Applying for Underfunded Emergencies Grants

CERF grant allocations are made for two reasons:

1. To ensure a rapid response to sudden-onset emergencies or to rapidly deteriorating conditions in an existing emergency.
2. To support humanitarian response activities within an underfunded emergency.

One third of CERF grants are earmarked for underfunded emergencies.

Twice a year, the ERC invites selected countries to apply for grants from the underfunded emergencies category. The ERC selects countries based on numerous criteria, which can include funding statistics, UN agencies’ recommendations, inter-agency consultations and discussions with the RC/HC.

The ERC informs the RC/HC about CERF funding levels potentially available for the RC/HC’s country. The ERC then invites the RC/HC to identify and submit projects that could qualify for underfunded emergency allocations. The RC/HC is encouraged to collaborate with their Humanitarian Country Team (HCT, e.g. UN agencies, the International Organization for Migration and NGOs) to identify potential humanitarian projects. Following the RC/HC’s submission of their country’s projects, the ERC decides whether to allocate the requested funds.
 
Please note that NGOs cannot directly request funds from CERF. They can, however, seek to influence the process:

• NGOs may recommend sectors or projects to be included in the CERF request. This is done through their participation in the HCT or in similar mechanisms.
• Serve as implementing partners for the CERF-funded projects that are ultimately selected by the RC/HC.

For countries where a Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP) is present, the RC/HC may use the CAP’s projects to establish their country’s priorities, e.g. use the CAP to identify assessed needs/capacities, or to identify projects appropriate for CERF funding. In these instances, CERF funding could be allocated against the CAP: the RC/HC could submit CAP project sheets instead of a standard CERF Application Template. For countries where a CAP is not present, the RC/HC must complete the CERF Application Template in order for a country’s grant request to be considered.