The CERF was launched in March 2006. In 2006, 51 states, one local government and one private organization contributed $298.7 million to the Fund. In its founding resolution, the General Assembly called for the grant component of the CERF to reach a funding level of US$ 450 million by 2008.
The guiding principle behind the CERF is to save lives by accelerating the allocation and disbursement process in the context of disaster management. CERF allocations were made to eight UN agencies (WFP, UNICEF, UNHCR, WHO, FAO, UNDP, UNFPA, UNOPS) and IOM who, in collaboration with their implementing partners, have carried out more than 331 urgent humanitarian projects in 35 countries. Click here for more details on CERF allocations per agency.
In 2006, US$ 182.4 million went to jump start humanitarian response in rapid onset crises or sudden deteriorations of existing crises in 24 countries. US$ 76.9 million went to under-funded crises in 17 countries. The majority of funds - US$ 183.9 million (or 70.9%) - went to Africa; 99% of total funds for underfunded emergencies went to Africa.
The top four recipients of CERF grants in 2006 were the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Sudan, Afghanistan, and Kenya. The Democratic Republic of Congo received US$ 38 million for malaria control and cholera response in conflict affected areas as well as mine action activities and protection for returning refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). Sudan received US$ 35.5 million for a series of rapid deteriorations in Darfur and time-critical common services, Afghanistan received US$ 32.3 million for the drought and the security situation), and Kenya received US$ 27.1 million for drought, influx of Somali refugees, and flooding.
A large amount CERF grants in 2006 went to humanitarian crisis where civilians are caught up in the midst of armed conflict. However, the majority of the CERF was spent to respond to natural disasters, such as drought (e.g. Afghanistan, Horn of Africa and Niger) and floods (e.g. Horn of Africa, Indonesia).
The top three sectors funded by the CERF in 2006 were food (30.3%), health (21.6%) and multi-sector activities related to refugee assistance (19.8%). The World Food Programme (WFP) was the primary recipient of CERF funds in 2006 at US$ 108 million, followed by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) at US$ 58.8 million and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) at US$ 34.2 million.
In 2006, CERF lived up to its goal of providing funds rapidly to new crises. In Flash Appeals between 2002 and 2005, donor countries committed on average only 16% of the funds required within 30 days of each appeal launch. The CERF has overall made Flash Appeals funded at an average of 37% at the one-month mark. Since the CERF’s establishment, the provision of financial assistance has accelerated. For instance, approval of start-up funding for aid programmes in rapid onset emergencies - such as the armed conflicts in Lebanon and Timor-Leste - came within 72 hours. This speed enabled UN agencies to deploy assistance immediately by drawing against their reserves.
[Last Update: 13 June 2007]
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