The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) is a humanitarian fund established by the United Nations to enable more timely and reliable humanitarian assistance to those affected by natural disasters and armed conflicts. 

CERF is a tool created by the United Nations to pre-position funding for humanitarian action. It was established to upgrade the current Central Emergency Revolving Fund by including a grant element based on voluntary contributions by Governments and private sectors organizations such as corporations, individuals, and NGOs.

The CERF was approved by consensus by the United Nations General Assembly on 15 December 2005 to achieve the following objectives:

•       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