¾ What is CERF?
The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) is a trust fund with a grant element
of up to US$ 450 million and loan facility of US$ 50 million. It was officially launched in
New York on 9 March 2006 by the United Nations Secretary-General.
In December 2005 the General Assembly decided to upgrade the Central Emergency
Revolving Fund (a loan facility of US$50 million established by the General Assembly of
the United Nations in 1991 under resolution 46/182) by adding the grant element
thereby establishing the current CERF.
¾ How does CERF work?
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief
Coordinator manages up to US$ 500 million, including a loan facility of US$50 million
and the newly created grant facility of up to US$ 450 million.
The grant facility of CERF has two components:
• Rapid response grants to promote early action and response to reduce loss of
life and to enhance response to time-critical requirements; and
• Underfunded emergency grants to strengthen core elements of humanitarian
response in underfunded crises.
¾ Where does CERF get its funds?
CERF is funded by voluntary contributions from around the world. Since March 2006,
the grant component of CERF has received pledges and contributions from 100 public
and private donors of more than US$1.1 billion. In 2008, 76 Member States, one
Observer State and four private organizations have pledged $430.2 million. The top ten
donors to date are the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Canada,
Ireland, Spain, Germany, Denmark, and Australia.
¾ How does CERF work with other funding mechanisms?
CERF is intended to complement – not to replace – existing humanitarian funding
mechanisms. CERF provides seed funds to jump-start critical operations and life-saving
programmes not yet funded through other sources. Traditional donor sources are still
expected to step in and fund the majority of needs.
¾ What are the next steps?
CERF should grow to its annual target of US$ 500 million by 2008 as set out in 2006
General Assembly resolution A/RES/61/134. The United Nations encourages Member
States and the private sector to support CERF through multi-year commitments to
ensure the sustainability of the Fund.
CERF is the responsibility of all to benefit all.
¾ How successful is CERF?
The following examples highlight how CERF funds are being put to good use.
•
Early action and response to reduce loss of life
Uganda: In early October 2007, CERF allocated US$ 6 million in response to severe
flooding across many parts of eastern, central and northern Uganda. An estimated
50,000 households were affected by the flooding, most acutely through increased food
security vulnerabilities, the collapse of infrastructure, and an growth in the prevalence of
water-borne diseases. CERF funds are being directed to the priority areas of food,
shelter and household supplies, water and sanitation, health care, education, and
protection.
•
Response to time-critical requirements
Lesotho: The country’s most recent drought was so severe that a state of emergency
was declared in July 2007. With no time to waste, and in an effort to stave off another
disastrous harvest, the United Nations jumped into action, appealing to donors for
funds. CERF granted US$ 4.7 million for immediate alleviation of the worst effects of the
drought. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) ran a series of agricultural input
trade fairs – also known as seed fairs - to be held in the ten districts of Lesotho. While
the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
provided food assistance and therapeutic feeding programmes to vulnerable
beneficiaries, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Population
Fund (UNFPA) intervened to prevent a further deterioration of the alarming rates of
malnutrition.
•
Underfunded emergency grants
Namibia: At a time when the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR) operations in Namibia were faced with a serious financial crunch,
CERF grant provided the life-line. It was a timely intervention by CERF in February
2007. The US$ 1 million CERF package was chanelled towards protection and lifesaving assistance activities of refugees and asylum-seekers in Namibia. For the
continued feeding operation of some 6,500 camp-based refugees/asylum-seekers in
Osire Camp, WFP was allocated US$ 383,185 while the remainder (US$ 616,815) went
to UNHCR to continue providing assistance to some 6,500 persons of concern in the
following critical/life-savingsectors: Primary healthcare/nutrition, shelter and non-food
items, including paraffin for cooking, water and sanitation, and protection activities.
¾ How much money did CERF disburse in 2007 and 2008?
In 2007, CERF committed US$ 227.8 million to rapid response grants in 49 countries
and US$ 123.1 million to underfunded emergencies in 23 countries. In 2008, CERF has
contributed US$ 160.3 million to rapid response grants to 32 countries and US$ 101.8
million to underfunded emergencies in 14 countries.
15 July 2008