Underfunded Emergencies
CERF grant allocations are made for two reasons:
- To ensure a rapid response to sudden-onset emergencies or to rapidly deteriorating conditions in an existing emergency.
- To support humanitarian response activities within an underfunded emergency.
Twice a year, the ERC allocates to selected countries grants from the underfunded emergencies window. The ERC selects countries based on a number of criteria, including the level of funding, humanitarian needs, risk and vulnerability; UN agencies’ recommendations; consultations with UN agencies, NGOs and different parts of OCHA; and a review of documents such as Humanitarian Needs Overviews.
The ERC informs the RC/HC of a selected country about CERF funding levels potentially available for that country. The ERC then invites the RC/HC to develop a clearly prioritized, implementable and focused strategy for the CERF grant and to identify and submit projects that could qualify for underfunded emergency allocations. The RC/HC and the Humanitarian Country Team identify potential humanitarian projects. Following the RC/HC’s submission of the strategy and projects, the ERC decides whether to allocate the requested funds.
While NGOs cannot directly receive funds from CERF, they should be actively involved in the process.
NGOs may prioritize and recommend sectors, geographical areas, or projects to be included in the CERF request. This is done through their participation in the HCT, cluster or sector coordination or in similar mechanisms.
NGOs also often serve as implementing partners for CERF-funded projects.
For countries with a Humanitarian Needs Overview and with Humanitarian Response Plan or similar humanitarian strategy, the RC/HC may use the HNO's needs assessment and the HRP's strategic priorities, cluster objectives and projects to inform the CERF application. In countries with an HRP, the CERF underfunded emergencies window can only fund HRP projects.
2024 First Underfunded Emergencies Round
- Press release: UN allocates US$100 million to boost poorly funded humanitarian crises
- Methodology Note for the CERF 2024 Underfunded Emergencies, First Round
- Data Table - CERF Index (CIRV)
- Country Selection and Fund Allocations
2023 Second Underfunded Emergencies Round
- Press release: Poorly funded humanitarian crises to receive US$125 million from UN emergency fund
- Methodology Note for the CERF 2023 Underfunded Emergencies, Second Round
- Country Selection and Fund Allocations
- Data Table - CERF Index (CIRV)
- AAP guidance document
2023 First Underfunded Emergencies Round
- Press Release: UN releases $250M for underfunded humanitarian crises and to prevent famine
- Methodology Note for the CERF 2023 Underfunded Emergencies, First Round
- Country Selection and Fund Allocations
- Data Table - CERF Index (CIRV)
2022 Second Underfunded Emergencies Round
- Press Release: UN releases $100 million for underfunded humanitarian crises
- Methodology Note for the CERF 2022 Underfunded Emergencies, Second Round
- Country Selection and Fund Allocations
- Data Table - CERF Index (CIRV)
2022 First Underfunded Emergencies Round
- Press Release: UN releases US$150 million for underfunded humanitarian crises
- Methodology Note for the CERF 2022 Underfunded Emergencies, First Round
- Country Selection and Fund Allocations
- Data Table - CERF Index (CIRV) and FTS Funding Levels
2021 First Underfunded Emergencies Round
- Press Release: UN releases US$135 million for underfunded humanitarian crises
- Methodology for Analysis of the CERF 2021 Underfunded Emergencies, First Round
- Data Table for Analysis of the CERF 2021 Underfunded Emergencies, First Round
- Guidance Note on Funding for Persons with Disabilities for the CERF 2021 Underfunded Emergencies, First Round
2020 Second Underfunded Emergencies Round
- Press Release: UN emergency fund hit record annual pay-out to under-funded crises
- Guidance Note and Timeline for the CERF 2020 Underfunded Emergencies, Second Round
- Methodology for Analysis of the CERF 2020 Underfunded Emergencies, Second Round
2020 First Underfunded Emergencies Round
- Guidance Note and Timeline for the CERF 2020 Underfunded Emergencies, First Round
- Press Release: UN emergency fund injects $125 million to scale up aid in 11 countries with underfunded crises
2019 Second Underfunded Emergencies Round
- Guidance Note and Timeline for the CERF 2019 Underfunded Emergencies, Second Round
- Press Release: UN’s Emergency Fund provides US$75 million to eight underfunded crises
- Methodology for Analysis of the CERF 2019 Underfunded Emergencies, Second Round
- Data Table for Analysis of the CERF 2019 Underfunded Emergencies, Second Round
- Infographic: CERF UFE 2019 Second Round Overview
- Infographic: CERF UFE 2019 Second Round Methodology
2019 First Underfunded Emergencies Round
- Guidance Note and Timeline for the CERF 2019 Underfunded Emergencies, First Round
- Underfunded Emergencies (UFE): 2019: Methodology
- Press Release: UN’s Global Emergency Response Fund releases record allocation of US$125 million for world’s underfunded crises
2018 Second Underfunded Emergencies Round
2018 First Underfunded Emergencies Round
- CERF analysis for underfunded emergencies, 2018 - data table
- Overview of Country Selection and Apportionment Decisions
- Methodology for Analysis of the CERF 2018 Underfunded Emergencies, First Round
- Guidance Note for the CERF 2018 Underfunded Emergencies, First Round
- Underfunded Emergencies (UFE): 2018: Overview
- Underfunded Emergencies (UFE): 2018: Methodology
- Underfunded Emergencies (UFE): 2018: Philippines
- Underfunded Emergencies (UFE): 2018: Haiti
- Underfunded Emergencies (UFE): 2018: Tanzania
- Underfunded Emergencies (UFE): 2018: Cameroon
- Underfunded Emergencies (UFE): 2018: Mali
- Underfunded Emergencies (UFE): 2018: Uganda
- Underfunded Emergencies (UFE): 2018: DRC
2017 Second Underfunded Emergencies Round
- CERF analysis for underfunded emergencies, 2017 - data table
- Methodology for Underfunded Emergencies Analysis
- Guidance Note for the CERF Second Underfunded Emergencies
- Press Release: UN’s Global Central Emergency Response Fund releases $45 million to the world’s most neglected crises
- Overview of Country Selection and Apportionment Decisions
- Infographic: UFE 2017 Second Round Overview and Methodology
- Infographic: UFE 2017 Second Round Allocation - Afghanistan
- Infographic: UFE 2017 Second Round Allocation - Central African Republic
- Infographic: UFE 2017 Second Round Allocation - Chad
- Infographic: UFE 2017 Second Round Allocation - Sudan
2017 First Underfunded Emergencies Round
- Methodology for Underfunded Emergencies Analysis, 2017, First Round
- Guidance Note for the CERF First Underfunded Emergencies Round 2017
- CERF analysis for underfunded emergencies, 2017, first round - data table
- UFE 2017 First Allocation Round overview of decisions
- Press Release: SG releases US$100 million from CERF to sustain aid in neglected crises
- Presentation: Donor Briefing
- Infographic: UFE 2017 First Allocation Round overview and methodology
- Infographic: UFE 2017 First Allocation Round Cameroon
- Infographic: UFE 2017 First Allocation Round DPRK
- Infographic: UFE 2017 First Allocation Round Libya
- Infographic: UFE 2017 First Allocation Round Madagascar
- Infographic: UFE 2017 First Allocation Round Mali
- Infographic: UFE 2017 First Allocation Round Niger
- Infographic: UFE 2017 First Allocation Round Nigeria
- Infographic: UFE 2017 First Allocation Round Somalia
- Infographic: UFE 2017 First Allocation Round Uganda