Global Health Cluster
Orientation Package
Module 3:
Humanitarian Financing
Module 3: Learning Objectives
On completion of this module participants
will have a good understanding of:
• Existing humanitarian financing mechanisms:
i.e. FLASH, CAP, CERF, and ERF
• How Health Cluster partners can contribute to
and benefit from these finance mechanisms
• How these finance mechanisms fit into overall
strategy, development and planning at country
level
The Health Cluster Guide
The Global Health Cluster has developed a
practical guide for country-level implementation of
the Health Cluster
Available in English and French:
www.who.int/hac/global_health_cluster/guide
• online
• hard copy
• CD/ROM
The 3 Pillars of the Humanitarian
Reform
Strengthening
Humanitarian
Coordination
Strengthening
Humanitarian
Financing
Effective
leadership and
coordination in
humanitarian
emergencies
Adequate, timely
and flexible
financing
The Cluster
Approach
Adequate capacity
and predictable
leadership in all
sectors
Built on strong and consistent PARTNERSHIPS between
UN and non-UN actors
Need for:
Humanitarian
Financing
• Predictable & timely funding
• Diversity and complementary
of various funding
mechanisms
• Equitable and transparent
funding modalities for UN
and non- UN agencies
• Strategies and channels for
disbursement, which does
not inhibit, and is not
detrimental, to partnerships
The Health Cluster at Country level
A major part of the work of Health Cluster partners
at country level is to:
• agree strategic plans
• identify funding
• submit proposals to finance mechanisms and
donors
Overview
1. Appeal Mechanisms
• FLASH
• Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP)
• Pledging conferences – in country,
internationally or in agencies Head Office
Overview (2)
2. Funding sources
•
•
Donor Alerts
Pooled Funds
 Central Emergency Response Fund
(CERF)
 OCHA Expanded Humanitarian
Response Fund (ERF)
• Bilateral Funding
• Agencies' own emergency funds
• Other sources of funding
1. APPEAL MECHANISMS
1. Appeal mechanisms
FLASH
• A tool for structuring a strategic and
coordinated humanitarian response for the first
three to six months of an emergency, and for
mobilizing the necessary resources from
donors
• Provides an overview of urgent life-saving
needs within a week of the emergency's onset
1. Appeal mechanisms
FLASH - The basic principles
• The Cluster Lead Agency /Health Cluster
Coordinator is responsible for submitting to the
Humanitarian Coordinator an initial response plan
for the health sector that is prepared in
collaboration with health partners and in
consultation with the MoH
• The plan includes an initial health crisis response
strategy, a statement on roles and responsibilities,
and outlines of specific proposed projects – all based
on available information, rapid needs assessments,
early estimates and best guesses
1. Appeal mechanisms
FLASH - The basic principles
• The plan should focus on urgent life-saving needs
plus whatever early recovery projects can be
identified
• The Flash Appeal may include projects from:
UN agencies
I/NGOs
National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society
• Government ministries cannot appeal for funds
directly in a flash appeal, but can be partners in
UN or NGO projects
1. Appeal mechanisms
Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP)
• A planning and fundraising tool for the coordination,
implementation and monitoring of humanitarian
activities in chronic or complex emergencies, or
natural disasters
• The CAP is prepared when the Emergency Relief
Coordinator (ERC) and IASC decide, in consultation
with the Humanitarian Coordinator and the IASC
Country Team, that a consolidated approach to
resource mobilization is needed
1. Appeal mechanisms
CAP – The basic principles
• Is developed in country and led by the Health Cluster
• The process typically takes about a month
• It is a joint collaborative process involving the
Cluster Lead Agency, Health Cluster Coordinator
and health cluster partners
1. Appeal mechanisms
CAP – The basic principles
• Identifies inter-sectoral priorities and contains the
response strategy
• Forms the health section of the Common
Humanitarian Action Plan (CHAP) and proposes
projects corresponding to the agreed priorities and
strategy
• Projects are monitored in a mid-year review
1. Appeal mechanisms
Important Point
The health sector components of Joint Response
Plans, Flash Appeals and Consolidated Appeals should
be prepared through collaborative processes, led by
the Health Cluster Coordinator, and involving as many
health cluster partners as possible, including the MOH
1. Appeal mechanisms
Participating in the CAP
• Become a Health Cluster Partner
• Attend the Health Cluster planning meetings
• Ideally the Health Cluster should be co-chaired by
the Health Cluster Coordinator and the MOH or an
NGO
• Participate in the preparation of the health section of
the CHAP
1. Appeal mechanisms
Participating in the CAP
• Jointly agree clear criteria for the inclusion of
projects
• Jointly agree on the projects to be included
• Liaise with other clusters – particularly nutrition
and WASH
Funding raised through appeal
mechanisms
Health Sector: funding received and
shortfall for all appeals
37%
Received
Shortfall
63%
2. FUNDING SOURCES
2. Funding sources
Donor alerts
• Issued between 24-72 hours of the emergency
by WHO
• Consists of 2-3 pages describing the nature of
the crisis, its impact on the health status of the
population, and an estimation of needs
• Posted on WHO website and circulated to
donors
2. Funding sources
Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)
• The CERF is a stand-by fund established by the
UN for more timely, reliable and equitable funding
• It complements (does not replace) Flash and
CAP
• CERF grants are a funding source for rapid
response and under-funded emergencies
• Only UN agencies can submit requests for CERF
funding, NGOs are not eligible to access CERF
funds directly
2. Funding sources
CERF Windows
• Rapid response operations (FLASH)
– Acute crises / 6 months
• Under-funded emergencies (CAP)
– Chronic emergencies / calendar year
2. Funding sources
CERF Windows
Flash Appeal
Issued 2-4 days after
emergency for up to 3-6
months
CERF: Filing the GAP
Consolidated Appeal
Issued within 3-6
months of emergency,
and annually as
needed
2. Funding sources
CERF Key points
• FOR LIFE SAVING ACTIVITIES ONLY !
• Does not cover:
Recurrent costs
Regular agency stockpiling
General preparedness activities
General early warning
Capacity building
2. Funding sources
CERF Project selection
• The Health Cluster should establish criteria for
projects collaboratively with MOH and partners
• Proposed projects should be:
 Based on needs assessments,
 Essential for the humanitarian response
 Life saving as defined by the mandate of the
CERF
 Able to be completed within implementation
period
2. Funding sources
OCHA Expanded Humanitarian Response
Fund (ERF)
• Provides quickly-disbursed funds for international
and national humanitarian implementing
organisations (I/NNGOs) to respond to identified
humanitarian priorities within the context of the
Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP)
2. Funding sources
OCHA Expanded Humanitarian Response
Fund (ERF)
• For natural disasters and complex conflict
related crises
• Supports short term projects up to six months
in duration
• Managed by the UN Humanitarian Coordinator
(HC) and administered by UN OCHA
2. Funding sources
Other sources
• Bilateral funding: (e.g. ECHO, USAID,
AusAID, DFID, CIDA, Governments)
• Agency funding: (e.g. South East Asia
Regional Health Emergency Fund, Regional
Director’s Development Programme Funds,
trusts and private sector)
2. Funding sources
Other sources
•
•
•
•
Common Humanitarian Funds - for specific countries
Multiple Donors Trust Fund
Community Peace and Stability Fund
UN Development Assistance Framework
(UNDAF) - for recovery activities
2. Funding sources
Accessing & disbursing pooled funds
• Planning: develop a country CHAP with a prioritization
of activities (life-saving, recovery, etc), including input
from partners
• Inter-agency work: proactively advocate for more
funding to health priorities (shared responsibility for
meeting with donors and partners)
• Allocation of resources: partners should meet to
decide on the allocation of funds available
• Monitoring and reporting: on WHO and partners
activities
Module 3: Humanitarian Funding
Key Message (1)
• Partners can have access to funds through
these mechanisms
• Funding proposals MUST be consistent with
the relevant finance mechanism requirements
and compliant with the relevant cluster
strategic plan and needs assessments
Module 3: Humanitarian Funding
Key Message (2)
• Partners should ensure that their agency
proposals and projects are considered by the
country health cluster by proactively engaging
with the Health Cluster and ensuring that
appropriate senior representatives attend the
meetings of the Health Cluster
Resources
• Health Cluster Guide
www.who.int.hac.globalhealthcluster
• http://ochaonline.un.org/Coordination/Consolidat
edAppealsProcess/tabid/1100/language/enUS/Default.aspx
• http://cerf.un.org
Discussion & Questions