The NHF is a pooled funding mechanism under the overall authority of the Humanitarian Coordinator (HC), supported by an Advisory Board, OCHA, and the response Sector leads.

The HC determines the Fund’s strategic focus, sets the allocation amounts, approves projects and initializes disbursements. The HC chairs the NHF Advisory Board that is comprised of senior-level representatives of donors, UN agencies, NGOs and observing organizations. The core function of the NHF Advisory Board is to support the HC on the strategic focus, ensuring that the allocations are in line with the Nigeria Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) and that the main objectives of the Fund are met.

Sector Leads support the NHF processes at two levels: 

1. At a strategic level, to ensure that there are linkages between the proposed projects, the HRP and cluster strategies; 
2. At an operational level, to provide technical expertise to the process of project prioritization and evaluation, and to promote sector coordination amongst humanitarian agencies.

Under the overall supervision of the OCHA Head of Office, the Humanitarian Financing Unit (HFU) ensures adequate and efficient management the Fund, including the coordination of allocation processes and oversight of the entire funding cycle from the opening of an allocation to the closure of projects, while providing technical support and policy advice to the HC. 

The HFU maintains accountability requirements, including risk management and operational modalities, as well as coordination with other units of the OCHA Country Office and sub-offices. Further, the HFU ensures donor contributions are channeled to partners in compliance with the minimum requirements outlined in the NHF Operational Manual and OCHA’s Global Guidelines for Country-based Pooled Funds.