RedR
An international humanitarian organization that trains, supports, and mobilizes technical specialists for disaster relief and recovery.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
RedR is an international humanitarian organization whose work centers on strengthening the people and systems that respond to disasters. Established in London in 1980 by engineer Peter Guthrie, the organization began as a register of engineers who could be mobilized at short notice for relief operations. Its name originally stood for Register of Engineers for Disaster Relief, although RedR is now used as the organization’s standalone name rather than as an acronym. The organization combines professional training, specialist recruitment, technical advice, and capacity-building programmes. Its training work serves humanitarian agencies, government personnel, civil-society organizations, and other professionals working in emergency environments. Courses and tailored programmes cover areas such as humanitarian principles and practice, safety and security, hostile-environment awareness, logistics, emergency shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene, project management, health, nutrition, and training of trainers. RedR also works with universities and institutional partners to support the professionalization of humanitarian practice. A second major area is the mobilization of skilled personnel. Through member and specialist registers, RedR helps relief agencies, governments, United Nations bodies, and other organizations identify people with expertise in engineering, health, logistics, security, management, and related fields. The organization’s technical-support activities also connect humanitarian workers with specialists able to provide practical advice on problems encountered in the field. RedR’s operational model emphasizes local capacity as well as international deployment. Rather than treating disaster response solely as the provision of outside expertise, its programmes seek to help affected communities and national organizations develop skills for immediate response, preparedness, and longer-term risk reduction. This approach has shaped country programmes in places including Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, where training has addressed insecurity, humanitarian coordination, emergency management, and organizational capability. The organization operates through a federation of nationally accredited RedR bodies. The federation has included RedR UK, RedR Australia, RedR India, RedR Malaysia, and RedR Indonesia, with related programmes and entities also associated with Sri Lanka and other operational locations. These organizations share a broad mission while adapting their work to national and regional humanitarian systems. RedR Australia, for example, selects, trains, and deploys humanitarian specialists through partnerships with the Australian Government, United Nations agencies, universities, international NGOs, and regional bodies. RedR’s history includes involvement in responses to major crises such as the Ethiopian famine, the Rwanda crisis, the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, the 2005 Pakistan and Kashmir earthquake, the Darfur conflict, the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the Horn of Africa food crisis, and the Ebola response in Sierra Leone. Its activities have ranged from field deployment and emergency training to security management, technical guidance, and longer-term institutional strengthening. RedR is a mission-led organization rather than a conventional commercial brand. Its positioning is based on technical competence, humanitarian professionalism, rapid access to qualified personnel, and the transfer of knowledge to local and national responders. The organization’s stated vision is a world in which enough competent and committed personnel are available to respond to humanitarian needs. The Princess Royal has served as President of RedR UK since 1988, according to the organization’s historical account.
History
RedR was founded in London in 1980 by engineer Peter Guthrie. His experience supporting refugees during the Vietnamese boat-people crisis convinced him that relief agencies needed a dependable pool of engineers who could be called upon quickly. With advice from Oxfam chief engineer Jim Howard and seed funding from Oxfam, the organization was formally registered as a charity. Its original name, Register of Engineers for Disaster Relief, described its initial function, but the shorter RedR name later became the organization’s principal identity. The organization’s first major test came during the Ethiopian famine in 1985, when RedR members were mobilized for programmes in Ethiopia and neighbouring Sudan. In 1988, the Princess Royal became President of RedR UK. RedR subsequently broadened its remit from engineering registration to the training and professional support of humanitarian personnel. RedR UK began a formal training programme in 1991, and RedR Australia was founded in 1992. Other national organizations followed, including RedR India, RedR Malaysia, and RedR Indonesia, creating a federation of related entities with a shared humanitarian mission. The Rwanda crisis in 1994 led to the deployment of more than 100 RedR members to the Great Lakes region. In 1995, RedR members Jan Davis and Robert Lambert published the first edition of Engineering in Emergencies: A Practical Guide for Relief Workers, an influential practical resource for technical work in crisis settings. RedR launched a Technical Support Service in 1998, allowing field agencies and aid workers to seek advice from engineers, academics, aid workers, and other technical specialists. The organization also began delivering regional training, including security-management training in Albania in 1999. In 2003, RedR UK merged with International Health Exchange, strengthening its capacity to prepare and recruit health professionals for overseas emergency operations. The organization also opened a programme office in East Africa. After the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, RedR introduced learning and capacity-building work in Sri Lanka and later established a similar programme in Pakistan after the 2005 earthquake. RedR also began a Darfur programme in 2005, focusing heavily on the safety and security needs of humanitarian workers operating amid conflict. Over the following five years, the programme trained thousands of national and international aid workers. RedR UK and RedR Australia became involved in the United Nations Cluster approach in 2006, contributing training in areas such as water, sanitation and hygiene, emergency shelter, health, and nutrition. In 2009, RedR UK partnered with Oxford Brookes University to offer credit-rated versions of selected training courses. This reflected a continuing effort to treat humanitarian response as a professional field requiring structured preparation, recognized skills, and continuing development. The 2010 Haiti earthquake prompted another major programme. RedR trained approximately 1,000 relief workers and reported that 91 percent of trainees were Haitian nationals. The organization also established RedR Lanka as an independent entity to support longer-term capacity building in Sri Lanka. In 2011, RedR UK created a programme in South Sudan ahead of the country’s independence and opened a humanitarian training centre in Nairobi in response to the Horn of Africa food crisis. Its country programming has continued to address security, staff welfare, humanitarian principles, emergency management, and organizational capacity in difficult operating environments. RedR’s work has also included recruitment and deployment after the Indian Ocean tsunami, the Kashmir earthquake, Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, and other emergencies. Its specialist register has covered engineering, health, logistics, security, and management, while its technical-support function has connected relief organizations with experts able to advise on urgent operational issues. Over time, RedR’s identity has therefore developed from an engineering roster into a broader humanitarian professional-services and capacity-building network. RedR Australia represents an important part of the federation’s later development. It selects, trains, and deploys humanitarian specialists through relationships with United Nations agencies, governments, universities, NGOs, regional organizations, and companies. It became an implementing partner for the Australian Government’s Australia Assists programme, which deploys civilian specialists to help communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural hazards and conflict. In 2023, humanitarian lawyer Helen Durham became RedR Australia’s chief executive after Kirsten Sayers stepped down. The same year, RedR Australia launched the Humanitarian Conversations podcast, extending its educational and public-discussion work beyond formal courses. Today, RedR is best understood as a federation of nationally accredited humanitarian organizations rather than a conventional commercial brand. Its central proposition is that effective disaster response depends on competent people, sound technical practice, strong local institutions, and preparedness before crises occur. Training, specialist deployment, technical guidance, and disaster-risk reduction remain the principal means through which it pursues that mission.
- 2023
Helen Durham became RedR Australia CEO
[1]Helen Durham succeeded Kirsten Sayers as chief executive of RedR Australia.
- 2017
Australia Assists programme established
[1]RedR Australia became an implementing partner for the Australian Government’s civilian humanitarian deployment programme.
- 2014
Sierra Leone Ebola training
[1]RedR UK took responsibility for training UK NHS staff deployed to the Ebola response in Sierra Leone.
- 2011
South Sudan and Nairobi operations
[1]RedR UK established a South Sudan programme and opened a humanitarian training centre in Nairobi.
- 2010
Haiti earthquake programme
[1]RedR trained relief workers in Haiti and emphasized participation by Haitian nationals.
- 2009
Oxford Brookes University partnership
[1]RedR UK linked with Oxford Brookes University to provide credit-rated humanitarian training courses.
- 2006
Participation in the UN Cluster approach
[1]RedR UK and RedR Australia contributed training to several humanitarian coordination clusters.
- 2005
Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Darfur programmes expanded
[1]RedR initiated or expanded post-disaster and conflict-response capacity-building programmes in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Darfur.
- 2003
Merger with International Health Exchange
[1]RedR UK merged with International Health Exchange to strengthen overseas emergency recruitment and preparation for health professionals.
- 1998
Technical Support Service launched
[1]RedR created a technical-advice service for humanitarian agencies and field workers.
Products and positioning
A specialist humanitarian organization focused on professional training, technical support, disaster-response staffing, and locally relevant capacity building.
Education and professional development · 1991
Humanitarian training
RedR provides introductory and advanced courses for people entering or working in the humanitarian sector. Subject areas include humanitarian principles and practice, safety and security, logistics, emergency shelter, WASH, health, nutrition, project management, and training of trainers. Courses may be adapted for agencies, governments, and other organizations, and some RedR UK courses have been offered with academic credit through Oxford Brookes University.
Humanitarian staffing · 1980
Specialist recruitment and deployment
RedR maintains registers and rosters of professionals who can support disaster and humanitarian operations. The network’s expertise includes engineering, health, logistics, security, management, and related technical disciplines. It connects qualified personnel with relief agencies, governments, United Nations organizations, and other responders requiring specialist support during emergencies.
Technical advisory service · 1998
Technical Support Service
The Technical Support Service provides humanitarian agencies and aid workers with access to technical specialists able to advise on practical field problems. The service draws on expertise from aid workers, academics, engineers, and specialists from the corporate sector, supporting better-informed decisions during relief and recovery operations.
Consulting and organizational training
Bespoke training and consultancy
RedR organizations tailor existing modules or develop new programmes for individual clients. Bespoke work can cover security management, personal security, humanitarian project management, logistics, emergency response, and training-of-trainers. Delivery may take place at the client’s location and is intended to reflect the operating environment, risk profile, and staffing needs of each organization.
Government humanitarian deployment programme · 2017
Australia Assists deployments
Through its role as an implementing partner, RedR Australia helps deploy civilian humanitarian specialists under Australia Assists, an Australian Government programme administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Deployments support preparedness, emergency response, recovery, and resilience work following natural hazards and conflict.
Marketing campaigns
- 2023Humanitarian Conversations podcast
Australia · International
RedR Australia launched a podcast featuring conversations with experienced humanitarian professionals about the nature and challenges of humanitarian work.
Outcome. The initiative extended RedR Australia’s educational and sector-discussion activities into an audio format.
- 2014Sierra Leone Ebola response training
United Kingdom · Sierra Leone
RedR UK trained UK NHS staff preparing to deploy to Sierra Leone during the Ebola crisis.
Outcome. The programme supported safer deployment of health personnel into a high-risk infectious-disease response.
- 2011East Africa Appeal and training-centre programme
Kenya · Horn of Africa
RedR launched an appeal and established a humanitarian training centre in Nairobi in response to the Horn of Africa food crisis and regional humanitarian needs.
Outcome. The Nairobi centre became a base for regional humanitarian training and capacity building.
- 2010Haiti earthquake response
Haiti
RedR created a programme to train relief workers supporting the Haiti earthquake response, with a substantial focus on Haitian personnel.
Outcome. Approximately 1,000 relief workers were trained, and 91 percent of trainees were reported to be Haitian nationals.
- 2005Darfur humanitarian capacity programme
Sudan
RedR established a programme in Darfur during the conflict, with a strong focus on safety, security, staff welfare, critical-incident support, and broader humanitarian capability.
Outcome. The programme trained approximately 4,000 national and international aid workers over the following five years.
- 2004Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami response
Sri Lanka · Pakistan · Indian Ocean region
RedR responded to the Indian Ocean disaster by providing specialist personnel and establishing learning and capacity-building activity in Sri Lanka. A related programme was later developed in Pakistan after the 2005 earthquake.
Outcome. The response expanded RedR’s emphasis on training and institutional capacity alongside emergency deployment.
Brand decisions
2017
Implement Australia AssistsStrategyBackground
The Australian Government created a civilian deployment mechanism to provide technical humanitarian expertise during crises and recovery operations.
Action taken
RedR Australia became an implementing partner for the Australia Assists programme.
Aftermath
The partnership expanded RedR Australia’s role in government-supported international humanitarian deployment.
2010
Prioritize national participation in Haiti trainingStrategyBackground
The Haiti earthquake created a need for immediate relief support and for stronger national response capacity.
Action taken
RedR delivered training while emphasizing the participation of Haitian nationals.
Aftermath
RedR reported that 91 percent of approximately 1,000 trainees were Haitian nationals, illustrating its capacity-building approach.
2009
Academic accreditation for humanitarian coursesStrategyBackground
Humanitarian organizations increasingly sought formal standards and recognized professional development pathways.
Action taken
RedR UK partnered with Oxford Brookes University to offer credit-rated versions of selected courses.
Aftermath
The partnership reinforced RedR’s role in professionalizing humanitarian education.
2006
Support UN humanitarian coordination clustersStrategyBackground
The UN Cluster approach required coordinated technical standards and training across humanitarian sectors.
Action taken
RedR UK and RedR Australia became involved in training aid workers within clusters such as WASH, emergency shelter, health, and nutrition.
Aftermath
RedR embedded its training expertise more deeply within international humanitarian coordination systems.
2003
Merge with International Health ExchangeM&ABackground
Emergency programmes required better preparation and recruitment of health professionals as well as technical specialists.
Action taken
RedR UK merged with International Health Exchange.
Aftermath
The merger broadened RedR UK’s recruitment and preparation capabilities for overseas emergencies.
1991
Expand from registration into professional trainingStrategyBackground
Effective disaster response required not only access to specialists but also preparation for the operational, security, and humanitarian conditions of field work.
Action taken
RedR UK began a formal training programme for humanitarian workers.
Aftermath
Training became one of RedR’s core activities and broadened its audience beyond engineers.
1980
Create a rapid-response engineering registerStrategyBackground
Humanitarian agencies lacked a reliable way to identify engineers willing and able to work in disaster and refugee emergencies.
Action taken
Peter Guthrie established RedR as a register of engineers available for short-notice relief assignments.
Aftermath
The register became the foundation for RedR’s later training, technical-advisory, and humanitarian deployment work.
Recent events
- 2023
Helen Durham became CEO of RedR Australia[1]
Leadership change
Humanitarian lawyer Helen Durham succeeded Kirsten Sayers as chief executive of RedR Australia.
- 2023
RedR Australia launched Humanitarian Conversations podcast[1]
Campaign
RedR Australia introduced a podcast featuring discussions with experienced humanitarian professionals about contemporary humanitarian work.
- 2014
RedR UK took over training for NHS staff responding to Ebola in Sierra Leone[1]
Other
From late 2014, RedR UK provided training for UK National Health Service personnel being deployed to support the Ebola response in Sierra Leone.
- 2011
RedR UK opened programmes in South Sudan and East Africa[1]
Other
RedR UK established a South Sudan operation and opened a humanitarian training centre in Nairobi in response to regional insecurity and the Horn of Africa food crisis.
- 2010
RedR established a Haiti programme after the earthquake[1]
Other
RedR trained relief workers for the Haiti response and reported that most trainees were Haitian nationals, reflecting its emphasis on local capacity.
- 2009
RedR UK partnered with Oxford Brookes University on credit-rated courses[1]
Other
The partnership created credit-rated options within RedR UK’s training portfolio and supported the professionalization of humanitarian education.
- 2006
RedR organizations engaged with the UN Cluster approach[1]
Other
RedR UK and RedR Australia supported training within humanitarian coordination clusters, including WASH, emergency shelter, health, and nutrition.
- 2005
RedR expanded post-tsunami and Darfur capacity-building programmes[1]
Other
Following the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, RedR began learning and capacity-building work in Sri Lanka and Pakistan and established a programme in Darfur, Sudan.
- 2003
RedR UK merged with International Health Exchange[1]
M&A
The merger broadened RedR UK’s ability to prepare and recruit health professionals for overseas emergency work.
- 1998
RedR launched its Technical Support Service[1]
Product launch
The organization introduced a service providing humanitarian agencies and field workers with access to specialist technical advice.
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