Ethiopian Humanitarian Fund in Brief

Background to the Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund

Established in 2006, the Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund (EHF) responds to disasters triggered by natural hazards, such as floods, droughts and outbreaks of diseases, as well as conflict-related crises. The fund is designed to facilitate response to unforeseen needs that emerge between planning periods. It also responds to needs that were unacknowledged during the humanitarian appeal processes. Designed as a gap-filling tool, the EHF has developed over the years into one of the major non-food contributors in the country.

The EHF aims to support the timely disbursement of funds to the most critical humanitarian needs in the context of both the annual Humanitarian Requirements Document (HRD) and emerging unforeseen emergency needs.

Since its inception in 2006, the EHF has mobilized over US$355 millions and allocated more than $342 millions to 594 projects through 57 partners, including United Nations (UN) agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the Ethiopian Red Cross.

In 2015, the EHF continued to play an important role as a timely and flexible financing mechanism, supporting the humanitarian community to achieve its goals by funding the most critical needs. The fund received nearly $57 millions from five donors and allocated more than $28 millions to 59 projects, of which almost 85 per cent were implemented by NGOs. Of the $24 millions allocated to INGOs, over 14 per cent was subgranted to national NGOs.

Objectives of the Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund

The EHF enables the delivery of humanitarian assistance by specifically focusing on:

1. Ensuring more adequate, timely, flexible and effective humanitarian financing through the use of the pooled funding mechanism;

2. Ensuring well prioritized use of resources, primarily in support of the needs and strategies outlined in the national HRD;

3. Empowering the Humanitarian Coordinator to enhance coordination;

4. Supporting coordination effforts through the cluster approach;

5. Enhancing partnerships between UN and non-UN actors.

An effective tool to address needs

Donor contributions to the EHF are un-earmarked. The Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) allocates funding through a consultative process, based on identified humanitarian needs and priorities at the country level. Inclusiveness, flexibility, timeliness, efficiency, partnership, transparency and value for money are the principles which underpin the use of the EHF.

Allocation modalities

The EHF has two windows for allocating funds: (a) Reserve Allocation and (b) Standard Allocation. The Reserve Allocation is open for proposals responding to humanitarian needs identified in the HRD and other emerging humanitarian needs. At the HC discretion and on a periodic basis, the fund will issue a Standard Allocation through a call for proposals for collectively identified strategic needs within the context of the HRD. The cluster coordinators will drive the prioritization exercise and the HC in consultation with the Advisory Board (AB) will determine the amount to be allocated through the Standard Allocation.