Coordination Tools * Financial Mechanisms
Thursday, May 24, 2012   
 Flash Appeal Minimize

 
A flash appeal is an inter-agency humanitarian response strategy to a major disaster that requires a coordinated response beyond the capacity of the government plus any single agency. The appeal addresses acute needs for a common planning horizon, normally up to six months. 
 
The flash appeal is a tool for structuring a coordinated humanitarian response for the first three to six months of a new emergency. The United Nations Resident Coordinator / Humanitarian Coordinator ( UN RC/HC) triggers it in consultation with major stakeholders within two days of a major disaster or in response to an ongoing or slow-onset crisis. It contains an analysis of the context and of humanitarian needs (citing whatever specific needs assessments are available, as well as any other evidence such as informal reports, remote sensing, background data, and inference), response plans (at the general strategic level as well as sector plans including specific proposed projects), and information on roles and responsibilities
 
Given that Flash Appeals are based on early estimates of needs, they can be revised at any point after the launch as more information emerges.
 
Agencies that list their projects in the Appeal receive their funding directly from donors.
 
The Flash Appeal may be succeeded by a Consolidated Appeal if an inter-agency response is needed beyond six months.
 
The humanitarian response plan is the basis for projects for both the CERF request and the Flash Appeal. Because of rapid disbursement, the RC submits the most urgent life-saving projects to the CERF secretariat while waiting for pledges against other Flash Appeal projects to be transferred by donors.

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 CERF Minimize

CERF 2009 Beneficiaries

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
 
CERF assures that the funds will go where they are most needed in the network of international aid organizations. Those include the most experienced organizations such as the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organizations (WHO) to name a few.
 
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. It is an enormous undertaking and will require collective support of all sectors.
 
CERF will have up to US $500 million, including a grant facility of up to US $450 million and a loan facility of US $50 million. CERF grant component has two windows; one for rapid response and one for under-funded emergencies. CERF is funded by voluntary contributions from around the globe from Member States of the United Nations, private businesses, foundations and individuals.
 
The Fund is managed, on behalf of the United Nations Secretary-General, by the Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC), John Holmes, Head of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The Fund allows the UN to react immediately when a disaster strikes by making funding available for life-saving activities to eligible agencies such as UN 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 the UN Consolidated Appeals. CERF provides seed funds to jump-start critical operations and fund life-saving programmes not yet covered by other donors.
 

Remember
 
CERF as Loan Facility

The loan must be reimbursed within 6 months
 
CERF as Rapid Response Grant
 
Projects should address critical operations and life-saving programmes that have not yet been funded by other sources.
 
CERF is intended to complement – not replace – existing humanitarian funding mechanisms (CAP/CHAP, Flash Appeals and Pooled Funds).
 
The humanitarian response plan is the basis for projects for both the CERF request and the Flash Appeal. Because of rapid disbursement by the CERF, the RC submits the most urgent life-saving projects to the CERF secretariat while waiting for pledges against other Flash Appeal projects to be transferred by donors.
 
The allocation maximum per project is $30 million.
 
Expenditure can start immediately on the day of the disaster.
 
The duration of activities can be up to six months; funds, however, must be committed within 3 months.
 
The Resident Coordinator (RC) can request no-cost extensions on behalf of an agency.
 


CERF as Underfunded Emergency Grant
 
Projects should address critical operations and life-saving programmes not yet funded through other sources.
 
CERF is intended to complement – not replace – existing humanitarian funding mechanisms (CAP/CHAP, Flash Appeals and Pooled Funds).
 
The Consolidated Appeal may be used to identify priority projects.
 
The allocation minimum is $ XX; the maximum is $XX.
 
The deadline for the commitment of funds and completion of activities:
 
First allocation round: 31 December of the year of funding.
Second allocation round: 30 June of the following year.
 
The Resident Coordinator (RC) can request no-cost extensions on behalf of an agency.

 
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 Emergency Cash Grant Minimize

 

The Emergency Cash Grant is a grant of a maximum of US$100,000 per country and per disaster that can be made available by OCHA in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. If approved, the Grant is disbursed within 10 days.
 
Its purpose is to cover the most pressing needs of the affected population – such as local purchase of relief items and delivery and distribution thereof – which cannot be satisfied from national resources, while awaiting the response of the international donor community.
 
Usually, the funds are placed at the disposal of the Resident Coordinator. However, the Resident Coordinator may seek and obtain OCHA's concurrence for their transfer to the Government or local non-governmental implementing partners.
 
The Emergency Grant can only be used to cover relief needs, not reconstruction activities.
 
Funds are usually channeled through UNDP for local procurement and/or transport of relief items.
 
The Grant should be spent within two months of the date of authorization.
 
The Grant may be used for purchases by OCHA Headquarters or other purposes agreed upon by OCHA and the Resident Coordinator.

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This website was developed with the assistance of Thematic Funding from the Humanitarian Aid Department of the European Commission in 2004 and 2005