Exclusion of NGOs:The fundamental flaw of the CERF

The UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) was created with the important promise of addressing long-term problems in humanitarian relief – the availability of funds in fast-onset emergencies, and the lack of funding for “forgotten emergencies”. At the time of the creation of the CERF, Save the Children was enthusiastic about the concept but warned that the fact that only UN agencies have direct access to the CERF would prove to be a major barrier to its stated goals. Now it is time to allow NGO’s direct access as well.