UNITED NATIONS
NATIONS UNIES
CENTRAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUND
CERF PROJECT TEMPLATE
1. Summary
This document is to provide detailed information on an application process for CERF financing, as well
as to provide templates and instructions on completing a CERF Application Form, as well as a Checklist
for the RC/HC Office.
2. Contents
The CERF Project Template includes following sections:
1. The application process
2. An application form with instructions
3. A checklist for the RC/HC Office with instructions
3. The Application Process
Eligible Organizations: The operational funds, programmes and specialized agencies of the United
Nations, as well as the International Organization for Migration (IOM), are eligible to apply for CERF
grants and loans for humanitarian activities. NGOs and CBOs1 can access the CERF as Implementing
Partners of UN Agencies.
General application requirements: All CERF applications must be:
 based on needs assessment(s),
 prepared in accordance with CERF Guidelines and this document, and
 endorsed by the UN Resident Coordinator / Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC), in consultation with
the IASC Country Team.
There are three sources of funds for applications:

Rapid Response: Applications for rapid response can be submitted at any time. The RC/HC, together
with the IASC Country Team, shall submit to the ERC a list of priority projects addressing core
emergency humanitarian needs and an application from individual agencies for each of these priority
projects. All correspondence should be sent to [email protected]. The ERC shall review all applications
based on the CERF objectives, funds available, needs assessment, project prioritization and capacity of
the applicant to implement the proposed programmes. Eligible agencies shall submit their applications
through the RC/HC Office.2

Under-funded Emergencies: Disbursements from the CERF window for chronically under-funded
crises will be made twice per year - in January and July. The process is initiated by the ERC based on an
analysis of funding trends and core humanitarian needs. The ERC shall communicate to RC/HCs the list
of eligible country programmes and notify them of the level of funds available. The RC/HC shall consult
with the IASC Country Team to prioritize projects. Based on these priorities, agencies shall submit their
applications through the RC/HC Office.
1
2
Community-Based Organizations, e.g. women’s groups, youth, religious organizations
If an HC has been appointed, he/she would have an additional OCHA staff in support.
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
Loan: In all cases, the ERC shall take into consideration funding information provided in the
Financial Tracking System. Applicant organizations shall submit their project proposals through the
RC/HC Office.
Role of the RC/HC Office: In relation to development and submission of a project proposal, the RC/HC
Office shall:
 Chair a meeting of the IASC Country Team, including leading NGOs, identify priority core
emergency humanitarian needs, and submit a list of priority core emergency humanitarian needs to
the ERC;
 Provide advise, as requested, during the project development process;
 Receive project proposals from the Agencies and verify the adherence of any project proposal with
the CERF Guidelines. The RC/HC may request the Agency to amend/correct a project proposal to
ensure that it will be positively reviewed by the CERF Secretariat;
 Present the project proposals for endorsement by the IASC Country Team;
 Finalize the Checklist for the RC/HC Office;
 Submit to the ERC the project proposal, together with a signed Checklist for the RC/HC Office.
The Agreement: Once a loan or a grant has been approved by the ERC, the CERF Secretariat shall send
out an official individual letter of understanding (LOU) to be signed by an authorized representative of
the applicant organization prior to the disbursement of funds. The LOU will be processed through the
applicant organization’s headquarters.
For further information, please visit the CERF website at http://cerf.un.org
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UNITED NATIONS
NATIONS UNIES
CENTRAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUND
CERF No.
Date
Application Form
To be filled in by the CERF Secretariat
A) General Information
1. Organization
2. County or countries
3. Type of funding
Rapid Response
requested
4. Amount of Funds
Requested
5. Contact Information
Name
of the Agency Head
Address
Tel./Fax
E-mail
Under-funded Emergency
Loan
B) Project Information
6. Project Title
7. Project Sector(s):
Food
Health
Multi-Sector
Protection / Human Rights / Rule of Law
Agriculture
Applicable for loans
Coordination and Support Services
only
Economic Recovery and Infrastructure
8. Are CERF grant/loan the only immediately available
Yes
source of financing for this project?
Applicable both for
Grants and Loans
Security
Shelter and Non-Food Items
Water and Sanitation
Education
Mine Action
No
9. Summary of Needs (provide a summary of assessment results and description of means and sources)
10. Project Justification (please elaborate why funds for life-saving programmes are needed)
11. Project Description (describe the target sector and area of coverage, project rationale and strategy, etc.)
12. Expected Results (describe the tangible results the project is expected to achieve, together with a timeline)
13. Implementation Arrangements (describe implementation modalities and partners, disbursement schedule, etc.)
14. Financial Reporting (elaborate on the financial reporting and tracking in your Agency, especially using the FTS)
15. Budget (please attach as annex; budget should include Staffing, Operating Costs, Programme Support Costs)
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Application Form with Instructions
GENERAL INFORMATION
1.
Organization (Provide the name of the agency submitting the application.)
2.
Country (Provide the country or countries where the project will be implemented. In the event of a
regional application, please provide information on each country separately in the rest of the form.)
3.
Type of funding (Please specify type of CERF request by ticking an appropriate box. If more than
one type of CERF funding is being requested, use a separate application form for each type.)
4.
Amount of funds requested (Please provide the amount and currency.)
5.
Contact details (Country/Regional Office responsible and contact details of Head of Office)
PROJECT INFORMATION
6.
Project title
7.
Project sector (Choose one or several sectors relevant to the type of financing selected by ticking
appropriate boxes.)
8.
Is the CERF grant/loan the only immediately available source of financing for this project?
(Please verify that CERF financing is used only when no other funding is available.)
9.
Summary of needs (Provide a summary of needs assessment results and a description of means (i.e.
UNDAC, inter-agency, internal) and sources. Report how data has been verified.)
10. Project justification (Description of why funds for life-saving programmes are needed including:
(1) cause of the situation, (2) number of people affected disaggregated by sex and age, (3)
description of key humanitarian indicators and any rapid deterioration of them, (4) displacement
figures, including dates of new flows, (5) implications if needs are not met, (6) any other relevant
information.)
11. Project description (Description of the target sector and geographical area of coverage, including
the rationale for its prioritization, programme strategy and key objectives and activities, feasibility
and access to intended beneficiaries.)
12. Expected results
13. Implementation arrangements (Describe implementation as direct or through partnerships with
NGOs/CBOs, Government, etc. Identify the specific partners identified and describe the capacity of
the identified organizations to begin programmes and the projected disbursement schedule to
partners.)
14. Financial Reporting (Please confirm that the funding information provided by FTS for your Agency
in relation to this application is accurate and up-to-date.)
15. Budget (Include Staff, Operating Costs, Programme Support Costs. Attach as an Annex.
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UNITED NATIONS
NATIONS UNIES
CENTRAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUND
Checklist for the RC / HC Office
A) The RC / HC
1. Name of the HC
2. Contact Information
(Person that can be contacted
by the CERF Secretariat)
Name
Agency
Address
Tel./Fax
E-mail
3. Countries covered
B) CERF Eligibility Criteria
4. Has the project proposal been submitted by an eligible organization?
(Operational fund, programme or specialized agency of the United Nations, or IOM)
5. Has the project proposal been submitted using the CERF Project Template?
6. Has the project been endorsed by the IASC Country Team?
7. Does the application address the CERF priority sectors? (see CERF – Project Template)
8. Is the CERF grant/loan the only immediately available source of financing for this
project? (Are there no other funds the Agency could use in the short term instead of the CERF?)
9. Does the budget clearly specify Staffing and Programme Support Costs?
10. Are Programme Support Costs within the 7% ceiling?
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
If any of the above answers is “No”, please elaborate:
C) Project Evaluation and Recommendation (optional)
Please fill in only the section relevant to the type of funding requested
Is the project based on a needs assessment?
For Grants –
Does the project follow the RC/HC / IASC Country Team list of priority
Rapid
humanitarian needs?
Response
Can the project be implemented within three months of disbursement of
only
funds?
For Grants –
Is the project based on a needs assessment?
Under-Funded
Are the funds to be used for life-saving elements of an under-funded,
Emergencies
emergency humanitarian programme?
only
Is the project based on a needs assessment?
For loans
Are funds used for eligible activity?
only
(Initial phase of emergency, humanitarian assistance, preparedness activities or security arrangements?)
Is the project consistent with CAP framework for the country?
D) Additional information and recommendation (optional):
RC/HC’s statement: I recommend the project be funded by the Central Emergency
Response Fund.
(name & signature)
Place, date:
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Checklist for the RC / HC Office – Instructions
Objective:
This checklist is to provide the RC / HC Office with a tool to assess the adherence of a project proposal
with the CERF Guidelines as well as to provide additional supporting information that may facilitate
review of the application by the CERF Secretariat and the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator.
Instructions:
1) Please insert HC’s name, as well as contact information of a person who could be contacted by the
CERF Secretariat in New York in case of any queries (for example, focal point in the OCHA Office).
2) Please complete all the fields listed in part B – CERF Eligibility Criteria. If any of the answers is
“No” the RC/HC is strongly advised to return the project proposal to the submitting Agency for
further review. Please note that if a project does not meet any of those criteria, OCHA New York may
return it to the RC / HC Office for review and amendment.
3) If possible, please provide information also under part C – Project Evaluation and Recommendation
and D - Additional information and recommendation. Part D may be used, for example, to emphasize
importance of the project or the current humanitarian needs in the country, or to recommend
alternative funding options (e.g. that only part of the amount sought be provided as a grant).
Completion of both Part C and D is not mandatory.
4) Please type in RC / HC’s name and place/date in the bottom of the page.
5) The RC / HC should sign the document.
6) Please attach this checklist to the project proposal and other documents submitted to the ERC in New
York.
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