Attachments
Introduction
ICVA has been closely engaged with pooled funding, particularly through its role as part of the Pooled Fund Working Group supporting OCHA Country based Pooled Funds. In late 2022, ICVA launched the first phase of the “Pooled Funding at a Crossroads - A Comprehensive Review and Analysis” research work, in consultation with members and based on discussions at the Pooled Funding Working Group, Country-Based Pooled Funds (CBPF)-NGO Dialogue Platform and CBPF-NGO Dialogue Platform Advisory Group (PAG). Drawing on the findings of the report, ICVA co-hosted with Switzerland and HERE-Geneva a launch event to reflect with NGOs, UN agencies and donors on existing humanitarian pooled fund mechanisms and explore avenues to enhance the efficiency, impact of and access to pooled funds by NGOs for the benefit of people affected by crisis.
Among other findings, the research on “Pooled Funding at a Crossroads” highlighted how the existing literature on pooled funds tends to capture the perspectives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) – where available – as a very homogenous group divided simply into International NGOs (INGOs) and Local and National NGOs (L/NNGOs). Yet, NGOs are a very diverse group as is the ICVA membership. To address this gap, ICVA embarked on this Phase 2 of the research.
This report presents an analysis of the responses obtained through a survey sent to INGOs, NNGOs, local NGOs (LNGOs) and community-based organisations (CBOs) exploring their differing experiences and perspectives of pooled funds. The survey aimed to capture a more nuanced and disaggregated view of how different types of NGOs experience pooled funding, in its broad articulation (e.g. not limited to OCHA-managed CBPF). Through the survey, the aim was to better understand NGOs’ experience with the application process for pooled funding and grant negotiation/implementation, including in comparison to other financing sources.