Rapid Response Facility

Reacting with rapid aid funds before it’s too late

The issue

UNESCO World Heritage Sites are particularly important areas of biodiversity and species diversity. Selected by strict criteria, they represent a global heritage recognised as being of outstanding universal value, unique and irreplaceable.

As anywhere, these irreplaceable natural sites can be hit by unforeseen natural or man-made disasters (e.g. forest fires, sudden increase in poaching, earthquakes, oil spills).

In crises or emergency situations, which often occur without warning, valuable time for intervention is usually lost for the organisation. The inability to respond immediately to emergencies or environmental disasters can have devastating and irreversible consequences for biodiversity and ecosystems.

In response to the devastating fires in Mount Kenya National Park in March 2019, Kenyan authorities submitted a grant application to the RRF and were awarded the maximum amount. ©Tui De Roy

After a storm destroyed mooring buoys in 2016, the coral reef of Malpelo (near Colombia) was threatened with damage from boat anchors. The RRF awarded $12,000 US to immediately set new buoys. ©UNESCO

En 2016, la RRF evitó que se construyera una estación de supervisión climática, que incluía un teleférico, infraestructuras turísticas y un museo en el Parque Nacional de Virunga (República Democrática del Congo).

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Our project

In order to be able to respond immediately, unbureaucratically and efficiently to environmental disasters that are imminent or have already occurred, the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and Fauna & Flora International (FFI) launched the Rapid Response Facility (RRF) in 2006.

Fondation Franz Weber (FFW) has been an important partner of the Rapid Response Facility since 2013, providing essential financial resources and, as an active member of the decision-making committee, also contributing the knowledge and experience essential to the decision-making process and strategic direction of the Fund.

The RRF is an emergency fund that provides grants to protected areas in acute crisis situations. In particular, it funds efforts to alleviate disaster situations affecting wildlife at UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites. In emergencies such as forest fires, oil spills or earthquakes, emergency aid of up to 40,000 US dollars can be granted.

By enabling relevant stakeholders to act on such emergencies within a few days without lengthy bureaucracy, the RRF invests in the long-term survival of unique natural sites and their biodiversity.

More information:

Website: Rapid Response Facility
UNESCO’s Project Page: Rapid Response Facility

Our goals

Respond effectively and immediately to sudden crises affecting nature
Swiftly supply up to 40,000 US dollars for emergencies in world heritage sites
Supply bridging funds in order to ensure the sustainability of RRF interventions