OCHA in 2014-2015: Plan and Budget

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is responsible for bringing together humanitarian organizations and Governments to ensure a rapid and coherent response to emergencies around the world.

We have more than 2,100 staff working in over 50 country, regional and headquarters locations. Our staff come from almost 100 countries, bringing a breadth of knowledge, experience and commitment to their work. They help national and international partners work together during disasters and emergencies. OCHA’s work helps to save lives by reducing duplication and coordinating efforts so that the most vulnerable people get the help they need. In a crisis, we work to make sure that everyone has a shared understanding of the problem and what needs to be done, and we help to raise the resources required.

In 2013, OCHA coordinated appeals seeking a total of US$9.3 billion to support humanitarian programmes implemented by 647 partners around the world.1 By the end of the year, these appeals had obtained $5.4 billion.

OCHA’s funding in 2013 totalled $233.1 million, or 4.3 per cent of the total amount we coordinated that year.

This document sets out OCHA’s plan and budget for 2014 and 2015. It explains how OCHA will address humanitarian coordination challenges in the field, how we will work with existing and new partners, and what we will do to ensure OCHA remains fit for purpose.

In 2014, OCHA is appealing to donors for $270.1 million to cover the costs of our extrabudgetary programme activities. These costs will have to come from voluntary contributions.2 In 2015, OCHA estimates that it will appeal to donors for $262.3 million.

Despite fulfilling a core UN activity, OCHA only receives 5 per cent of its funding from the UN budget. We have to raise the rest.