CERF: UN Central Emergency Response Fund – Core Contribution

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. In 2013, the CERF allocated $482 million for Rapid Response and Underfunded Emergencies in 45 countries in the world.

CERF was created by all nations, for all potential victims of disasters. CERF assures that the funds will go where they are most needed in the network of international aid organizations. It represents a real chance to provide predictable and equitable funding to those affected by natural disasters and other humanitarian emergencies, as it is written in the principles of „Good Humanitarian Donorship“ to which Switzerland commits. The CERF is a specialised tool to contribute to the international commitment of burden sharing.

The management response plan (MRP) to the CERF five-year evaluation has been closed at the end of 2013 by the CERF secretariat in accordance with the CERF Advisory Group. The CERF secretariat has implemented all the evaluation recommendations directly under its control by third quarter of 2013. It has also launched initiatives to address broader issues from the evaluation that are linked to system-wide processes. Longer-term initiatives linked to the recommendations of the evaluation are transferred to the CERF secretariat’s regular work-plan for 2014-2015.

Introduction of a new rolling reporting schedule. The new system will reduce RC/HCs and agencies’ reporting burdens, allowing for a more timely review and feedback from the CERF secretariat. It will also simplify the reporting structure, improve the accuracy of the data and increase CERF’s transparency and accountability to stakeholders.

The CERF secretariat will continue to work on progress and developments for longer term initiatives that relate to five-year evaluation recommendations. Additional resource mobilisation efforts, including a strengthened regional approach and leveraging new partnership opportunities in the private sector to be undertaken. Increasing funding consistency from a broader base of Member States remains at the forefront of CERF resource mobilization efforts.

Timeliness of disbursement of funds from humanitarian agencies to their implementing partners to be brought to the attention of IASC’s principals to establish internal benchmarks for timely disbursements of CERF funds. Efforts to harmonize the processes for pooled funds and CERF will improve the overall coherence, efficiency and effectiveness of humanitarian coordination and action.

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Since its creation in 2005, 125 UN Member and Observer States and Territories contributed, as well as 3 regional and local authorities and 30 private donors and civil society.

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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