Enable more timely and reliable humanitarian assistance to people affected by natural disasters and armed conflicts.

 “CERF was created by all nations, for all potential victims of disasters. It represents a real chance to provide predictable and equitable funding to those affected by natural disasters and other humanitarian emergencies.”

The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) is a humanitarian fund established by the General Assembly in 2006 to enable more timely and reliable humanitarian assistance to people affected by natural disasters and armed conflicts. The Fund is replenished annually through contributions from governments and the private sector. It constitutes a pool of reserve funding to support humanitarian action. CERF’s objectives, as set by the General Assembly, are to: 

• Promote early action and response to reduce loss of life. 

• Enhance response to time-critical requirements. 

• Strengthen core elements of humanitarian response in underfunded crises. 

CERF has a grant facility of US$450 million and a loan facility of $30 million, and the two components have distinct features. 

Who manages CERF? 

The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and the Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC), Ms. Valerie Amos, manages CERF on behalf of the United Nations Secretary-General.

How does CERF work? 

CERF allows the United Nations to react immediately when a disaster strikes. It makes funds available for life-saving activities to the United Nations and its funds, programmes and specialized agencies, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). CERF is intended to complement, not to substitute, existing humanitarian funding mechanisms, such as United Nations consolidated appeals. CERF provides seed funds to jump-start critical operations and fund life-saving programmes not yet covered by other donors

CERF’s grant component has two elements: 

• Rapid response grants to promote early action and response to reduce loss of life, and to enhance response to time-critical requirements.

 • Underfunded emergency grants to strengthen core elements of humanitarian response in underfunded crises.

Since its inception in 2006, CERF has allocated about $2.7 billion to help hundreds of thousands of people in 87 countries across the world.

Who can apply for CERF funds?

 United Nations humanitarian agencies and IOM can apply for CERF funding. WFP, UNICEF and UNHCR are the top three agency recipients of CERF funding. Applications for CERF funding must demonstrate that proposed activities are in line with CERF’s life-saving criteria. 

The Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator submits applications to the ERC and the CERF secretariat, based on an in-country prioritization process. The General Assembly resolution that created CERF does not allow NGOs to apply directly for CERF funding. However, NGOs frequently receive CERF funding when they act as implementing partners of United Nations agencies and IOM. OCHA cannot receive CERF grants, as the ERC is the Fund Manager.

Where does CERF get its funds?

 CERF is funded by voluntary contributions from Governments, the private sector and individuals. Since March 2006, the CERF’s grant component has received pledges and contributions of more than $2.8 billion from 126 Member States, observers, regional and local authorities, together with private donors and civil society organizations. A third of CERF’s contributors have also received support from the Fund.