Central Emergency Response FundCERF

Published purpose

In 2005, the UN Secretary-General proposed that the existing US$50 million loan facility - the Central Emergency Revolving Fund - be expanded to include a grant facility of up to US$450 million - the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). Two-thirds of the grant facility is to be used to respond to needs in rapid-onset crises, with one third responding to "forgotten emergencies". The overall objective of CIDA's grant program to the CERF is to increase the timeliness and equity of humanitarian funding. With the new grant facility, it is expected that humanitarian actors do not have to wait for donors to make pledges in order to commence their humanitarian activities. Also, they are able to respond to critical humanitarian needs in so-called "forgotten emergencies" which do not always receive funding in the same proportion as high-profile crises. Recommendations for the use of the CERF comes from UN Humanitarian Coordinators in the field or individual humanitarian agencies. All applications for CERF funding are approved by the UN Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator. The specific objectives of the CERF are to: (1) Promote early action and response to reduce loss of life; (2) Enhance response to time-critical requirements based on demonstrative needs; and (3) Strengthen the core elements of humanitarian response in under-funded crises.