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CERF Activities in 2012

Countries
World
Sources
OCHA
Publication date

Analysis of CERF Activities in 2012

2012 marked the seventh year of the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and was punctuated by a number of highlights. The Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Ms. Valerie Amos, allocated more than US$477 million to 49 countries and territories. This included nearly $320 million through the Rapid Response window.

This $477 million is the highest amount CERF has ever allocated in a calendar year and included life-saving funding for operations in the Sahel, the Syrian Arab Republic and neighbouring countries, as well as countries affected by Hurricane Sandy. CERF Rapid Response funding was key to jump-starting these and other sudden-onset emergencies. CERF also provided vital funding to underfunded, chronic crises. From Cote d’ Ivoire to Nepal to Pakistan to Colombia, CERF support helped ensure activities successfully continued with limited pipeline breaks and logistical constraints.

2012 also saw CERF make continuous improvement in refining its work, including through the implementation of the Management Response Plan for the Five-Year Evaluation. Notable achievements included improved reporting on grants and sub-grants and several regional and country reviews, among other things.

Despite the global financial crisis, CERF received $425 million in pledges and contributions in 2012. Financial support was provided by more than 75 Member States and Observers, making this the fourth-highest year in terms of funding. The UN Controller transferred $46.4 million from the CERF loan window to the grant window in 2012 following the adoption of Resolution A/RES/66/119 “Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations” by the General Assembly on 8 December 2011. This provided CERF with greater funding at the beginning of 2012 to assist the early, critical phases of emergency responses.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.