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.