Syria Humanitarian Fund: Operational Manual (September 2020)

2 . Introduction
The Operational Manual for the Syria Humanitarian Fund (hereafter “SHF” or “the Fund”) is issued by the Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) and endorsed by the Advisory Board to set the general direction and programmatic focus of the SHF in line with a complex and very dynamic operational environment.

The HC and the Advisory Board will revisit this Manual on an annual basis or as needed to adjust the general direction and programmatic focus of the Fund, thereby ensuring its relevance and effectiveness.

2.1 Purpose
The purpose of the SHF Operational Manual is to describe the governance arrangements, objective, allocation modalities, and accountability mechanisms of the Fund, as well as to detail the roles and responsibilities of the stakeholders involved.

Under the direction of the Humanitarian Coordinator (HC), the SHF aims to support the timely disbursement of funds to the most critical humanitarian needs as defined by the Syria Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP). In this regard, this Manual will provide guidance to implementing partners and facilitate the role of OCHA, members of the Review Committees, and Sectors.

2.2 Scope
The SHF Operational Manual defines the country-specific regulations that govern the Syria Fund. It is designed within the framework provided by the Operational Handbook for Country-Based Pooled Funds (CBPFs), which describes the global set of rules that apply to all CBPFs worldwide, and adapts specific aspects of these global guidelines to the humanitarian context in Syria.

Adherence to the guidance provided in the document is mandatory so as to ensure standard and transparent processes.

2.3 Objectives of the SHF

Fund objectives:
The SHF mobilizes and channels resources to humanitarian partners to rapidly address the most critical emergency response needs for the millions of people affected by the humanitarian crisis in Syria. The Fund operates under the leadership of the Humanitarian Coordinator, within the parameters of the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), and in accordance with priorities identified by the Humanitarian Country Team.

Specifically, the SHF aims to support life-saving, protection, and life-sustaining activities by filling critical funding gaps; promote the needs-based delivery of assistance in accordance with humanitarian principles; improve the relevance and coherence of humanitarian response by strategically funding priorities identified in the HRP; and expand delivery of assistance to underserved and high severity areas through partnership with the best placed actors.

Syria Humanitarian Fund prioritizes:

• Helping cover priority gaps in the HRP. The SHF will prioritize life-saving needs; protection support for women and girls including gender-based violence; reproductive health and women empowerment; people with disabilities and the elderly, education programmes for young people1 and life-sustaining needs in the most underserved, high severity areas and resilience programmes mainly for returnees in areas shifted control.
• Addressing top and new priorities, as identified by the Humanitarian Coordinator and HCT. While two allocation (standard and reserve) modalities will be used to respond to humanitarian needs, reserve allocations will be issued only for new unforeseen and emergency needs identified by the HCT and operational partners. Two standard allocations will be issued in 2020 aligned to the HRP priority needs in the first and third quarters.
• Leveraging on diversified SHF-partnerships in the delivery of humanitarian assistance. The SHF will continue to support projects which address critical gaps in sector strategies and expand coverage to areas of highest need using different partnerships while prioritizing best placed partners in the response. Where possible local partners with access and capacity will be supported and prioritized in the implementation of SHF projects to enhance community engagement, ownership and improve their capacity.
• Improving the relevance and coherence of the humanitarian response. Funds will be strategically allocated based on the needs identified in the HNO and within the parameters set in the HRP. Independent assessments of needs and priorities identified by the area HCTs as well as by partners on the ground will inform allocations. Priority sectors will be supported at national and sub-national level in and promote integrated programming/responses to identified needs.
• Strengthening risk management and accountability frameworks to enable effective use of resources and value for money. Frameworks will be solidly based on the context and SHF operational manual within the CBPF global guidelines handbook
• Supporting and strengthening HC coordination mechanism. The SHF will remain a pivotal strategic tool used to strengthen and enhance coordination mechanism between the HC and all stakeholders including response to newly accessed areas as well as coordinated response in onset crisis and underserved locations.
• Expand visibility of SHF-funded projects through various media and communication outlets, including donor visibility and that of partners, to convey messages on needs of the affected population, the effectiveness of the fund, and provide operational update.