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Nigel Baker

Ambassador to the Holy See (2011-2016)

Part of UK in Holy See

20th December 2011

UK leads humanitarian funding

Important developments at the UN in New York, where “humanitarian week” has ended with the annual replenishment conference for the UN Central Emergency Fund (CERF). This is a vital fund, established with UK encouragement in 2006 by the General Assembly, to provide timely and reliable funding for countries affected by rapid and unexpected emergencies, as well as for underfunded (and sometimes forgotten) humanitarian crises that have fallen out of the headlines but continue to cause misery. CERF’s rapid funding mechanism was used across the world in 2011 in countless emergencies, providing immediate aid in countries from Burundi to the Philippines, where other aid response was slower to deploy or focused elsewhere.

CERF is funded through voluntary contributions from member states, observers and private organisations. I am delighted to note that CERF raised $375m last week, $16m more than last year, and that as last year the UK remains CERF’s largest bilateral donor pledging $90m. Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands also continued their proud record of being amongst the leading supporters for the CERF fund, to which 45 countries contributed. The Holy See also maintained its symbolic support, which we welcome, and hope that the Holy See can continue to encourage other countries to engage with CERF.

More still needs to be done. The donor base needs to be broadened. Private sector engagement, sporadic in recent times, also needs to be strengthened. UN Under Secretary General Valerie Amos told the conference that humanitarian funds must continue to be delivered in a fast, flexible, low cost and impactful way, noting that “it is essential that every dollar spent on humanitarian aid is spent to maximum effect”. The UK is proud to be supporting CERF’s excellent and vital work.

About Nigel Baker

Nigel was British Ambassador to the Holy See from 2011-2016. He presented his Credentials to Pope Benedict XVI on 9 September 2011, after serving 8 years in Latin America, as…

Nigel was British Ambassador to the Holy See from 2011-2016. He presented his Credentials to Pope Benedict XVI on 9 September 2011, after serving 8 years in Latin America, as Deputy Head of Mission in the British Embassy in Havana, Cuba (2003-6) and then as British Ambassador in La Paz, Bolivia (2007-11). In July 2016, Nigel finished his posting, and is currently back in London.

As the first British Ambassador to the Holy See ever to have a blog, Nigel provided a regular window on what the Embassy and the Ambassador does. The blogs covered a wide range of issues, from Royal and Ministerial visits to Diplomacy and Faith, freedom of religion, human trafficking and climate change.

More on Nigel’s career

Nigel was based in London between 1998 and 2003. He spent two years on European Union issues (for the UK 1998 EU Presidency and on European Security and Defence questions), before crossing St James’s Park to work for three years as The Assistant Private Secretary to His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. At St James’s Palace, Nigel worked on international issues, including the management of The Prince of Wales’s overseas visits and tours, on the Commonwealth, interfaith issues, the arts and international development.

Nigel spent much of the early part of his FCO career in Central Europe, after an initial stint as Desk Officer for the Maghreb countries in the Near East and North Africa department (1990-91). Between 1992 and 1996, Nigel served in the British embassies in Prague and Bratislava, the latter being created in 1993 after the peaceful division of Czechoslovakia into the separate Czech and Slovak Republics.

Nigel joined the FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) in September 1989. Between 1996 and 1998 he took a two year academic sabbatical to research and write about themes in 18th century European history, being based in Verona but also researching in Cambridge, Paris and Naples. The research followed from Nigel’s time as a student at Cambridge (1985-88) where he read history and was awarded a First Class Honours degree, followed by his MA in 1992.

Before joining the Foreign Office, Nigel worked briefly for the Conservative Research Department in London at the time of the 1989 European election campaign.

Nigel married Alexandra (Sasha) in 1997. They have one son, Benjamin, born in Bolivia in September 2008.

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