Emergency Response Fund (ERF)

A pooled funding mechanism, typically managed by a UN agency, that aggregates contributions from multiple government donors to provide rapid and flexible financial support to local and international actors responding to sudden-onset or unforeseen humanitarian crises. These funds prioritize projects that address needs not anticipated in standard humanitarian appeals, while ensuring alignment with overarching strategic response plans. Primarily channeled to non-governmental organizations, though occasionally to UN agencies, the mechanism has been operational since its first deployment in Angola in 1997.