, where 1.25 million people are exposed to flooding and landslide risks.
The operation aims to reduce the anticipated impacts from floods by implementing household-level flood-protection measures and ensuring the risks are communicated in a timely manner.
Protecting those at risk from floods in Kenya
Floods are expected even sooner across Kenya, with recent forecasts indicating sustained above-average rainfall across much of the country during early November. This is expected to lead to saturated soils, rising rivers, intense runoff and overwhelmed urban-drainage systems, causing riverine, flash and urban flooding, and disrupting access and infrastructure. Heavy rainfall in southern Ethiopia may further increase downstream risks in north-eastern Kenya.
Through an Imminent DREF allocation of 80,000 Swiss francs (around 100,000 US dollars/86,900 euros), the Kenya Red Cross Society is prioritizing early warnings to allow communities to safeguard livelihoods. It is also engaging with first-line responders in planning and providing mobile announcements on safe evacuation routes, and supporting rescue missions. Combined, these actions will reduce the humanitarian consequences of the floods by protecting lives and livelihoods before the peak impacts are felt.
Photo: A flooded road in Kisumu, Kenya. © Peter Kapuscinski / World Bank
Note that this was taken during a previous flood event.
Cold wave / heavy snowfall
Drought / dry spell
Cyclone / hurricane / tropical storm / typhoon