[afro-nets] The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)

[Philip Eric Otienoburu <otienoburu@yahoo.com>]

The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)
------------------------------------------

Dear All,

Yesterday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (OCHA), joined the Secretary General in launching the
Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). The CERF is an emergency
fund established to ensure the delivery of a more rapid, reli-
able and predictable humanitarian response. The fund also seeks
to address the challenge of neglected, underfunded and/or for-
gotten emergencies, that have a slower onset, such as the cur-
rent droughts in the horn of Africa region and E. Africa.

The launch also highlighted the importance of the CERF towards
the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals through
faster transitions to recovery and rebuilding from complex emer-
gencies and disasters. Currently, the fund stands at US$ 256
million with pledges continuing to be made. The target for the
fund is US$ 500 million.

There was a strong assurance by the Secretary-General and the
Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC)that the fund will be adminis-
tered in the most transparent manner, with real time web updates
showing contributions from member states, NGOs and for the first
time, the private sector.

Below is a press release on the CERF. You can also get more in-
formation on the fund online at: http://cerf.un.org

Philip E. Otienoburu
Policy Development and Studies Branch
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Room S-1878C
1 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel:  + 1-917-367-9497
Cell: + 1-646-920-1009
mailto:otienoburu@un.org


--
(New York: 9 March 2006): The United Nations today formally
launched the new Central Emergency Response Fund. The Fund was
approved by the General Assembly in December of 2005 and marks
another milestone in the UN reform process.

As of 7 March, some 24 member states had pledged a total of USD
196 million to the CERF. They include the United Kingdom, Swe-
den, Norway, the Netherlands, Ireland, Denmark, Luxembourg,
Switzerland, Finland, France, Greece, Estonia, Croatia, Sri
Lanka, Liechtenstein, Grenada, Armenia, Mexico, Pakistan, Egypt,
the Republic of Korea, Iceland, India and Nigeria. In addition,
a contribution was made by the Disaster Resource Network and the
Hyogo Prefecture (Japan). Because the CERF is entirely dependent
on voluntary contributions, the United Nations Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs urges more governments, the
private sector, and individuals to donate to CERF to eliminate
delays in funding.

"Too often, aid resembles a lottery in which a few win but most
lose based on considerations other than need. We must move from
lottery to predictability so all those who suffer receive aid,"
said Jan Egeland, United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator.

The CERF will save lives by providing quick initial funding for
life-saving assistance and rapid response in sudden onset emer-
gencies, rapid deteriorations, and neglected emergencies. It
will thereby help rectify the existing imbalance in global aid
distribution, as a result of which millions of people in so-
called neglected or forgotten crises remain in need, while oth-
ers benefit from better funded programmes.

The Fund adds a grant facility of up to $450 million to the ex-
isting Central Emergency Revolving Fund loan mechanism of USD
$50 million. Up to two thirds of the grant facility can be allo-
cated to rapid response with the other one-third devoted to ad-
dressing under-funded emergencies. When donor funds are in the
pipeline, the loan portion will be used; when not--the grant
portion.

Jan Egeland, who manages the Fund on behalf of the Secretary-
General, will disburse funds within three to four days after the
request of a Humanitarian or Resident Coordinator. He will be
guided by an Advisory Group of 12 independent experts. Kofi An-
nan, United Nations Secretary-General, has requested nominations
for membership in this Advisory Group, which will comprise eight
experts from the pool of contributors to the Fund's grant facil-
ity, and four from a range of partners and stakeholders.

While United Nations Agencies and the International Organization
for Migration are able to draw on the Fund, non-governmental or-
ganizations (NGOs) may also receive CERF funds as partners of
these agencies.

The Secretary-General's Report 'In larger freedom' recognized
that further improvements to the humanitarian system were needed
to introduce more predictability in overall humanitarian re-
sponse given the increasingly complex humanitarian environment,
including the increased frequency and vulnerability to natural
disasters and the significant humanitarian impact of armed con-
flict. In addition to the CERF, other key humanitarian reforms
include strengthening the response capacity and field coordina-
tion of the humanitarian system.