UNHCR Emergency Fund
The purpose of the Emergency Fund is to provide:
a) financial resources for assistance programmes for refugees and displaced persons in emergency situations for which there is no provision in the programmes approved by the Executive Committee; and
b) such additional administrative expenditure resulting from those emergencies as cannot be met from the Regular Budget, pending action by the Executive Committee or the General Assembly.
The High Commissioner may allocate up to US$ 25 million annually from the Emergency Fund, provided that the amount made available for any one single emergency shall not exceed US$ 8 million in any one year and that the Fund will be maintained at not less than US$ 8 million.
The Fund may be reimbursed if sufficient funds to a given Appeal are later received.
How to request
Use of the Emergency Fund must be authorized by the Officers indicated below, subject to prior clearance by the Chief of PCS and the Head of the Funding and Donor Relations Service. Requests for use of the Emergency Fund are to be submitted to PCS by the Head of Desk or the Chief of Section for projects in their area of responsibility. The Director of the Regional Bureau or Division will countersign all requests for the use of the Emergency Fund. PCS will attach to all requests for over US$ 2.0 million a status report on allocations made to date. Copies of all authorizations are to be sent to the High Commissioner's Office.
OCHA Central Emergency Revolving Fund (CERF)
The Central Emergency Revolving Fund (CERF) of the Office of the Coordinator of Humanitarian Affairs was established in December 1991 to provide funds within the UN system to respond rapidly to emergencies. CERF, which has a target level of US$ 50 million, is financed from voluntary contributions and is used for cash advances to operational organisations and entities within the system. These advances are to be reimbursed as a first charge against income subsequently received, usually as a result of consolidated appeals. Under exceptional circumstances, the rules allow for the non reimbursement on allocations made under the Fund. CERF is managed by the UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs.
How to request
The Head of Bureau or Chief of Section should address a memorandum to the High Commissioner, through the Director of Operational Support & the Head of Funding and Donor Relations Service seeking approval to request an allocation from the CERF. Once agreed, a letter is to be sent from the High Commissioner to the Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, requesting an allocation from the Fund. This letter should:
- define the purpose and objectives of the programme
- specify the amount of money requested
- indicate the initiatives which are being undertaken to raise funds for this programme to allow for the Fund's reimbursement.
The USG for Humanitarian Affairs will reply confirming that an allocation can be made available, the conditions under which it is made and the reporting requirements. These two letters will constitute a formal exchange between the Organizations. In exceptional circumstances involving particularly urgent emergencies, the USG may authorize advances prior to the formal exchange of letters. This must however be followed with a formal exchange within 30 days.
