Give2Asia and the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction Partner to Promote Disaster Preparedness in Vulnerable Asian Countries

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 20, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today Give2Asia and the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) announce a new partnership to connect donors with the most effective local disaster preparedness programs in six of the most vulnerable South and Southeast Asian countries. The NGO Disaster Preparedness Program is supported by a three-year $1.5 million grant from the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation.

The joint program will publish disaster preparedness research, perform online crowd funding for local projects, and make publicly available organizational information on 100 disaster preparedness programs. Local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) identified through the program will have the opportunity to apply for $300,000 in grants, promote their programs online, and receive Community-Managed Disaster Risk Reduction training from IIRR at its headquarters in the Philippines.

"Give2Asia's network of international donors and local grantees is the perfect compliment to IIRR, which brings decades of experience in grassroots preparedness and resiliency programs in Asia and Africa," said Matt Grager, Program Director at Give2Asia. "Together, we are well-placed to find and fund the best local models for disaster preparedness, and present grantmaking opportunities to the international donor community. "

This spring, Give2Asia and IIRR will select six underserved countries for the NGO Disaster Preparedness Program based on disaster risk, international investment and organizational reach. After the six countries are selected, IIRR will facilitate in-country consultations that bring together IIRR alumni and Give2Asia's grantees to share knowledge and best practices. An open, online Request for Proposal (RFP) process will be undertaken to determine grant recipients in two rounds of $150,000. Proposals will be evaluated on a rolling basis with grants awarded in Fall 2014, and Summer 2015.

About Give2Asia

Give2Asia makes international grant making safe, effective, and impactful. Since its founding in 2001, Give2Asia has raised $237 million in gifts and donations from corporate, foundation, and individual donors for community partners in Asia. Give2Asia has demonstrated its effectiveness in serving the needs of international philanthropy with its on-the-ground presence, knowledge of diverse social and economic conditions, and the expert matching of donor interests with innovative and effective grantees.

Give2Asia Disaster Programs

Give2Asia has responded to nearly 40 natural disasters in the Asia Pacific region during the past 10 years. Give2Asia's strategy is to support recovery by partnering with local charitable groups based in affected communities and to engage in multi-year programs to support rebuilding, economic recovery, psychosocial programs and other unmet needs. Give2Asia reports back to donors on every dollar spent. Learn more about Give2Asia's disaster response strategy at give2asia.org/disaster.

About the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction

The International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) is a community development and hands-on training organization with more than 50 years of experience. IIRR has implemented people-centered, sustainable development programs in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and today, maintains a strong presence in East Africa and Southeast Asia. Strategically located in the Global South, IIRR runs its programs from the field. While it is registered as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization in the U.S. and has its headquarters in the Philippines, all senior decision-makers are located in the field. It is important that IIRR staff hail from the region where they will work, allowing its programs to be locally-relevant, tailored, and community-driven.

IIRR Disaster Risk Reduction Program

IIRR's disaster risk reduction program framework, called Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR), builds the capacities of communities to reduce and manage their disaster risks. CMDRR enables communities to facilitate participatory disaster risk assessment, use these assessments for planning and preparedness, mobilize community members to be involved in risk reduction and facilitate learning. It has championed CMDRR in East Africa and in Asia. It has worked in many of the most at risk communities from the arid regions in East Africa to flood-prone poor communities in the Philippines. IIRR has also started to integrate natural resources management, food security and livelihoods development and health in CMDRR.