Secretary-General's remarks at the CERF High-Level Event
United Nations Secretary-General
09 December 2022
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
Since the Central Emergency Response Fund was set up sixteen years ago, it has proved to be one of the fastest and most effective ways to finance global humanitarian action.
CERF enables UN agencies and their partners to swiftly launch and scale up our responses to evolving crises and underfunded emergencies.
I saw this for myself many times, in my previous position during 10 years when I was High Commissioner for Refugees.
CERF is a United Nations success story.
The funds are flexible and give our partners in the field the freedom to provide the kind of assistance that is most needed.
And CERF prioritizes those most likely to be marginalized and left behind, including people with disabilities, older people, women and girls.
Last year, over half of the people reached by CERF funds were women and girls, and close to 6 per cent were people with disabilities. CERF spending on protection reached a record of more than US$84 million.
So far this year, CERF has ensured that hundreds of thousands of women in Lebanon, Somalia and other countries received services related to gender-based violence, and sexual and reproductive health care.
Millions of people with disabilities, from Bangladesh and the Central Africa Republic to Colombia and Ukraine, also received support from CERF funding.
Every CERF allocation includes targeted assistance to children, who suffer more in the dramatic impacts of humanitarian crises.
Despite its record of success, CERF continues to seek ways to improve and become even more effective. It is a centre of innovation in the humanitarian system.
For example, CERF has expanded its support for early and anticipatory action. By releasing funds before the full impact of an emergency, CERF helps to save lives - and to reduce costs.
Before floods hit Nepal, CERF funding enabled agencies to provide early warning messages, cash grants and essential relief to vulnerable households.
And when drought was forecast in parts of Niger, CERF helped farmers to protect their livelihoods by providing funds to buy drought-resistant seeds, livestock feed and vaccinations.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
Humanitarian needs have risen to record levels in recent years, as outlined in the Global Humanitarian Overview. The need for principled, effective humanitarian funding has never been greater.
In crises around the world, CERF gives people a lifeline of hope.
In 2022, CERF provided more than US$700 million for life-saving assistance to people in 40 countries.
These funds were allocated in record speed, responding to the most urgent requests in a matter of hours.
When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24th, CERF allocated US$20 million that same day.
Less than a month later, CERF allocated another US$40 million to Ukraine to support a further expansion, reaching almost 1 million people.
And when Hurricane Ian hit Cuba, CERF announced funding within days to bring health supplies, food, shelter, sanitation supplies and education kits to people whose houses and farms were destroyed.
CERF also stepped up in response to the global food crisis, providing US$200 million to fight hunger in 19 countries.
And at a time of tough tests for the humanitarian sector, CERF's focus on under-funded crises was more important than ever.
CERF allocated US$250 million to humanitarian operations in 23 underfunded countries, including Burkina Faso and Mali.
Excellencies,
In the past sixteen years, 140 Member States, regional local authorities, observers, NGOs and private donors have donated generously to CERF.
But during those sixteen years, the number of people in need has risen tenfold. This is why we need a US $1 billion CERF, as the General Assembly has acknowledged. Yet the resources received have reached nowhere near that level.
We all face difficult economic times. But the most vulnerable people are hit hardest.
CERF is the tried and tested way to help them.
This year, let's deliver on a US$1 billion CERF that is even more effective and successful.
And thank you.
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