Devex: Despite pandemic, CERF on ‘solid footing’ to match humanitarian needs
“Amid rising humanitarian needs and an ongoing pandemic, United Nations Chief António Guterres pressed member states to fully fund the Central Emergency Response Fund and bring it close to its unmet goal of $1 billion in funding per year. ‘A $1 billion CERF is a bare minimum to effectively help people trapped in emergencies,’ Guterres said in a statement. … CERF — an independent arm of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs that can quickly dispense emergency, unearmarked funding to U.N. agencies and nonprofits — held its annual high-level pledging event on Tuesday. Over 50 donors announced pledges during the livestreamed event, totaling $370 million for 2021 — higher than the initial amount pledged a year ago in 2020, according to OCHA…” (Lieberman, 12/9).