Yearly Contribution to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) 2017

The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) is a humanitarian fund established by the United Nations to enable more timely and reliable humanitarian assistance to those affected by natural disasters and armed conflicts.

CERF is one of the fastest and most effective ways to support rapid humanitarian response. It is also a lifeline for those caught up in the world’s most neglected, underfunded and long-lasting crises.

In 2016, the CERF Secretariat enhanced its efforts to make sure that CERF resources supported the most vulnerable, that humanitarian response is coordinated, and is focused on those who have been worst-affected by crises. The CERF Secretariat worked very closely with Humanitarian Coordinators and humanitarian country teams to help them to maximize the impact of CERF funding and prioritize the most life-saving humanitarian actions.

In 2016, CERF has disbursed US$ 409 million in 47 countries for life-saving activities around the world, incuding US$ 150 million under both tranches of the Underfunded Emergencies window allocated to 15 of the most underfunded emergencies, targeting about 6.5 million people in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

However, contributions to CERF are estimated to have dropped by $16 million in 2016, largely due to exchange rate fluctuations. With an annual funding target of $450 million, funding to CERF stood at $425 million in 2016, representing a shortfall of $25 million. This shortfall may prevent CERF from responding to sudden onset emergencies and underfunded crises in late 2016 and early 2017, potentially impacting the lives of millions of people affected by crises.

Significant efforts were undertaken by the CERF secretariat to finalize the Standard Operating Procedures for handling fraud cases.

The CERF secretariat also strived to enhance the analysis and reporting of performance data from grant reports on the use and impact of funds.

Manuel Bessler kept chairing the CERF Advisory Group in his own capacity throughout 2016.

• The CERF secretariat strongly advocated and engaged donors and the Advisory Group in identfying means and opportunities for meeting the goal of a $1 billion CERF by 2018, in line with the USG’s call at the WHS.
  
• In line with one of the commitments of the GB to reduce the management cost of aid organisations, the programme support cost for CERF was reduced from 3% to 2% effective 1 June 2016, releasing approximately $4 million for additional life-saving assitance.
• The case and the narrative for increased investment in CERF as a reliable tool in the global humanitarian landscape were further developed by the CERF secretariat
• The donor base was broadened and diversified through outreach activities, in particular towards Gulf states
• The CERF secretariat kept the donors informed about potential fraudulent use of Fund allocations and reported on ongoing investigations

• Opt for more flexibility in the division of funds allocated between the rapid response and underfunded emergnecies windows of the Fund in the context of more protracted humanitarian crises
• Continue to ensure fast disbursement of the funds from recipient agencies to their implementation partners

11 out of 59 UN Member States and Observers in 2016

http://www.unocha.org/cerf/our-donors/funding/pledges-and-contributions/2016

Since 2006, donors to CERF have enabled the UN agencies, funds and programs, and their implementing partners to provide US$4.5 billion worth of life-saving assistance thanks to the voluntary contributions from 126 UN Member States and observers as well as regional governments, corporate donors, foundations and individuals.

The CERF is a humanitarian fund that is used according to the consensus reached by the UN General Assembly on 15 December 2005, resolution A/RES/46/182.

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