Chapter 20, The RAGs: global expertise at your fingertips¶
What is a RAG and why it concerns you¶
A Rotary Action Group (RAG) is an independent organization of Rotarian experts in a specific field, recognized by the RI Board of Directors. RAGs are not part of the Rotary hierarchy, they cross it. They directly connect a local club to global expertise without going through the usual channels.
In practice, when your club faces an earthquake and you need an expert in drinking water systems or a specialist in community economic reconstruction, a RAG is what finds them for you. Not your district, not RI, a RAG.
What a RAG does and does not do¶
| What a RAG does | What a RAG does not do |
|---|---|
| Provides specialized technical expertise | Does not replace your club in the field |
| Connects your club to experts and partners | Does not fund directly (except limited own funds) |
| Advises on grant applications | Does not submit grants on your behalf |
| Coordinates between several interventions | Does not take control of your operation |
| Trains your members on specialized practices | Does not provide mass volunteer labor |
How a RAG is structured¶
Each RAG is an independent legal entity (most are 501(c)(3) in the United States). They have their own budget (dues of 25-75 USD/year, donations, co-financing of projects), their own governance, and their own global network of expert members.
RAGs have no hierarchical authority over your club. They operate by attraction and expertise. You call them when you need them. They do not impose themselves.
The 5 key RAGs for disasters¶
1. DNA-RAG, The general coordinator¶
What the DNA-RAG is not: a hierarchical authority. It does not command clubs, districts or zones. The DG decides at district level, the president at club level. Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation retain their prerogatives.
What the DNA-RAG is: an adviser, a connector, a coordinator, a toolmaker. It aligns responses across layers, links clubs with partners, capitalizes on lessons learned and disseminates validated templates. See the doctrine laid out in chapter 0.
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Disaster Network of Assistance, Rotary Action Group |
| Website | dna-rag.com |
| Contact | Emergency form on the site |
| Response time | < 24 hours (often < 12 hours for major disasters) |
| Chair | Barry Rassin (PDG D7020 Bahamas, former RI President 2018-2019) |
| Meetings | 2nd Monday of each month, 09:00 EST |
What it provides to your club: - General coordination of the Rotary response beyond your district - Activation of other relevant RAGs (it knows who to call and when) - Connection with international partner districts for Global Grants - Liaison with ShelterBox, OCHA, and the major NGOs - Prevention of duplication between clubs and districts intervening in parallel - Support for preparing DRG and Global Grant applications - Access to the D7020 Application (digital coordination system)
When to activate it: As soon as the disaster exceeds the capacity of your club and your district. In practice: any event affecting more than one community, or requiring aid from outside the district.
The 9 functions of DNA-RAG:
| # | Function | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prepare | Preparedness plans, training, drills, available before the disaster |
| 2 | Connect | Matchmaking with clubs, districts, RAGs, NGOs, experts |
| 3 | Communicate | Real-time information, situation bulletins |
| 4 | Coordinate | Avoid duplication, align interventions |
| 5 | Fund | Identify funding sources, support your applications |
| 6 | Supply | Mobilize supplies, activate ShelterBox, logistical chains |
| 7 | Rebuild | Sustainable recovery projects via Global Grants |
| 8 | Train | Local capacity building |
| 9 | Innovate | Digital coordination tools (D7020 App) |
Concrete case, Myanmar earthquake (March 2025): Within 48 hours, DNA-RAG activated ShelterBox for shelters, mobilized WASH-RAG for water systems, and connected partner districts in Thailand and India for Global Grants. More than 2,000 families received shelters, wells and sanitation kits, despite the access difficulties linked to the political context.
2. WASH-RAG, Water and sanitation¶
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Rotary Action Group |
| Website | wash-rag.org |
| Contact | Emergency form on the site |
| Response time | < 24 hours |
What it provides to your club: - Experts in drinking water systems (boreholes, purification, distribution) - Technical assessment of damaged water systems - Deployment of emergency purification stations - Prevention of waterborne epidemics (cholera, typhoid) - Connection with UNICEF WASH for major operations - Technical advice for WASH Global Grants - Training in maintenance of installed systems
When to activate it: Any disaster that damages water sources, drinking water networks, or sanitation systems. In practice: floods, earthquakes, cyclones, droughts, epidemics.
3. ESRAG, The environment¶
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group |
| Website | esrag.org |
| Contact | Via leadership on the site |
| Response time | < 48 hours |
What it provides to your club: - Assessment of environmental damage (forests, watersheds, soils) - Planning of ecosystem restoration post-disaster - Prevention of secondary risks (landslides, erosion) - Advocacy for sustainable and resilient reconstruction - Technical advice for environmental Global Grants - Expertise in climate change and adaptation
When to activate it: Forest fires, landslides, flooding with erosion, any disaster with a significant environmental dimension. Also for reconstruction projects that integrate climate resilience.
4. RAGFP, Peace and conflict zones¶
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Rotary Action Group for Peace |
| Website | rotaryactiongroupforpeace.org |
| Contact | Via DNA-RAG (recommended) or directly |
| Response time | < 72 hours |
What it provides to your club: - Mobilization of regional expert Rotary Peace Fellows - Negotiation of humanitarian access in conflict zones - Community mediation between displaced persons and host communities - Security context analysis for interventions in fragile zones
When to activate it: Disasters in conflict zones, complex crises, population displacement in contexts of community tensions.
5. RAGCED, Community economic development¶
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Rotary Action Group for Community Economic Development |
| Website | ragced.org |
| Contact | Via DNA-RAG (recommended) or directly |
| Response time | < 72 hours |
What it provides to your club: - Expertise in post-disaster economic recovery - Microfinance and microcredit programs for victims - Vocational training and retraining - Help in rebuilding local markets and supply chains - Advice on Global Grants focused on economic development - Support for creating cooperatives and income-generating activities
When to activate it: Recovery phase after any major disaster, when livelihoods are destroyed and the community needs to restart its local economy. Particularly relevant after earthquakes, cyclones, floods and droughts.
Activation matrix: which RAG(s) for which type of disaster¶
Legend: P = Priority (activate first) | S = Secondary (activate if relevant) | C = Consult depending on context
| Type of disaster | DNA-RAG | WASH-RAG | ESRAG | RAGFP | RAGCED |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major earthquake | P | P | S | C | S |
| Tsunami | P | P | P | C | S |
| Cyclone/Hurricane | P | P | S | C | S |
| Major flooding | P | P | P | C | S |
| Landslide | P | S | P | C | S |
| Volcanic eruption | P | S | P | C | S |
| Drought | P | P | P | C | P |
| Forest fires | P | S | P | C | S |
| Heatwave | P | P | C | C | C |
| Epidemic | S | P | C | C | C |
| Pandemic | S | P | C | C | S |
| Famine | P | P | C | C | P |
| Armed conflict | S | S | C | P | S |
| Population displacement | P | S | C | P | S |
| Industrial accident | P | P | P | C | S |
| Oil spill | S | P | P | C | C |
| Food crisis | P | P | C | C | P |
| Complex crisis | P | S | C | P | S |
| Disaster in conflict zone | P | S | C | P | S |
| Urban crisis (slum) | P | P | S | C | P |
Optimal combinations by situation¶
| Situation | RAGs to activate together |
|---|---|
| Major urban earthquake | DNA-RAG + WASH-RAG + RAGCED |
| Coastal cyclone | DNA-RAG + WASH-RAG + ESRAG |
| Prolonged drought | DNA-RAG + WASH-RAG + ESRAG + RAGCED |
| Post-flood epidemic | WASH-RAG + DNA-RAG (coordination) |
| Climate displacement | DNA-RAG + RAGFP + WASH-RAG |
| Complex crisis (conflict + disaster) | DNA-RAG + RAGFP + WASH-RAG |
| Tsunami | DNA-RAG + WASH-RAG + ESRAG + RAGCED |
| Economic reconstruction | RAGCED + DNA-RAG + WASH-RAG |
How to contact and activate a RAG: 4-step procedure¶
Step 1, Internal assessment (0-6 hours)¶
Before contacting a RAG, answer these questions: - Does the disaster exceed the capacity of your club and your district? If yes, continue. - What type of expertise do you need? (water, environment, peace/access in conflict zones, economic development) - Consult the matrix above to identify the relevant RAG(s).
Step 2, Initial contact (6-24 hours)¶
DNA-RAG is always a good first contact. Even if your need is specifically WASH or environmental, DNA-RAG can activate the right RAGs for you and coordinate the whole.
Prepare an initial briefing containing: - Type of disaster - Exact location (country, region, city) - Date and time of the event - Estimated scale (number of people affected, geographic area) - Identified needs (what you know at this stage) - Available local capacity (what you are already doing) - Your specific request (technical expertise, connection with partners, help with grant preparation)
Contact channels:
| RAG | How to contact |
|---|---|
| DNA-RAG | Emergency form on dna-rag.com |
| WASH-RAG | Emergency contact on wash-rag.org |
| ESRAG | Leadership via esrag.org |
| RAGFP | Via DNA-RAG (recommended) or rotaryactiongroupforpeace.org |
| RAGCED | Via DNA-RAG (recommended) or ragced.org |
Step 3, Coordination (24-72 hours)¶
Once contact is established: - The RAG assigns you a dedicated liaison for your operation - Coordination meeting (video or phone) with your team and the RAG liaison - Identification of other RAGs to activate if necessary - Connection with partner districts for Global Grants - Action plan shared between your club, the district and the RAG(s)
Step 4, Ongoing operation¶
- The RAG coordinates from the global level (expertise, connections, follow-up)
- Your club operates in the field (concrete actions, distribution, documentation)
- Regular reports to the RAG to adjust the response
- The RAG does not take control, it amplifies your action
DNA-RAG monthly meetings: a network to join now¶
DNA-RAG holds its meetings on the 2nd Monday of each month at 09:00 EST (14:00 UTC in winter, 13:00 UTC in summer). These meetings are open to any Rotarian.
Why attend them before a disaster strikes: - You will hear feedback from operations ongoing around the world - You will know the faces and voices of the people you will have to call in an emergency - You will understand how the network actually works - You will be able to ask your questions about preparing your club
To register: dna-rag.com website, member or observer section. The connection link (Zoom) is sent by email. The agenda includes ongoing disasters and projects under development.
The best time to join a RAG is now, not when you will need it.