Migration Emergency Response Fund

Filling the gap in humanitarian responses in Africa.

The Start Network’s Migration Emergency Response Fund (MERF) supported organisations to provide a rapid response to changes in needs along the migration route.

About the Migration Emergency Response Fund

Adapting to fluctuating needs along the migration route

The Migration Emergency Response Fund (MERF) was a rapid response context-specific contingency fund operated and managed by Start Network, its members, and in collaboration with its donor, the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

The objective of the MERF was to rapidly respond to acute and emerging gaps and changes in needs along migration route. It was also meant to improve the effectiveness and understanding of the migration response and trends. It operated in 11 countries: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Sudan and Tunisia.

Learning from a migration-specific fund

Types of alert

1. Alert for a 1-3 month response - Standard response

2. Alert for a 3-6 month response – Can be used in circumstances where a slightly longer response can be strongly justified

3. Crisis Anticipation – Can be raised for 1-3 month projects where a crisis can be anticipated

Collaborative information collection and analysis (CICA) grant

A grant for needs assessments, context analysis or information gathering that could be used to build a case for further funding. Guidance on how to submit a CICA request can be found here.

Related programmes

The MERF came after the Start Network had responded to migration in Europe through the European Refugees Response programmes in 2015 and 2016. You can find more information about these programmes here.

The MERF initially ran from January to December 2017 and funded 15 projects in 4 countries. Lessons from this phase have been built into the current phase of the MERF. Please find the MERF annual report here, and independent research on the MERF and Mixed Migration Flows along the Mediterranean here.

MERF members and donors

ACTED	GOAL	Plan International
ALIMA	Humanity & Inclusion	Save the Children
CAFOD	International Medical Corps	Solidarités International
Care International	International Rescue Committee	Tearfund
Catholic Relief Services	Islamic Relief	Welthungerhilfe
Christian Aid	Mines Advisory Group	World Vision
Danish Refugee Council	Mercy Corps
Doctors of the World	Norwegian Refugee Council
Dorcas Aid International	Oxfam

The MERF was funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and delivered as part of a consortium project with the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and the International Rescue Committee (IRC).