High-level Pledging Event on the Central Emergency Response Fund for 2022

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) convened a high-level pledging event on the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for 2022, on Wednesday, 8 December 2021 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. New York (EST). The event was held in a hybrid format, with a limited number of participants in New York able to join in-person in the Trusteeship Council Chamber, subject to and in accordance with the latest UN COVID-19 guidance. Member States were encouraged to participate at the Ministerial level.  Interpretation was available in the six official UN languages. The purpose of the event—which marks the 15^th anniversary of the CERF—was to galvanize greater commitments and ensure the CERF remains fit to respond to the increasing levels and complexities of global humanitarian needs. A full recording of the event is available online.

Background 

Established in 2006, CERF has allocated over US$7.2 billion to provide life-saving assistance for millions of people in over 110 countries and territories. Since CERF was established, global funding needs through humanitarian appeals have increased sevenfold – from $5.2 billion in 2006 to assist 32 million people to some $36 billion in 2021 to support over 161 million people in need. In 2016, the General Assembly endorsed the Secretary-General’s call to more than double CERF’s annual funding target to $1 billion, reflecting the increasing humanitarian needs and Member States’ confidence in CERF. Since its inception, CERF has received contributions from 130 Member States, including 59 that have also benefited from CERF funding – a testament to the world’s collective commitment to CERF as a “fund for all, by all.” 

Event Details 

The event included opening remarks by UN Secretary-General Mr. António Guterres and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mr. Martin Griffiths, followed by a high-level panel discussion. Details on the panelists were shared. After the panel, Member States and partners were given the opportunity to take the floor for interventions, followed by closing remarks. Partners were strongly encouraged to provide live statements and announce pledges, either in-person or virtually. Partners were kindly asked to keep their statements to a maximum of two minutes. Interpretation was available in the six official UN languages during the event. 

Opening Remarks

• H.E. Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations
• Mr. Martin Griffiths Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator
• H.E. Ms. Anniken Huitfeldt, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Norway, (video statement)
• H.E. Mr. Teodoro Locsin, Jr. Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the Philippines
• H.E. Ms. Hélène Marie Laurence Ilboudo Marchal Minister of Women, National Solidarity, Family and Humanitarian Action, Burkina Faso
• H.E. Mr. Franz Fayot Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, Luxembourg

Additional Statements

Disclaimer: Statements and videos by partners are not a reflection of endorsement by OCHA.

OCHA thanks all partners who provided interventions from the floor, including the following additional statements:

Member States

Regional Local Authority

United Nations Entities and Partners

Pledges 

Member States and partners are encouraged to announce pledges at the event. In compliance with the Financial Rules and Regulations of the UN, and to ensure pledges and any eventual contributions are properly recorded, a pledge letter dated and signed on your Government’s letterhead with an official seal is requested. Please send a PDF version of the scanned pledge letter to CERF@un.org and Ms. Pien Offerhaus (pien.offerhaus@un.org). Pledges received prior to the High-level Event will be treated as confidential. 

Contacts 

OCHA focal points for the event: Mr. Justin Dittmeier (justin.dittmeier@un.org) and Ms. Hannah Waller (hannah.waller@un.org)