Empress Shōken Fund: 2026 Global Funding Decisions Revealed

The Joint Commission of the Empress Shōken Fund (ESF) has announced a new distribution of 430,884 Swiss francs to support 15 projects run by 15 National Red Cross or Red Crescent Societies.

Administered by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the fund targets a wide range of humanitarian issues.

The ESF reported a record-breaking 68 applications last year for its 105th distribution of income. This surge reflects an increasing demand for innovation across the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

To manage this growth, the ESF strengthened its pipeline in 2025 by refining application and review processes. This included clearer selection criteria and peer-to-peer support from mentors within the Solferino Academy network.

Historical Impact of the Empress Shōken Fund

Established in 1921 to combat tuberculosis in Europe, the fund has since allocated more than 17 million Swiss francs to 175 National Societies across 795 initiatives.

Grants are announced annually on April 11 to commemorate the anniversary of the death of Her Majesty Empress Shōken, a founder of the Japanese Red Cross Society.

2026 Project Initiatives

Disaster Preparedness and Early Warning
Funding will support “Resilient Indigenous Territories” in Costa Rica and “Aqua-Alert” digital monitoring in Sao Tome and Principe. Indonesia will implement “Aldebaran,” an AI-powered preparedness platform, while Botswana focuses on “Circular Solutions for Resilience” through automotive waste recycling.

First Aid and Rescue
Latvia is developing a child-friendly first-aid training system, and Egypt is introducing creative, experiential learning methods through “The Creative Rescuer” project to better engage young people.

Health and Well-being
Denmark’s “Y2Y-VOICES” will focus on youth mental health advocacy, while Chile’s “Caring for Caregivers” will pilot a psychosocial support model to prevent volunteer burnout.

Social Welfare and Inclusion
Iceland’s “Project Samflétta” aims to reduce isolation for refugee women. In North Macedonia, the “House of Opportunities” will create a multifunctional service hub for those experiencing homelessness and extreme poverty.

Youth Engagement and Climate Action
Several youth-led initiatives were selected, including Pakistan’s “YOUR-CAP” for urban climate resilience and Lao PDR’s leadership strengthening pathway.

Tanzania will establish youth-led innovation labs, while Guatemala’s “Blue Guardians” will launch a Youth Water Observatory. In Congo, the “J-INNOV” project will create humanitarian fab labs to develop locally produced tools for crisis-affected communities.