Context

• The United Nationshas approved $9.2 million USD in humanitarian aid to Venezuela as the nation descends into social and economic crisis.
• Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), will aim to fund emergency healthcare to the most vulnerable and food provisions for young children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers.

About

Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF):

CERF was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2005 as the United Nations global emergency response fund. CERF enables humanitarian responders to deliver life-saving assistance whenever and wherever crises strike.

CERF is one of the fastest and most effective ways to ensure that urgently needed humanitarian assistance reaches people caught up in crises.

As an essential enabler of global humanitarian action, CERF’s Rapid Response window allows country teams to kick-start relief efforts immediately in a coordinated and prioritized response when a new crisis emerges. CERF’s window for Underfunded Emergencies helps scale-up and sustain protracted relief operations to avoid critical gaps when no other funding is available.

The CERF Advisory Group provides policy guidance to the Secretary-General on the use and impact of the fund.

CERF receives contributions from various donors mainly governments, but also private companies, foundations, charities and individuals into a single fund. This is set aside for immediate use during crises.

CERF grant allocations are made for two reasons:

1. To ensure a rapid response to sudden-onset emergencies or to rapidly deteriorating conditions in an existing emergency.
2. To support humanitarian response activities within an underfunded emergency.

One third of CERF grants are earmarked for underfunded emergencies.

While NGOs cannot directly receive funds from CERF, they are actively involved in the process. NGOs may prioritize and recommend sectors, geographical areas, or projects to be included in the CERF request. NGOs also often serve as implementing partners for CERF-funded projects. 

Crisis in Venezuela:

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is a nation situated on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and a large number of small islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. Caracas is the largest city and capital of Venezuela.  

Since 2010, Venezuela has been facing socioeconomic and political crisis which began under the presidency of Hugo Chávez and has continued into the current presidency of Nicolás Maduro. He has been re-elected for a second six-year term. The current situation is the worst economic crisis in Venezuela's history with hyperinflation, soaring hunger, disease, crime and death rates, and massive emigration from the country.