CERF continues to support life-saving emergency response activities in South Sudan. Credit: OCHA/G.Connell

CERF receives contributions year round from donors—mainly Governments, but also foundations, companies, charities and individuals—into a single global fund. With money available immediately, relief organizations can jump-start activities in sudden-onset emergencies, scale-up and expand assistance when a situation suddenly deteriorates, and keep critical assistance going in crises that fail to attract sufficient resources. CERF allocations are available to UN agencies, funds and programmes, and they are informed by joint needs assessments, expert advice from aid workers and priorities set out in country-level plans. The UN Secretary-General has called for an expansion of CERF from the current US$450 million per year to $1 billion by 2018.