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Emergency Response Fund Colombia

Credit: OCHA Colombia, Héctor Latorre - 2011

Annual Report 2011 Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Emergency Response Fund – Colombia Annual Report 2011

Note from the Humanitarian Coordinator

The Colombia Emergency Response Fund

(ERF) has been active for two years, alleviating the

suffering of vulnerable communities in areas affected by

both natural disasters and the humanitarian consequences

of the armed conflict. It stands out as an excellent tool for

rapid response to emergencies in a country ranked as a

middle-income, but with significant numbers of people

still displaced or affected by natural disasters.

Since April 2010 and through June 2011, the

country was affected by the worst floods in decades,

which left a toll of 3.9 million affected people. This

situation was aggravated with the second rainy season

that started in September 2011 and left an additional toll

of 1.2 million people and a third of all municipalities in

Colombia affected by flooding. The Government pledged

emergency response resources ($27 million) through the

National System for Disaster Prevention and Response

(SNPAD) by December 2011, but still faces challenges

in implementing relief activities at the local level in

affected areas.

In 2011, the ERF enhanced humanitarian

coordination by partnering with national and

international NGOs in delivering assistance to vulnerable

people throughout the country. Gender considerations

were taken into account in the formulation and

implementation of ERF projects.

ERF funding in 2011 gave access to safe

drinking water to more than 1,500 indigenous Wayuu

families in La Guajira department. More than 6,000

women, adolescents, and pregnant women improved their

hygiene and their ability to care for themselves in rural

communities in the Magdalena Medio region during and

after the floods. The Fund not only helped to safeguard

the rights of women, but also reinforced their

empowerment through a leading role in rebuilding their

communities. Moreover, vulnerable families improved

their water and sanitation access through ERF

contributions in Tierralta (Córdoba) where 4,112 people

now have access to safe drinking water and their storage

capacity in compliance with SPHERE standards.

One innovative initiative implemented by the

ERF this year was the allocation of resources to

COCOMACIA, a Civil Society Organization (CSO) that

congregates and represents most afro-Colombian

communities living on the Pacific Coast department of

Chocó, where land titles are collective and the territory

has a special status granted by the Constitution to protect

ethnic minorities. This is one of the areas most affected

by continued violence and natural disasters, with the

highest rates of malnutrition among children and limited

access to basic services, including life-saving medical

assistance. COCOMACIA has put together a strategy to

rehabilitate and build a total of 18 health posts in

strategic locations nearby most settlements along the

river. With resources provided by the ERF, communities

themselves are taking part in the construction and

operation activities. Motorized canoes and basic

emergency medical equipment, as well as safe water and

sanitation systems are being provided for these health

posts. Traditional medicine (i.e. midwifes, use of

medicinal herbs, etc.) will be available, while local

authorities will ensure the sustainability of these

premises by appointing medical personnel.

The ERF in Colombia has received

contributions from Norway, Spain, Sweden, and in 2011

San Marino. During 2011, the ERF allocated $ 1,560,166

in sectors like education, health, WASH, and early

recovery benefiting approximately 59,404 people.

Donors to the Fund have made significant contributions

as members of the Advisory Board, providing timely and

effective technical follow-up and conducting field

monitoring visits, which in the longer term serve as a

capacity building tool for the implementing partners,

making them more efficient and competitive. I would

like to thank these organizations on behalf of the

Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) for placing their

trust in this mechanism that is enabling timely and

accurate humanitarian action to reach the most vulnerable

communities.

I would also like to thank our implementing

partners for their work and commitment in the delivery

of humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations in

the most affected areas of Colombia. Projects were

implemented successfully by Mercy Corps, Action

Against Hunger, Refugee Education Trust, Save the

Children, Corporación Desarrollo y Paz del Magdalena

(CDPMM), Jesuit Refugee Service, Cooperazione

Internazionale and Consejo Comunitario Mayor de la

Asociación Campesina Integral del Atrato

(COCOMACIA).


1

Executive Summary

Rainy seasons occur twice a year in Colombia,

causing floods in several regions of the country. These

two rainy seasons normally extend from March and May,

and September to mid-December. However, in 2010 and

early 2011 the conformation of the La Niña phenomenon

strongly affected weather patterns in Colombia,

prolonging the first rainy season to such an extent that it

merged with the second one.

Colombia’s President, Mr. Juan Manuel Santos,

stated that damages caused by the impact of la Niña

amounted to USD 2.5 billion, just in 2011. According to

official figures the cumulative number of people affected

by flooding in Colombia in 2011 was 2.2 million people

in 72 per cent of municipalities. Two-hundred people

died and over half a million were also affected by the

ongoing conflict and/or weather-related events from La

Niña Phenomenon. A total of 5 million people were

affected by the 2010-2011 rainy season. This situation

overwhelmed national and local response capacities in a

moment of institutional turnover (i.e. newly elected

national and local authorities in August 2010 and

October 2011 respectively).

The most affected Departments were Bolívar,

Cauca, Cesar, Valle del Cauca, Cundinamarca, Norte de

Santander, Magdalena, Chocó and Boyacá, some of

which are also especially affected by the impact of the

armed conflict.

The Government of Colombia made an

extraordinary effort in mobilizing resources to address

the emergency as well as the reconstruction phase. An

extensive plan to mobilize funds in the following years

was prepared by Government of Colombia, including

funds raised with the private sector and citizens.

However, only USD 0.6 billion (less than 10 per cent of

total plan) were used for humanitarian assistance in the

short term (additional USD $1.53 billion were planned to

be destined to early recovery and USD $6.2 billion for

reconstruction of infrastructure and housing). Public

accountability mechanisms raised concerns regarding the

effective, use of these funds. While the Government

requested international support from individual countries

and UN agencies, it was adamant in refusing a Flash

Appeal as the instrument for further mobilization of

resources.

Out of the 3.9 million overall affected by the

floods between April 2010 and June 2011, an estimated

40 per cent were also Internally Displaced People (IDPs)

affected by the armed conflict. Vulnerable populations

associated to the internal armed conflict (e.g IDPs,

confined communities in rural or marginalized areas of

the country, vulnerable women, children, indigenous and

Afro-descendant) were made more vulnerable by the high

impact of flooding for a period of more than 12

consecutive months. According to official figures, of the

total 3.9 million affected by displacement 49.5 per cent

are women, 38.4 per cent are children between zero and

18 years of age, 2.53 per cent are indigenous and 9.1per

cent are Afro-Colombian communities.

In some cases, several field missions of UN

Agencies and International Non Governmental

Organizations (INGOs) underlined a lack of articulation

between Government entities at the national level, as

well as between Bogotá and the regions. In some cases,

at early stage of response, official strategy information

systems were not integrated and response decisions were

not made strategically. In view of this situation,

Humanitarian Local Teams (UN agencies and INGOs)

raised those concerns to Humanitarian Country Team;

calling to face most urgent gaps and advocate to outline a

rapid response strategies.

Rapid needs assessments carried out in early

2011 by members of the extended United Nations

Emergency Technical Team (UNETT), as well as data

collected by SNPAD in the most affected areas

highlighted that livelihoods, shelter, education and

WASH were heavily affected. Chocó, Córdoba and

Antioquia were the most affected departments in the

country.

During 2011, the ERF allocated $1,560,166 to 8

projects, all implemented by NGOs and mostly for

activities in education, water and sanitation and early

recovery that reached approximately 59,404 people.

Contributions in 2011 were made by Norway

($1,023,541.45), Spain ($1,372,684) and San Marino

($14,245).

ERF contributions met performance targets and

helped to mainstream a gender approach throughout the

humanitarian response with a particular focus on the

prevention and protection of vulnerable population. ERF

projects target men women equally. A total of 55 per

cent of the target beneficiaries were women who

benefited directly from emergency response in the health,

education, water and sanitation and early recovery

sectors.


2

Summary of projects funded in 2011

PROJECT SECTOR TOTAL AREA BENEFICIARIES %

Mercy Corps - 010 Early Recovery, WASH, Food security and protection $ 170,000

SANTA LUCIA AND CAMPO DE LA CRUZ (ATLÁNTICO)

2,146 11%

Action Against Hunger -011 WASH $ 250,000

TIERRALTA (CÓRDOBA) 4,112 16%

Refugee Education Trust -012

Education, Protection $ 236,842

CAMPO DE LA CRUZ, MANATI (ATLÁNTICO)

3,850 15%

Save the Children -013

WASH, early recovery $ 161,988

BUENAVENTURA (VALLE DEL CAUCA)

3,233 10%

Corporación Desarrollo y Paz del Magdalena Medio – CDPMM - 014 Health $ 233,159

MAGADALENA MEDIO

6,000 15%

Fundación Servicio de los Jesuitas para los Refugiados – Colombia- 015

Early recovery, food security

$ 89,563 COCÓ, PALESTINA AND LITORAL DE SAN

JUAN (CHOCÓ) 221 6%

Cooperazione Internazionale - 016

Health, protection, WASH $ 169,999

SAN ESTANISLAO (BOLÍVAR) 2,500 11%

Consejo Comunitario Mayor de la Asociación Campesina Integral del Atrato COCOMACIA -017

Health $ 248,615 QUIBDÓ, BETÉ AND BOJAYÁ (CHOCÓ)

VIGÍA EL FUERTE AND MURINDÓ (ANTIOQUIA)

37,342 16%

$1,560,166 59,404


3

Country Map

ERF PROJECTS 2011


4

Information on Contributors

Contributions for 2011 by country in US$*

Carryover from 2010** 2,379,762

Norway 1,023,542

San Marino 14,245

AECID 1,372,684

Total 4,790,234

*Contributions were disbursed in 2010/2011 for 2011, and late in 2011 for 2012.

** Sweden/ SIDA contributions (US $850,200) were disbursed in 2009 for the biennium (2009 – 2010) and were allocated

for ERF 2010 projects. Norway and Spain contributions for the biennium 2009- 2010 were US $2,005,630 and US $700,280

correspondingly


5

Fund Overview

Summary of ERF Allocations in 2011*

Requested for 2011

in US$

Carry over from 2010

in US$

Amount received in 2011

in US$

Total available in 2011

in US$

2.5 Million 2,379,762** 2,394,705 4,774,467

*Contributions were disbursed in 2010/2011 for 2011, and late in 2011 for 2012

** The first disbursement to three projects approved by the HC in December 2010 was paid in early 2011 (ERF 007, 008

and 009), thus the available balance for allocations in 2011 was USD 1.7 million.

Disbursed ERF funds in 2011 by partner type in US$ Disbursed ERF funds in 2011 by project type in US$

UN Agencies 0 Emergency response 1,311,551

International NGOs 988,829 Preparedness 0

National NGOs 571,337 Innovative (if any) 248,615

Total 1,560,166 Total 1,560,166


6

Results of ERF Projects per Cluster

1. Overview of Health

Number of projects Budget in US$ Implementing

agencies Geographic Area

3 651, 773 Corporación Desarrollo y Paz del

Magdalena Medio (CDPMM),

Cooperazione Internazionale and

Consejo Comunitario Mayor de la

Asociación Campesina Integral del

Atrato (COCOMACIA),

Santa Lucia, Campo de la Cruz

(Atlantico), Cantagallo, Simití,

Regidor, Morales, San Pablo,

Rioviejo, Soplaviento, San

Estanislao, San Cristobal

(Bolívar), Aguachica, san martin,

San Alberto, La Gloria, Gamarra

(Cesar), Sabana de Torres

(Santander), Quibdó, Beté,

Boyajá (chocó), Vigía El Fuerte,

Murindó (Antioquia).

Outputs

■ Total number of beneficiaries: 45,842. One health project is active

■ Gender consideration: number of women (19,008), girls (6,823), men (12,513) and boys (7,498).

■ Project results: i) In the Magdalena Medio region 6,000 women improved their ability to care for themselves through the

delivery of 6,000 dignity kits. In addition, these women were able to safeguard their rights in a complex humanitarian

context and their empowerment through community rehabilitation actions; ii) 2,360 people in Bolívar department received

psycho-social support in the emergency phase to help them cope with their emotions and restore well-being.

■ ERF’s value added for the project: ERF worked to ensure that women in the Magdalena Medio region have the

organizational and technical expertise and resources they need to provide sustainable services long into the future by

strengthening women’s leadership and scaling up the prevention of violence. This fund have not only helped to safeguard

the rights of women, but also reinforced their empowerment through a leading role in rebuilding their communities. The

ERF funds made a considerable difference in Bolívar department, one of the most affected departments by floods.

Coordination between local and departmental authorities was strengthened and capacities and skills at the institutional

and communitarian levels were reinforced to respond to acute health problems caused by the floods. The ongoing ERF

project in Chocó supported access to essential primary health care services and specialized care for life threatening

conditions. Improvements to health posts will allow stockpiling of supplies for critical health interventions.

2. Overview of Water and Sanitation (WASH)



2 411,988 Action Against Hunger (Spain) and

Save the Children

Tierralta (Córdoba), and

Buenaventura (Valle del Cauca)

Outputs

■ Total number of beneficiaries: 7,345 people

■ Gender consideration: number of women (1,829), men (1,667), girls (1,904) and boys (1,945).

■ Project results: i) In Tierralta, 4,112 people have access to safe-drinking water and storage capacity in accordance with

SPHERE standards. One hundred per cent of beneficiaries use 23.6 liters of water/person/day. In addition, 807 people


7

have access to basic sanitation infrastructure; ii) In the San Juan and Raposo rivers (Valle del Cauca), 1,740 people

gained access to safe-drinking water through the provision of water and sanitation solutions and following SPHERE

standards. A total of 208 rainwater storage and water management systems (1,000lt water tanks) were given to the

community.

■ ERF’s value added for the project: The rapid and flexible allocation of ERF funding helped mitigate the potential spread of

diseases restoring and building sanitation facilities in homes and schools in 15 rural communities of Tierralta (Córdoba).

ERF resources enabled a quick intervention giving water and sanitation solutions to extremely poor communities living

along the riverbanks of Raposo and San Juan rivers and reducing the incidence of diseases related to water and poor

sanitary conditions.

3. Overview of Early Recovery



2 259,563 Mercy Corps and Jesuit Refugee

Service

Santa Lucia and Campo de la

Cruz (Atlántico), Cocó and

Palestina and Litoral de San

Juan (Chocó)

Outputs

■ Total number of beneficiaries: 2,367

■ Gender consideration: number of women (691), girls (480), men (768) and boys (428).

■ Project results: i) In Campo de la Cruz and Santa Lucia (Atlántico) 400 food packages (coffee, rice, flour, milk, salt, sugar,

vegetable oil and brown sugar) and NFIs (mattresses, tarps, linens and pillows, pots kettle plates and utensils) were

distributed as well as 200 water filters. Following gender considerations the project reached about 600 boys and girls

through a group therapy process called Comfort for kids. ii) In Litoral de San Juan Chocó, 68 returnees and flood-affected

families gained access to food according to established nutritional standards for 3 months, 204 nutritional kits were

delivered to the same families. In the same way, these returnees families increased their skills in risk management (in fact

the techniques and initiatives developed prompted an immediate resilience among participating families to address basic

food needs during the constant rains and outbreaks of violence in 2011).

■ ERF’s value added for the project: ERF helped to meet critical needs of children in the areas of food assistance and

nutrition while also provided protection during the emergency. This fund contributed to strengthening community

relationships through the rehabilitation of traditional income generation systems.

4. Overview of Education



1 236,842 The foundation for the Refugee

Education Trust

Campo de la Cruz and Manatí

(Atlántico)

Outputs

■ Total number of beneficiaries: 2,440

■ Gender consideration: number of women (10), girls (1,310), men (10) and boys (1,110).

■ Project results: Eight rural schools repaired with adequate water and sanitations solutions and equipped with furniture and

teaching materials after being used as shelter during the floods.

■ ERF’s value added for the project: This initiative promoted a model whereby school facilities used as shelter during an

emergency were evacuated, repaired or rebuilt and used again for their exclusive purpose give children access to

education. ERF resources helped to make schools a safer place and prevent interruptions in education. In Manati and

Campo de La Cruz (Atlántico) 2,440 children with access to education mitigate the psychosocial impact of conflict and


8

disasters by providing a sense of routine, stability, structure and hope for the future through access to education.


9

Summary and analysis of achievements

The Colombia ERF is a last resort, rapid

response mechanism to support life-saving activities

during the first phases of emergencies related to small-

scale disaster in areas affected by the internal armed

conflict. During 2011 this humanitarian financing

mechanism added significant value to the rapid

humanitarian response within the most affected areas of

the country.

Colombia has moved towards implementing a

landmark victim and land restitution law, and the country

has strong performance in terms of economic indicators.

A new institutional architecture was put into place to

implement this law, which will continue providing

humanitarian assistance and reparation for historical and

new victims. However, humanitarian indicators

deteriorated in 2011. The Government faces challenges

regarding the ongoing armed conflict and the impact of

heavy rains, which reached record levels in late 2010 and

early 2011.

In 2011, the Humanitarian Country Team

developed a Common Humanitarian Framework for the

first time, laying out a shared understanding of the

humanitarian situation to prioritize in-country

humanitarian programming. UN Agencies and more than

35 INGOs comprise endorsed the HCT. The Framework

allows strengthened coordination with the humanitarian

activities of the Colombian Government.

IDPs officially registered increased by 7 per

cent in 2011. Current figures show that 144,109 new

IDPs were registered in 2011. Out of 32 departments,

seven had an important increase in displacement.

Approximately 32,700 people were displaced in 132

mass events (more than 50 people in the same event, as

per the internal legal framework). This figure represents

42 per cent more events compared with 2010.

In 2011, flooding affected 2.2 million people in

72 per cent of the municipalities. Two-hundred people

died and over half a million were also affected by the

ongoing conflict and/or weather-related events from last

year's La Niña. A total of 5 million people were affected

by the 2010-2011 rainy season.

Events related to the two rainy seasons in 2011,

which merged with the 2010 second rainy season, took

place in Cauca, Cesar, Chocó, Boyacá, Bolívar,

Magdalena, Santander and Sucre departments. During the

second rainy season of 2011, nearly 150,000 houses were

damaged and/or destroyed. Landslides made it difficult to

deliver humanitarian assistance in Norte de Santander

and Chocó departments, as main roads were blocked.

Livelihoods, shelter, education and WASH were heavily

affected in these areas. Chronic emergencies developed

in areas such as southern Córdoba and Bajo Cauca region

(Antioquia), where some municipalities have been

flooded for over a year. In these areas, affected

communities are unable to restore their livelihoods, and

many others remain without access to safe drinking

water. Flood-affected IDPs live in dire conditions,

particularly in the Pacific coast region.

Floods in 2011 proved much work is still

needed in terms of prevention and preparedness, but also

that the existing response capacities and schema are

insufficient. The pre-positioning of stock -food and non

food items (NFIs)- in at-risk areas should be a priority, as

well as better contingency planning at the local levels.

This issue will be a priority that OCHA will raise in 2012

with the Advisory Board as possible criteria for ERF

allocations.

ERF funding enabled a fast delivery of

assistance due to stronger networks and partnerships

previously established by International and local NGO’s

in the territories, as well as the solid logistical capacity to

deliver the aid in a timely manner. ERF funds provided

an opportunity to complement government-led efforts by

focusing in the areas/communities where local and

international NGOs can more easily access. During 2011,

the ERF allocated $1,560,166 in sectors like health

($651,773) WASH ($411,988) early recovery ($259,563)

and education ($236,842), benefiting approximately

59,404 people.

Projects were prioritized by Local Humanitarian

Teams and Clusters based on needs assessments and

situation reports, in accordance with live-saving criteria

and ERF general guidelines.

Most beneficiaries were IDP communities,

Afro-Colombians and vulnerable groups targeted by non-

state and post-demobilization armed groups. ERF

projects were primarily implemented on the Pacific Coast

and Northern Colombia, where mobility and access

constraints persisted. About 37 percent of the

beneficiaries were women, 18 per cent were girls 25 per

cent were men and 18 percent were boys. Gender

considerations were made through the programme cycle

of each project adding value to the interventions.


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The most significant achievements constituting an

added value for the ERF are fast delivery of assistance to

beneficiaries is evidenced through the following:

- Acute health problems caused by the floods were

attended through strengthening capacities and skills

at the institutional and community levels. COOPI

supported Territorial Health Authorities and

communities to respond to the flood emergency in

Bolívar department. Health campaigns were

conducted in the Public Health Centers of three

Bolivar municipalities, providing care services in

general medicine, internal medicine, gynecology,

pediatrics, dermatology, psychology, dentistry and

vaccination. Approximately 2,284 people benefited

from this intervention. In the Magdalena, Medio

region 6,000 women improved their ability to care

for themselves and hygiene through the delivery of

dignity kits by Corporación Desarrollo y Paz del

Magdalena Medio. In the same way the CSO

COCOMACIA, through its ongoing ERF in Chocó

supported access to essential primary health care

services and specialized care for life threatening

conditions. This intervention aims to target 8,000

Afro-Colombian families.

- Water and Sanitation in emergency activities

increased access to safe drinking water and

storage capacity in accordance with SPHERE

standards. ACF, through the rapid and flexible

allocation of ERF funding, helped mitigate the

potential spread of diseases restoring and building

sanitation facilities in homes and schools in 15 rural

communities of Tierralta (Córdoba), benefiting

4,112 people. In addition, extremely poor

communities living along the riverbanks of Raposo

and San Juan rivers reduced their diseases incidence

rates related to water and poor sanitary conditions

approximately 1,740 people benefited through ERF

funds implemented by Save the Children.

- Early recovery actions helped affected

communities in the Atlántico region to emerge

quickly from disasters with limited loss of life and

human suffering. Approximately 400 families were

approached by Mercy Corps through an emergency

response with a long-term vision for change. A

psychosocial programme was developed through a

community participatory process helping 800 flood-

affected people to develop self-coping skills and be

able to move forward and integrate into normal life.

In addition, NFIs were distributed to the same

families ensuring high quality goods. The Jesuit

Refugee Service (JRS) helped 68 returnees and

flood-affected in Litoral de San Juan (Chocó) to

have better access to food according to established

nutritional standards during a 3 months period. In the

same way, these returnee families increased their

skills in risk management thanks to the rapid

contributions of ERF.

- Children in Atlántico and Chocó received safe

spaces for learning through education in

emergencies strategies developed by RET and JRS

which ensures dignity. Eight rural schools were

repaired with adequate water and sanitations solution

and equipped with furniture and teaching materials

after being used as shelter during the floods.

- Protection was not a main area of intervention

through ERF funds. Some projects highlighted

activities in rural Schools and other learning spaces

being an entry point for the provision of essential

support beyond the education sector such as

protection.


11

Project Monitoring

OCHA is responsible for the financial and

programmatic management of the ERF. OCHA’s

monitoring strategy in Colombia is based on four main

activities:

i) An online programme management tool

(http://erf.colombiassh.org/login). This tool enables the

ERF manager to control every step of the programme

cycle and systematize the information gathered in each

process. It also provides access to different users like the

Advisory Board, the Technical Review Committee and

the implementing partners, allowing each actor to comply

with their responsibilities. This online programme

increases efficiency in the submission and approval of

proposals as well as promotes transparency for donors

making available the interim and final reports showing

the impact and difficulties of each initiative.

ii) Field monitoring visits. In 2011, OCHA

organized monitoring field missions to projects. Some of

these visits were accompanied by members of the

Advisory Board. The main result of this initiative has

been the timely and effective technical follow up and

field monitoring visits, which in the longer term serves as

a capacity building tool for implementing partners,

making them more efficient and competitive.

In 2011, six out of eight projects (75 percent)

were actively monitored through field missions (3 in

Litoral de San Juan and Quibdó (Chocó), one (Valle del

Cauca), one in Candelaria (Atlántico) and one

(Magdalena Medio region). These monitoring visits are

supported with field missions reports were challenges

and achievements are highlighted. In order to ensure

more regular and consistent monitoring of ERF projects

throughout their life cycle-at the proposal stage, during

implementation and after completion- OCHA Colombia

facilitated the coordination of Local Humanitarian Teams

(LHTs) and led rapid needs assessment missions. Both

are mechanisms that enable doing follow-ups on mostly

all ERF projects. OCHA field colleagues in sub-offices

and antennas play a principal role supporting the ERF

manager, particularly on needs assessments and the

monitoring of ERF projects. This experience contributed

to strengthen local partnerships with NGOs as well as

coordination among local humanitarian actors. Effective

and timely decision‐making and planning is contingent to

good input received from the areas where the emergency

is identified. Regular field monitoring by the ERF

Management Unit is considered an area for improvement,

in order to ensure closer follow-up on100 per cent of the

projects. In this regard, OCHA will strengthen the

follow-up of ERF projects in the field through OCHA

sub-offices and antennas.

iii) Counterparts in person meeting or virtually.

In 2011, OCHA, through its ERF manager undertook at

least one monitoring meeting (presence o virtual) per

week during the life time of each ERF project with the

implementing partner. To ensure that ERF projects

adhere to appropriate standards and comply with life

saving criteria, the ERF manager provides advice on a

regular basis to the ERF project coordinators. Some of

the most common consultations through the programme

cycle during 2011 were related to how recipient’s

organizations are adapting to changing needs on the

ground and how disbursements can speed up after

auditing process. Means of verifications for this activity

are mainly meetings minutes.

iv) Advisory Board meetings. Led by the HC the

Advisory Board meets twice a year to discuss issues

including progress or any difficulties around the projects

that were funded. During 2011 the Advisory Board met

twice and recommended the following actions:

Strengthening the linkages between relief and recovery

actions throughout ERF projects. ERF applicants should

consider how other funding sources could continue to

address on-going needs. ERF should scale up its size,

thus more actions oriented to increase the number of

donors could rise.

Experience and lessons learned showed that

ERF is not only a funding mechanism that enables

humanitarian response, but also enhance coordination.


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Gender Consideration

Despite of the ERF management Unit efforts to

implement the Gender Marker tool in June 2011 some

challenges arise in the inclusion of this tool in the

information system and the ERF application form.

Nevertheless, gender considerations were made

for all eight ERF projects throughout the programme

cycle. Gender analysis is promoted through the needs

assessment in which needs of women, girls, boys and

men are identified subsequently this information is used

to shape activities and outcomes. Each ERF project met

performance targets and helped to mainstream a gender

approach throughout the humanitarian response with a

particular focus on the prevention and protection of

vulnerable population, reducing the impact of Gender

Based Violence (GBV), sexual violence and

discrimination. Through the ERF projects in Colombia

we target all the population equally and make sure they

receive the resources needed to help them build back

better after emergencies.

One of the implemented projects in 2011 was a

single-sex targeted action (gender code 2B) responding

to the disadvantages, discrimination and special needs of

women in the Magdalena Medio Region. This particular

project worked to ensure that 6,000 local women have

the organizational and technical expertise and resources

they need to provide sustainable services long into the

future. It allows not only to safe guard the rights of

women in complex humanitarian contexts, but also

reinforced their empowerment through a leading role in

rebuilding their communities.

These Funds also strengthened the networks and

working relationships between Afro-Colombians

communities in the Chocó department through a health

oriented project that will reduce mortality, particularly of

newborns, women and children, giving access to health

to at least 34,000 people currently neglected.


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Conclusion

La Niña Phenomenon (2010-2011) and the

followed rains and flooding in Colombia over the past

two years have affected more than 3.9 million people,

damaged thousands of roads and flooded more than one

million hectares of agricultural land. While the initial

humanitarian response encountered gaps and challenges

for the Colombian Government and the international

humanitarian community in distributing emergency

assistance in a timely and effective manner to flood

affected people, there have been noteworthy

improvements both on the national and local level.

ERF contributions made a difference in many

respects during the latter half of 2011 (second rainy

season of the year). Specifically on the water and

sanitation sector where 1,511 families people gained

access to safe- drinking water (delivery of water tanks,

filters and hygiene kits), which greatly reduced the

incidence of water borne diseases such as diahorrea and

dermatologic problems.

One of the main focuses of ERF 2011 projects

was in the health sector where three projects made

significant achievements. Coordination among local and

departmental authorities was strengthened and capacities

and skills at the institutional and communitarian levels

were reinforced to respond to acute health problems

caused by imminent floods.

Moreover, it was able to provide psycho-social

support to affected communities, particularly children,

women and elderly people to help them to cope with loss

and fear. Thanks to ERF funds emergency education

programs were implemented in the northern part of the

country and children who were not able to attend classes

are back at school. But with significant numbers of

people still displaced or affected by natural disaster,

challenges remain.

The ERF has proven to be a formidable tool for

rapid response leading to a fast delivery of assistance to

beneficiaries. Implementing partners were able to access

to funds in a timely and transparent manner and trigger

the most pressing needs of communities affected by both

natural disasters and armed conflict.

Despite enormous difficulties and obstacles for

accessing larger sources of funding, there is a greater

articulation between ERF and CERF funding enabled the

HCT to cover close to 11 per cent of emergency response

financial requirements in 2011. While humanitarian

financing gaps remain a challenge that neither ERF nor

CERF can fulfill, it is clear that these sources of funding

have been useful in reaching the most vulnerable among

the most affected. Increased support is needed to address

ongoing problems to help affected communities restore

their lives. Thus it is unclear how people could become

more self-sufficient and cope with their situation when

they have lost everything. ERF contributions remain far

too small to reach a larger number of beneficiaries. Thus,

the key challenge of 2010 persist in 2011 to scale up the

ERF by getting more donors to contribute and bring up

its size to at least twice what it currently is.

One innovative initiative implemented by the

ERF this year was the allocation of resources to

COCOMACIA a CSO that congregates and represents

most afro-Colombian communities living in the Pacific

Coast department of Chocó, however some local NGOs

do not have a strong financial capacity and are not able to

easily allocate the resources to cover the remaining

balance (20% of the total project amount). On

extraordinary basis, it might be interesting that the

Humanitarian Coordinator should be able to authorize the

100% disbursement of Funds to the implementing partner

to enable a rapid response and to enhance response

capacities of local NGO’s.

In hindsight, ERF were made available in a

critical moment where local and national capacities to

respond to the rainy season had already been

overwhelmed. As a result, the funds served their purpose

in providing a life- saving solution for affected

communities.

emergency response fund colombia - unocha erf 2011.pdf · emergency response fund – colombia...

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