Funds

 

Armed conflict, poverty, terrorism, organized crime, large mixed migration flows and chronic  food shortages, as well as weak state institutions, strong population growth and climate change makes responding to humanitarian needs immensely complex, challenging, and in high demand. And unfortunately, the financial resources needed to provide for basic humanitarian assistance are often inadequate compared to the needs on the ground. Some emergencies grab the headlines and attention of donor countries and others less so. When emergencies fade from the headlines, it is much harder to raise the resources needed to address the situation. The need for assistance, however, remains. The RRS enables us to provide flexible funding to those who need it most, regardless of what makes the news or reaches the donor countries.

Currently the RRS is comprised of funding from DRC Own Funds, Danida and the Ole Kirk Foundation.


Decision-making criteria

RRS allocations should fulfill the “life-saving” criteria, and priorities laid out in country EPRPs where available. A range of factors are considered to inform decisions regarding whether to activate the RRS, including:

  • The life-saving nature of the activities proposed;
  • Whether institutional funding is unavailable, or insufficient for a quick response;
  • Indications that donor funding will become available to replace the RRS funds at a later stage;
  • A DRC Corporate Emergency has been declared;
  • Whether resources will be used to respond to the needs of a sudden-onset emergency, rapid deterioration of an existing crisis, or time-critical intervention;
  • If the funds will be used to jump-start or initiate an new emergency response;
  • The intervention proposed is based on recent, coordinated needs assessments and the EPRP, there is access/capacity to implement, it is essential for the humanitarian response, and it is prioritized by the all levels of DRC in a consultative process;
  • It works in support of other institutional funding.

RRS requests are reviewed by the HQ Emergency Unit to determine the eligibility and suitability of the emergency intervention proposed. The RRS mainly targets countries where we are already operational, but can also support new country start up interventions.


How it works

The allocation of RRS financial resources are approved on an ad hoc basis by the International Director in coordination with the Head of GRER and Head of Emergencies. The Emergency Unit is responsible for ensuring that resources are allocated properly, disbursed in a timely manner, and that use of the funds is reported appropriately and transparently.

The process for allocating funding is as follows:

  1. Country Offices or the HQ Support Unit submits an email to the HQ Emergency Unit ([email protected]), copying the Head of Emergencies ([email protected]), with a brief 1/2 page outline of why the funds are needed, the proposed intervention, amount requested and project duration.
  2. Based on discussions with the Emergency Unit and the relevance and feasibility of the intervention, the Country Office may then be asked to submit a formal application for funding using one of the application forms below.
  3. All applications for funding are evaluated by the Head of GRER and relevant projects will be approved and funds allocated following the signature of the International Director, Head of Finance and Secretary General for Own Funds, or will be submitted for approval to Danida or the Ole Kirk Foundation.

Due to the nature of the mechanism funds should normally be spent within 6 months from the date the RRS is approved, however depending on the context a longer duration can be agreed, up to 12 months.

 

Annexes

Please note that all potential applications must be discussed with the HQ Emergency Team before submission.

 

Questions?

For requests, support and guidance, contact the HQ Emergency Team: [email protected]

Further details on applications, funding status and reporting requirements is available on Insite.