As humanitarian needs soar to unprecedented levels, top UN officials on Friday highlighted the importance of the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) in supporting emergencies and responding rapidly to crises, calling it "a lifeline of hope." According to the recently released Global Humanitarian Overview, 339 million people will need emergency assistance next year – 65 million more people than this year – a 25 percent increase and the highest number ever recorded. "We all face difficult economic times. But the most vulnerable people are hit hardest. CERF is the tried and tested way to help them," UN Secretary-General António Guterres said at a major pledging event. CERF prioritises those most likely to be marginalised and left behind, including people with disabilities, older people, women and girls. "Last year, over half of the beneficiaries were women and girls, and close to six percent were people with disabilities. CERF spending on protection reached a record of more than $84 million," according to the UN. Read: CERF allocates $9 million to Rohingya response in Bangladesh "This year, it has ensured that hundreds of thousands of women in Lebanon, Somalia and other countries, receive services related to gender-based violence, and sexual and reproductive healthcare." So far this year, CERF has allocated more than $700 million to support millions in need of urgent assistance throughout some 40 countries. This included kick-starting operations in Ukraine on February 24, the date of Russia's invasion, as well as rapidly responding to weather-related emergencies, such as in Cuba, which was hit by Hurricane Ian, and supporting recovery in Pakistan following the devastating floods and landslides there. In 2022, CERF also provided $200 million to address worsening food insecurity in the most-affected countries, as well as $250 million towards critically underfunded humanitarian operations in 23 countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas and the Middle East. Read: Rohingya crisis: CERF allocates $3mn to NGOs for COVID-19 response For 2023, 39 donors announced $409 million in CERF contributions, falling just short of the $467.7 million pledged at last year's event. However, additional funding is anticipated as several donors announced that pledges are forthcoming. CERF's member state-agreed annual funding target of $1 billion has never been achieved.At the pledging event, Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths said the high level of humanitarian needs outstrips the resources available. "Next year must be the year of solidarity."

The Ministry of Commerce with the support of the World Bank Group on Sunday launched a new funding window called Covid-19 Enterprise Response Fund (CERF) for entrepreneurs to get investment supports for meeting the demand and supply of Medical and Personal Protective Equipment (MPPE) products in local and international markets . It is a program of US$7.5 million matching-grant where entrepreneurs will get investment supports under the Export Competitiveness for Jobs (EC4J) project being implemented by the Ministry of Commerce. The CERF of the Export Readiness Fund (ERF) Program under the EC4J project was launched Sunday through virtual platform. Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi was present at the virtual launching of the fund as the chief guest.  Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman and World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan Mercy Miyang Tembon joined the virtual launching as special guests. Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Dr Md Jafar Uddin chaired the launching ceremony of the fund. Speaking at the function Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said that the CERF is a very timely step by the Ministry of Commerce. Mentioning that the Covid-19 pandemic has adversely affected the global economy including Bangladesh, he said, "We'll have to take pragmatic steps to face this deadly virus.” He said the purpose of producing these health and medical safety products for Covid-19 is not only for tapping the domestic market, but also the international market. He informed that the matching grants to be provided under CERF to the competitive firms ranging between $50,000 to $5,00,000 is a great milestone. "We hope our producers will take advantage of the fund to successfully tap into a new product segment which is critical to face the COVID-19. I believe it (CERF) will work for the interest of the people and also for the world," the Minister said. Private Industry and Investment Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Salman F Rahman said that the government of Bangladesh has taken various steps to face the pandemic while CERF is one of such pragmatic initiatives to build resilience of the domestic producers of such MPPE products in the ever-changing world.  "It will strengthen the government's plan to boost the export market.” Noting that the CERF would strengthen the base of MPPE producers in the country, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce said that this would give safety to people from this deadly COVID-19 virus in one hand and also facilitate exports on the other hand. Dr Jafar also urged the local entrepreneurs to come forward and thus apply for this grant on first come, first serve basis. World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh Mercy Tembon said the Cov-19id has come before the world as a shock and the pandemic is hitting the poor severely. Highlighting some salient features of the CERF supported by the World Bank, Mercy Tembon said the World Bank is committed to enhance the competitiveness of the country as well as would continue to help building a resilient economy and achieving a robust growth. She mentioned that this CERF would boost production of MPPE products by the local entrepreneurs, increase domestic supply and thus increase exports. With the rolling out of the COVID-19 vaccines in the country, the World Bank Country Director hoped that Bangladesh would bounce back better in the coming days. She also hoped that the CERF would go a long way to the process of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Project Director of EC4J Project and Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Md Hafizur Rahman, team leader of ERF management unit Dave Runganaikaloo, World Bank representative and private sector specialist Hosna Ferdous Sumi and deputy team leader of ERF management unit Emdadul Haque also present at the virtual launching. The purpose of CERF is to support Bangladeshi businesses to repurpose and pivot their operations and build resilience in an ever-changing economic environment.  The CERF will support private enterprises to procure plant, equipment, materials and know-how for rapid repurposing of capacity to produce MPPE products on a sustainable basis.   CERF grants will be made available to private Bangladeshi firms from any industry sector, providing they are in the production or have plans to manufacture qualifying MPPE products.   CERF grants will range from US$50,000 (minimum grant size) to US$500,000 (maximum grant size) for supported projects. The contribution of the grant recipients will be 40% for SMEs and 50% for large enterprises.   Key product or service features supported by the CERF will include-Manufacturing of MPPE products including personal protective equipment, diagnostic equipment and clinical care equipment and MPPE product design, including, for example, modifications to technical specifications and packaging, buyers’ designs, etc. The others are- Services for MPPE such as research, development, certification and testing, and support to new techniques to establish, diversify or extend a firm’s range of saleable MPPE products/services, or their introduction and adaptation.  Out of the total applications, about 50 applications will be accepted on competitive basis for this CERF. The ERF was initially a program of US$10 million matching-grant program of the EC4J Project that provides financial support to eligible Bangladeshi firms in four targeted sectors (Leather and Leather goods, Footwear (Both Leather and Non-leather), Plastics and Light Engineering) to identify gaps, catalyse investment and improve Environmental, Social and Quality (ESQ) standards in efforts to enhance their competitiveness in the export markets. The purpose of ERF is to integrate Bangladesh in the value chain of global export market. The Export Readiness Fund provides grant-based incentives to firms to support exports from Bangladesh. A door of immense potentials has already been opened before Bangladesh amid the growing challenges for meeting the demand and supply of Medical and Personal Protective Equipment (MPPE) products in local and international markets to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. For this, the government has come forward to support the country's entrepreneurs to seize the opportunities.

UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock has released US$14 million from the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to provide urgent shelter and other assistance to tens of thousands of Rohingyas after a devastating fire tore through the Kutupalong camp in Cox’s Bazar on March 22. Estimates indicate that the fire displaced more than 45,000 mostly Rohingya refugees, originally from neighbouring Myanmar, with many more affected. A hospital and other critical health, nutrition and education structures were destroyed. The CERF funds will help set up and rebuild shelter and provide affected people with urgent water and sanitation services, food, mental and psychosocial health assistance and other emergency services. Also read: Rohingya Camp Fire: Australia announces additional $10mn for affected people The UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock, said this fire has ripped through one of the most vulnerable communities in the world and Rohingya refugees need our support now more than ever, as the pandemic continues to take its toll and they approach the monsoon season. “Rohingya refugees themselves have always stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the aid workers, volunteering their services to support response efforts in the camps. Now is the moment for the international community to stand by them.” People displaced by the fire have sought refuge in nearby camps, shelters and learning centres, and at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees transit sites. NGOs have set up child-friendly spaces at central points to receive and care for lost and unidentified children. The central coordination body for humanitarian agencies serving the Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar said reports from the camps indicate that at least 11 people lost their lives, more than 500 people required medical attention and about 400 people are missing. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Bangladesh-based international NGO BRAC, the fire destroyed more than 10,000 structures including shelters, mosques, community centres, learning centres, service centres, shops and offices. The structures included two nutrition centres and one food distribution centre run by the World Food Programme (WFP) and a health clinic run by IOM in the camp. Also read: Maldives sends message of sympathy over Rohingya camp fire Two other WFP nutrition sites and one e-voucher outlet have been closed until the damage can be assessed. Several teams from UN agencies and partners such as BRAC have been on the ground along with Government officials since the fire was reported. They stepped in to contain the fire and provide first aid, food, health care, emergency shelter kits, protection and drinking water, and they are helping to trace missing family members. The Kutupalong camp network is home to the vast majority of the more than 800,000 Rohingya refugees sheltering in Cox’s Bazar. Also read: Home Minister pledges to punish those behind Rohingya camp fire In January, more than 3,500 refugees were left homeless when a fire destroyed around 550 shelters and 150 shops in the Nayapara camp, about 30 kms (19 miles) south of Kutupalong. CERF is one of the fastest and most effective ways to help people affected by crises. Since its creation, it has assisted hundreds of millions of people with almost $7 billion across more than 100 countries and territories. This would not have been possible without generous and consistent donor support.  

Leaders of Cox’s Bazar CSO NGO Forum  (CCNF), a platform of local NGOs in Cox’s Bazar district, on Tuesday raised questions over the role of the ISCG (Inter Sectoral Management Group), which provides an umbrella to manage the Rohingya response led by UN agencies and their partners.

The UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has allocated US$ 5 million to complement the government’s response to the people in need.