Evaluating Red Cross/Red Crescent (IFRC) projects resilience in times of pandemic: the influence of internal resources and conducive environment

This study proposes a model for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and similar organisations to enhance project resilience in response to pandemic-related vulnerabilities. By integrating scholarly research with project management practitioners' insights, the study identifies key resilience enablers through a literature review on project management and business continuity during COVID-19. A survey of 331 IFRC project managers assessed the significance of these enablers using PLS-SEM analysis. Findings indicate that IFRC projects have demonstrated resilience during COVID-19. Two out of three tested hypotheses were accepted, confirming that internal resources and a conducive environment significantly influence project resilience. Moreover, structural model assessment highlights the importance of external factors such as collaboration, aid localisation, and sustainable development goals (SDGs) progress in shaping resilience strategies. The study concludes with recommendations on optimising resilience attributes for humanitarian project management, emphasising the need for a balanced approach that prioritises both internal and external resilience drivers.