Projects submitted under Rapid Response window need to fulfill one of these two objectives:

A. Promote early action and response:  

• sudden onset emergencies or crises, both natural disasters and complex emergencies
• rapid deteriorations of existing complex emergencies

B. Enhance response to time-critical requirements:

• respond to slow-onset natural disasters
• time critical funds to prevent escalation, reduce impact & costs

Criteria for Selected Projects:

• based on needs assessments
• chosen from the core humanitarian programmes 
• essential for the humanitarian response (prioritized by the HC/RC and Country Team
• life-saving, as defined by the mandate of the CERF

Field-Driven Decision-making Process:

• HC/RC recommends use of the CERF, identifies priority life saving needs by consulting IASC CT
• HC/RC submits package of proposals based on assessed needs
• ERC approves applications
• UN disburses funds to eligible agencies
• Note: Agencies cannot submit proposals directly to the ERC

Implementation Period:

• Funds must be committed within six months
• In rapid response cases, expensing funds can start immediately at the day of the disaster. The Letter of Understanding between OCHA and the CERF eligible recipient will clearly specify the starting date of expenditures in such cases, and requires the reasons for beginning expensing before the funds are actually transferred to the receiving agency’s account.

Application Process:

• Apply using the CERF Application Template 2011 (English)(French) unless ERC agrees to fund against a Flash Appeal or similar document
• If funding against an appeal, HC/RC submits summary table with list of projects and requested funding amounts for each.
• NOTE: Simultaneously prepare Flash appeal and prioritize projects for CERF funding; provide CERF allocations in summary tables within Flash Appeal document if funding has already been approved by the ERC.
• CERF grant proposal packages should not substitute the development of a Flash Appeal.
• In all cases agencies must submit a CERF Budget Tool 2011 (Excel - August 2011).
• In all cases proposals should be sent as a package with a cover letter/e-mail from the HC/RC to the ERC and the CERF Secretariat (cerf@un.org).
• Helpful tools for completing CERF applications (checklist for RC office) (PDF - June 2008)  
• Cheat Sheet on CERF, CAP, and Flash Appeals (PDF - November 2008)   
   

Updated 8 November 2011