Equality Fund

Published purpose

The First Response Fund (FRF) is a global humanitarian pooled fund that resources grassroots, local, life-saving humanitarian responses led by women-led and women’s rights organizations (WLO/WROs). The FRF leverages the global network of over 50 national, regional and multiregional Women’s and Feminist Funds (W/FF) to support WROs/WLOs to provide fast and effective humanitarian services in ODA-eligible countries, including to communities that may not be reached otherwise. The FRF supports WROs/WLOs to provide humanitarian response services in their communities, with a focus on humanitarian aid to high-need groups who often face barriers to access, including refugees and internally displaced people, women with disabilities, gender expansive and transgender people, Indigenous and Black women, rural women, and those at the intersection of many of these identities. This project represents Canada’s support to the First Response Fund. Specific funding amounts, and targeted countries, will be identified based on humanitarian need, coordinated humanitarian response plans, and FRF members’ delivery capacity, as per the FRF’s Operational Manual. The use of Canada’s financial contributions will be limited to prioritized geographical areas in UN Humanitarian Appeals and/or UNCHR Refugee Response Plans.