The Linking Relief, Rehabilitation and Development (LRRD) concept involves rehabilitation programmes which gradually take over the relief/emergency aid to stabilise the economic and social situation, and facilitate the transition towards a medium and long-term development strategy (Commission Communication on the LRRD, April 1996).

According to the European Commission communication to the European Council and the European Parliament (April 23, 2001), the concept concerns the "grey areas" between emergency aid and development, and the gap between the two needs to be filled.

This communication also demonstrates a fundamental element of the LRRD: Crises prevention, which needs to be taken into consideration in the potential intervention areas.

The DMI includes a component to finance LRRD activities linked to previous emergency interventions funded by ECHO, including preparedness and prevention activities.

This will ensure that emergency activities previously funded by ECHO are developed into longer term interventions or successful and sustainable exit strategies. Special attention is paid to promotion of prevention and preparedness activities.

The funds for this component amount to 4 million euros and are disbursed separately from DMI project funds. The European Commission Delegation to Kenya will issue direct grants under a call for proposals to implementing partners that received funding under the ECHO Regional Drought Preparedness Programme.

Under the call for proposal, Oxfam GB and VSF-Belgium have been selected to receive funding amounting to 4 million euros to implement two LRRD projects as shown in the table below: