Following a humanitarian crisis, actors like UN agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the field can immediately provide life-saving assistance. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) helps to ensure a quick response by bringing together actors and ensuring a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response.
OCHA specifically helps through its three pooled fund mechanisms:
The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), Common Humanitarian Funds (CHFs) and Emergency Response Funds (ERFs). These funds provide assistance for food, water and shelter immediately following a disaster; life-saving nutrition and medical care for babies born in refugee camps; and basic life necessities for those struggling to survive in many of the world's forgotten emergencies.
Since these funds were created, billions of dollars have been disbursed to help millions of people in dire need of assistance in nearly 85 countries. Funds come from the voluntary contributions of over 126 countries and 32 private-sector donors.
Immediately following a disaster, the United Nations Resident Coordinator or Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC) can make a CERF application for humanitarian funding for priority, life-saving activities. In countries where there is an ERF or CHF, the RC/HC can immediately release available funds upon agreed priorities at the country level. NGOs cannot access CERF funds, but CHFs and ERFs can be allocated to NGOs. The majority of ERF recipients are NGO partners.
Decisions on prioritizing life-saving activities are managed by humanitarian actors on the ground. These priorities are organized into an appeal document and presented to Member States and other partners for funding. Generally there are two types of appeals: Consolidated Appeals, developed on an annual basis in countries where there are humanitarian needs, and Flash Appeals, developed following a sudden-onset emergency such as a flood or an earthquake. CERF, CHF and ERF funding is recorded against these appeals. All funding information is recorded in the Financial Tracking Service (FTS) database. OCHA coordinates the appeals and manages FTS.
OCHA’s management of these funds allows for faster response to humanitarian needs. The appeals ensure coordination of humanitarian action, while the tracking of funding facilitates transparency in how humanitarian funding is mobilized.
OCHA works with Member States and the private sector to raise funds for CERF and the other pooled funds. While Member States provide the vast majority of funding, the private sector is providing increasing amounts for coordinated humanitarian action through the pooled funds.
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