What is the Ambassadors Network?

The Ambassadors Network supports National Societies to institutionalize community engagement and accountability by providing ongoing technical and financial support. National Societies can apply to join the network, and if successful, are allocated a dedicated mentor(s). This mentor helps them develop and implement a plan to strengthen community engagement and accountability within their National Society, with clear indicators to measure progress. In exchange, National Society Ambassadors document and share their experiences and lessons learned and advocate to their peer National Societies on the importance of stronger accountability to communities.

Why is it needed?

Being a trust local actor requires effective, consistent, and reliable approaches to working in partnership with communities, embedded in systems, policies and processes. Despite Movement commitments to strengthen accountability to communities, coupled with technical support and practical resources, many National Societies have still faced a variety of challenges embedding community engagement and accountability within their ways of working. These include inadequate and inconsistent resourcing, a lack of dedicated, skilled staff to drive institutionalization efforts forward, and weak understanding and prioritisation. The Ambassadors Network will address these challenges by adopting a more structured, coordinated, and sustained, Movement-wide approach to how we support National Societies to strengthen community engagement and accountability.

Who is involved?

The Ambassadors Network officially launched in November 2024. The first cohort of Ambassadors includes Colombia, Lebanese, Nepal, Slovakia and Zimbabwe Red Cross Societies. Ambassador mentors include IFRC, ICRC, British and Swedish Red Cross.

How can I join?

This is the first year of the Ambassadors Network and we will be gathering lessons learned so we can improve the process for the next round. We hope to open applications for the next set of Ambassadors in late 2025. If you’re interested in being a National Society Community Engagement and Accountability Ambassador, please reach out to the IFRC CEA lead in your region.  

Watch the Ambassadors Network Launch Event