Secretary-General appoints nine new advisers to UN emergency fund

(New York, 27 September 2023): The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has appointed nine new members to the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) Advisory Group.

Established by the General Assembly in 2005, the group provides policy guidance and advice on the use of CERF funds to the Secretary-General through the Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths.

Since 2006, US$8.8 billion in CERF funding has enabled UN agencies, funds and programmes to provide life-saving assistance to people in more than 110 countries and territories. This was made possible with contributions from 140 Member States and other donors.

“As a fund for all, by all, CERF stands as a pillar of international solidarity with people in need anywhere in the world,” said Mr. Griffiths. “The Advisory Group gives us invaluable strategic guidance and a global perspective on the best and most efficient use of the funds. I am grateful for members who have concluded their three-year term, and I warmly welcome the new advisers.”

The Advisory Group currently has 19 members representing Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Europe, the Gulf, Latin America, the Caribbean and North America. Group members serve a single three-year term.

The new members are:

  • Australia: Ms. Beth Delaney, First Assistant Secretary at the Humanitarian Division at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

  • Belgium: Ms. Heidy Rombouts, Director-General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid for Belgium.

  • Ireland: Ms. Nicole McHugh, Director of the Humanitarian Unit at the Department of Foreign Affairs of Ireland.

  • Italy: Mr. Maurizio Massari, Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations in New York.

  • Nigeria: Dr. Abubakar Abdullkareem Suleiman, Deputy Director of Disaster Management and Social Development in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs of Nigeria.

  • Philippines: Ms. Maria Teresa Torres Almojuela, Chief of Staff of the Office of the Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs.

  • Somalia: Mr. Mohamed Abdirizak, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for the Federal Government of Somalia.

  • Sweden: Mr. Ola Sohlström, Deputy Head of Department for Multilateral Partnerships.

  • United Kingdom: Mr. Colum Wilson, Head of Humanitarian Department of the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.

CERF remains an indispensable element of the global humanitarian architecture, and an instrument for driving an effective and timely response to growing humanitarian needs. The Advisory Group is key to managing the fund efficiently and ensuring that assistance reaches people most in need.

For further information, please contact:

In New York, Eri Kaneko, kaneko@un.org

In Geneva, Jens Laerke, laerke@un.org