Supporting recovery efforts in Sri Lanka and Vietnam

The Australian Mutuals Foundation (AMF) has contributed $20,000 to the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WFCU) Global Solidarity Appeal, supporting urgent recovery efforts in Sri Lanka and Vietnam following devastating storms and flooding.

This contribution reflects our ongoing commitment to international cooperation, whilst standing alongside credit unions and their communities during times of crisis.  In December 2025, WFCU launched a global appeal to assist cooperative financial institutions and communities affected by extreme weather events across Asia. The appeal focuses on rebuilding essential services, restoring livelihoods, and strengthening long-term resilience in regions facing unprecedented devastation. 

In Sri Lanka, Cyclone Ditwah has caused catastrophic flooding and landslides, marking Sri Lanka’s worst natural disaster in two decades. Members and staff of the SANASA cooperative network have experienced severe damage to homes, livelihoods, and access to financial services. 

Through collaboration with the Asian Confederation of Credit Unions (ACCU) and the SANASA Federation, WFCU’s response aims to: 

• Rebuild damaged cooperative offices and community facilities 

• Restore essential financial services and emergency lending 

• Support livelihood recovery for small businesses and farmers 

• Strengthen long-term resilience through training and digital tools 

Our financial contribution to WFCU’s appeal will support these recovery initiatives, helping ensure cooperative institutions can continue serving their communities when they are needed most. 

In 2025, Vietnam endured 19 consecutive storms and tropical depressions, resulting in widespread flooding across all regions of the country.  

A credit union office damaged by a storm in Vietnam

Many People’s Credit Funds (PCFs) who are vital providers of local financial services, sustained extensive damage to offices, equipment, and infrastructure. While Vietnam’s apex cooperative bank, Co-opBank, has mobilised resources, the scale of destruction requires additional global support. 

Working alongside ACCU, WFCU’s efforts in Vietnam focus on: 

• Financial support for affected PCFs and their members 

• Restoration of essential systems and facilities 

• Recovery assistance to help communities rebuild livelihoods 

WFCU’s appeal follows their recent disaster response in Jamaica, where global cooperative partners enabled the deployment of funds to restore credit union operations following Hurricane Melissa. 

AMF’s $20,000 contribution to this appeal reconfirms our mission to support cooperative development and resilience both in Australia and internationally. We are proud to be part of this global cooperative response, reinforcing the principle that mutuals are stronger when we support one another across borders.  

For more information about the appeal or to contribute, visit the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions website: https://wfcu.givecloud.co/product/8AF0A03/asian-region-disaster-relief-campaign